Seeing the forest for the trees: The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme exhibition and Global Citizenship Education

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determine the depth and scope of Global Citizenship Education (GCE) through the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) exhibition. The small-scale qualitative study describes how a fifth-grade cohort and teachers at The International School of Azerbaijan uncover GCE in situ. Drawing on GCE literature, including Irene Davy’s IB position paper and UNESCO’s Global Citizenship: Education Topics and Learning Objectives, the study seeks to align current theory on GCE and the components of the exhibition. The research is underpinned by communicative action and reflection, denoting a critical stance on epistemology. The resulting conceptual GCE framework positions authentication, co-creation and substantiation as key enabling features of the PYP exhibition. As the presented framework is based on practice, the key assertions are applicable to educators, schools and networks seeking to enliven contextual modes of global learning.