About WorldWise Global Schools


About WWGS


Irish Aid’s WorldWise Global Schools is Ireland’s national Global Citizenship Education (GCE) programme for post-primary schools.

WWGS was set up in 2013 as the key channel through which Irish Aid support for GCE in post-primary schools is to be coordinated. The aim of the programme is to increase the number of post-primary schools engaging in quality global citizenship education by providing a comprehensive range of supports.

It is funded by Irish Aid and implemented by a consortium of organisations:

WWGS Aim


To bring about an increasing spread, number and mix of post-primary schools engaging in and availing of quality Global Citizenship Education in Ireland.

We do this by providing a wide range of supports to Schools, School Clusters, NGOs and School Networks.

WWGS Programme Outcomes


Communities of Practice in GCE


A primary focus of the WWGS programme is on learning through active participation – for example the individual teacher, or school is an active participant in the practices of WWGS.

In this context, a community of practice is a group of teachers, students, school leaders, or key stakeholders participating in GCE, and experiencing/continuously creating their shared identity through engaging in and contributing to the practices of the WWGS community and GCE in Ireland and beyond.

For WWGS, like many programmes and organisations, communities of practice have become an integral part of the way we operate.

WWGS has both a Teacher Advisory Group and a Student Advisory Group to ensure that the programme is responding to the direct needs of its participants.

WWGS interventions, such as our training and events are co-designed by participants to ensure we are offering supports that are directly targeted to the needs of those participating in the programme, and ensuring that the participants' voice is at the centre of what we do.

International Recognition and Peer Learning


The WWGS programme has received international recognition for its work and continues to work with partners on a national and international level to engage in peer learning on Global Citizenship Education.

GENE Global Education Innovation Award

In 2018 WWGS received a GENE Global Education Innovation Award. It was the first Irish initiative to win this award.

GENE – Global Education Network Europe is the network of Ministries, Agencies and other bodies with national responsibility for Global Education in Europe. GENE supports networking, peer learning, policy research, national strategy development and quality enhancement in the field of Global Education in European countries. GENE works towards the day when all people in Europe – in solidarity with people globally – will have access to quality Global Education.

Find out more here.

Image

2018 GENE Award winners accepting their award in Brussels


Image

WWGS Director, Aishling McGrath speaking at the award ceremony in Brussels

International Peer Learning


WWGS has availed of various opportunities to engage in international peer learning in GCE. Please see some examples below.

Code of Good Practice for Global Citizenship Education


Since 2020, WWGS has been a signatory to the IDEA Code of Good Practice for Development Education. WWGS is an active member of the Irish Development Education Association (IDEA). They are the national network for Development Education/Global Citizenship Education in Ireland and a leading voice for the sector. They represent over 80 members involved in the practice, promotion and advancement of GCE/DE in formal, non-formal and informal settings. 

Find out more here.

Compliance Commitments

  • Sign a Code Commitment form
  • Carry out the self-assessment process including developing an action plan to be shared with IDEA
  • Contribute to the Community of Practice for this Code

WWGS collaborate widely with a variety of stakeholders


On a national level, WWGS collaborate widely with a variety of stakeholders. Please see the table below for a sample of stakeholders that we engage with.

Organisation Type of collaboration
Afri WWGS Funded & supported for GCE in post-primary schools
Amnesty International WWGS Funded & supported for GCE in post-primary schools
An Chomhdháil um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gael (COGG) Collaborate on Irish Teacher Training & Resources
Association of Community & Comprehensive Schools (ACCS) Member of WWGS Education Panel
Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) Member of WWGS Education Panel
Beyond Borders: GOWC and Caoimhe Butterly WWGS Funded & supported for GCE in post-primary schools
Brigit's Garden WWGS Funded & supported for GCE in post-primary schools & input at regional trainings
CEIST Member of WWGS Education Panel
Concern Member of the WWGS Grants Selection Committee
Coolplanet Experience WWGS include a workshop from this organisation in agenda of regional teacher training
Crawford CIT Cork WWGS include a workshop from this organisation in agenda of regional teacher training
Cloughjordan Eco Village WWGS include a workshop from this organisation in agenda of regional teacher training
Department of Education and Skills (DES) Member of WWGS Education Panel & Grants Selection Committee
Development Perspectives WWGS Funded & supported for GCE in post-primary schools
ECO UNESCO WWGS Funded & supported for GCE in post-primary schools
Educate Together WWGS Funded & supported for GCE in post-primary schools
Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) Member of WWGS Education Panel & WWGS workshops as part of ETBI overall training
Financial Justice Ireland (FJI) WWGS Funded & supported for GCE in post-primary schools
Gaeloideachas Collaborate on Irish Teacher Training & Resources
Global Action Plan (GAP) WWGS Funded & supported for GCE in post-primary schools
GRETB Collaborate on Irish Teacher Training & Resources
Grow Your Own Waterford WWGS include a workshop from this organisation in agenda of regional teacher training
Head, Heart & Hands Ltd. (Mind the Gap) WWGS Funded & supported for GCE in post-primary schools
IDEA WWGS is a convenor of the Formal Education Working Group and runs workshops in partnership with IDEA
Inishowen Development Partnership (IDP) WWGS Funded & supported for GCE in post-primary schools
JCT CSPE WWGS resources given to all JCT team
JCT History WWGS workshops as part of official JCT training
JCT STE(A)M WWGS workshops as part of official JCT training
Joint Managerial Board (JMB) Member of WWGS Education Panel
LASC WWGS Funded & supported for GCE in post-primary schools
National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) Member of WWGS Education Panel
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) Member of WWGS Education Panel & Grants Selection Committee
Poetry Ireland WWGS Funded & supported for GCE in post-primary schools
Raidió na Gaeltachta Collaborate on Irish Teacher Training & Resources
Rediscovery Centre WWGS include a workshop from this organisation in agenda of regional teacher training
RTE Youth Assembly WWGS member of steering group on project
Secretariat of Secondary Schools (JMB/AMCSS) Member of WWGS Education Panel
Sonairte WWGS Funded & supported for GCE in post-primary schools
Spiritan Network WWGS Funded & supported for GCE in post-primary schools
St Louis Schools Network WWGS Funded & supported for GCE in post-primary schools
Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) Member of WWGS Education Panel
TG4 Collaborate on Irish Teacher Training & Resources
The Organic Centre Leitrim WWGS include a workshop from this organisation in agenda of regional teacher training
The Ubuntu Network Member of WWGS Education Panel & WWGS workshops conducted in partnership with Ubuntu in ITE providers
Trócaire Member of the WWGS Grants Selection Committee
UNICEF WWGS Funded & supported for GCE in post-primary schools
www.developmenteducation.ie Member of WWGS Education Panel
Young Social Innovators (YSI) WWGS Funded & supported for GCE in post-primary schools