From Global Knowledge to Global Civic Engagement

In this article, I argue that student learning is enhanced when civic engagement is a component of international education initiatives. When only presented with knowledge about global challenges, students can become frustrated and overwhelmed unless they also understand how they might contribute to solutions. Political science programs are uniquely positioned to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become civically engaged members of the global community. However, we need to help students build bridges between knowledge and action. This can be accomplished by grounding global knowledge in concepts of citizenship. The evidence to support this claim can be found in student responses to the Atlas Program at Saint Louis University. This article describes the development and evolution of this program and analyzes its progress in fostering global civic engagement. By examining the evolution of the program, it highlights why it is necessary to root global knowledge in civic values.