Global Issues Network

Global Issues Network (GIN)

Founded	2003, European Union
Focus	Environmentalism, Humanism, Peace Movement
Location	Worldwide
Area served	Worldwide
Method	Inform, Inspire, Equip, Act
Website	global-issues-network.org

Over the past decade, awareness about Global Issues has become much more widespread in our schools. The Global Issues Network aims to take this awareness to the next level as implied by its founding mission (2003–10): to help students realise they can make a difference by empowering them to work internationally with their peers to develop solutions for global issues.” It is an international network of students that aims to promote globalization and to raise awareness of the social responsibility of "global citizens", and develop solutions for modern global issues. The network is powered by schools and universities around the world. The network is mostly based on Jean-François Rischard's book, High Noon: Twenty Global Problems, Twenty Years to Solve Them.^[1]

Mission of GIN

To empower young people to collaborate locally, regionally and globally in order to create sustainable solutions for global issues.

GIN’s student-focused objectives

INFORM: provide resources for students to learn about global issues
INSPIRE: coordinate events that motivate students to act on global issues
EQUIP: train students with the necessary skills and tools to tackle global issues
ACT: encourage and facilitate collaborative and sustainable action on global issues

GIN’s educator-focused objectives

INFORM: provide resources for educators to learn about global issues education
INSPIRE: coordinate events that motivate educators to act on global issues education
EQUIP: train educators with the necessary skills and tools to tackle global issues education
ACT: encourage and facilitate collaborative and sustainable action on global issues education

Why was GIN established

International schools are a powerful force that comprise a natural network of change-makers
The international school network’s ability to affect change is enhanced by direct and indirect connections to corporations, international experts, non-government organizations and government organizations.
Understanding that individual organizations and nations will have difficulty dealing with the exponential population growth and associated global issues (Rischard)
Central urgency to act on world’s problems
The importance of initiating a youth-centered approach to dealing with global issues

Founding purpose

To utilise an already existing network of international schools to address global issues
To provide a student-driven opportunity for collaboration and change
To recognise the power of numbers in a network
To promote leadership development
To provide a platform for the sharing of expertise and ideas
To develop partnerships with NGOs
To inspire local, regional and global action
To influence curriculum development
To influence universities to change admissions requirements to include elements of global awareness & global citizenship

What has GIN achieved so far?

Regional and global growth
Coordinated regional Global Issues Network conferences and events in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North and South America
Taken a complex model for global change and implemented it in a tangible way
Influenced international school curricula and personal development of students involved

What does GIN still want to achieve?

Create collaborative post-conference action
Provide opportunities for on-going inter-school projects
Involve more local/state schools into the network
Become less dependent on individual teachers
Challenge and support schools lo live the mission of GIN and authentically integrate global issues into curriculum
Become a truly student-led organisation
Buy students games to play

GIN Vision

GIN NETWORK GOALS: As a global network, GIN will:

1. Hold 6 regional conferences (Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Middle East, Europe)

2. Hold 3 local gatherings/forums per region

3. Identify 3 common GIN sponsored activities: a. One sustainable development project for a minimum of three years b. One collaborative fundraising campaign for a minimum of three years c. One collaborative awareness-raising campaign for a minimum of one year

4. Establish ONE online portal that supports the objectives of the Global Issues Network

GIN SCHOOL GOALS: Each GIN school will:

1. Organise whole-school global issues events

2. Work to integrate global issues more authentically into their curriculum

3. Provide a range of global issues-focused co-curricular opportunities

4. Engage fully with the GIN Network goals

GIN Organization

At the school level GIN Schools will have one educator representative & one student representative
At a regional level Each region will have one GIN Conference Coordinator to coordinate all logistics for the annual regional conference & one GIN Connector to coordinate all the communication and collaboration for all non- conference GIN activities
At a global level The GIN International Council will facilitate communication and collaboration between regions to ensure the vision of the Global Issues Network is achieved in each region

GIN-International Council

Composition of the GIN International Council:

One Regional Connector, one Conference Coordinator and one alumnus/student from each region make up the GIN-International Council. Positions on the GIN International Council last for one academic year (July – June) and can be renewed. Members are asked to contribute in the following ways to the council:
Six Alumni/students: to be the youth voice and provide advice and direction for how GIN should develop
Six Conference Coordinators: to coordinate all logistics for the annual regional conference
Six Regional Connectors: to coordinate all regional communication and collaboration for non-conference GIN activities Two Acting Co-Chairpersons: to coordinate the activities of the GIN International Council
Founder

Conference History

The first school to have come up with the concept of GIN was the International School of Luxembourg. The network was founded in 2003, and started off as a small cooperation project between six international schools in Europe. In March 2006 and 2007, the first major GIN conferences took place in Luxembourg.

In 2008, the GIN European Annual conference was hosted in Germany.
In 2009, the GIN European Annual conference was hosted in Switzerland.
In 2010, the GIN European Annual conference was hosted in Luxembourg.
In 2011, the GIN European Annual conference was hosted in Switzerland.
In 2012, the GIN Asian Annual conference was hosted in the Philippines at International School of Manila. The theme was "Compassionate Action"
In 2012, the GIN European Annual conference was hosted in Luxembourg. The theme was "Acting Responsibly in a World of 7 Billion"
In 2012, the GIN North-American Annual conference was hosted in Canada.^[2] The theme was "Poverty and inequality".
In 2012, the GIN South-American Conference was hosted in Brazil.^[3]
In 2013, a GIN Conference was held in Turkey
In 2013, Tri-Association hosted GIN South America Conference in Costa Rica.
In May 2013, a GIN Conference will be held in Quest University Canada
In November 2013, a GIN Conference was held in the International School of Beijing.

Member schools

This is a partial list of schools that are officially enrolled into the Global Issues Network.^[4]^[5]

International School of Manila
International School of Luxembourg
International School of Milan
International School of Düsseldorf
American School of Paris
American International School of Guangzhou
The American School in Israel
American Overseas School of Rome
International School of Bremen
International School of The Hague
Oeiras International School
Sinarmas World Academy
Jakarta International School
Maastricht United World College
United Nations International School of Hanoi
Washington International School
Qatar Academy
School Without Walls
Surabaya International School
Colegio Mayor Secundario " Presidente del Perú"
International School Ho Chi Minh City
ISTEK Acıbadem Lisesi
Carol Morgan School
Seoul International School
Seoul Foreign School
St. George's The English International School Cologne