U.S. and Mexican college students’ perceptions of global citizenship education: a comparative case study

Abstract

ABSTRACT This comparative case study sought to gain insight into the perceptions of pre-service teachers in Mexico and the United States on global citizenship education. Ten pre-service teachers from the U.S. and 11 from Mexico were purposefully selected. Data were collected using open-ended semi-structured individual and focus group interviews and discussion posts. The findings of this study identified that U.S. pre-service teachers had moderate access to citizenship education in the K-12 schools, while Mexican pre-service teachers had very limited access to citizenship education. This influenced each participant’s perception of global citizenship. However, all student participants expressed an awareness of a global society and the need for K-12 and higher education students to have access to a global citizenship curriculum. They asserted that all students need to possess a culturally sensitive global mindset that would enable them to view events through a critical and analytical lens, thereby allowing them to make decisions and advocate for changes that create a more socially just world.