The Importance of Global Citizenship to Higher Education: The Role of Short-Term Study Abroad

An increasing number of institutions actively promote internationalisation as a key strategy, implying that the development of a "global citizenry" is an integral part of their educational mission.To fulfil this strategy, four constructs must be addressed: ( 1) what is global citizenship?, (2) why is global citizenship important?(3) how do we measure global citizenship?, and (4) how do we foster global citizenship?(1) Although global citizenship is a highly contested and multifaceted term, three key dimensions are commonly accepted: social responsibility, global awareness, and civic engagement.(2) Today's graduates are critically dependent on an interconnected world, and universities have a responsibility to promote global mindedness, to provide greater employment opportunities for their graduates, and to respond to political calls for enhanced national security.(3) There is a consensus that the natural and built environment is the context in which global citizenship Short Communication