Global Competence Certificate Portfolio Program

Understanding Global Competence

"Global competence is the skills, values, and behaviors that prepare young people to thrive in a more diverse, interconnected world. In a rapidly changing world, the ability to be engaged citizens and collaborative problem solvers who are ready for the workforce is essential. In the 21st century and beyond this is what all people will need. To be engaged citizens. To be prepared for jobs of the future. To be local and global problem solvers." -World Savvy

• "What is Global Education"
• "Global Competence Amongst Youth is Critical to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals" (July 2015)
• "Why Experiencing a New Culture is Good For You"
• "How Learning a New Language Builds Cultural Competence and Tolerance" (March 2019)
• "The Kindness of Language Immersion" (May 2019)

What is the World Affairs Council's Global Competence Certificate Portfolio (GCCP) Program?

The Global Competence Certificate Portfolio (GCCP) Program was developed by the World Affairs Council's Global Classroom in partnership with the Washington State Coalition for International Education and Seattle Public Schools International Schools Leadership Team Seattle Public Schools International Schools Leadership Team (ISLT) in 2016-2017.  This program supports students in grades 9-11 in developing global competency and global citizenship by supporting and empowering students to develop, reflect, and demonstrate their global competence in our increasingly interconnected and interdependent world. The GCCP is recognized as a model on Global Education Certificate: http://globaledcertificate.org/washington/.

The GCCP program tracks students’ development of competencies that are critical to their success as global citizens through the creation of a website portfolio and student presentation. The portfolio will entail the completion of a series of written reflections on the three major pillars of global competence, Global Learning, International Engagement, and Language and Intercultural Learning. We encourage students to meaningfully reflect on global issues important to them; personal experiences with international travel or being immersed and engaged with a culture different from their own (locally or globally); and ways they can actively engage in ensuring a prosperous and equitable world. Upon successful completion of a website portfolio and presentation, eligible students will receive a Global Competence Certificate, issued by the World Affairs Council of Seattle. Students who present their portfolios in 9-11th grades, but do not meet the requirements, will have the opportunity to continue developing their portfolios, and to earn the certificate later in their high school careers.

The Global Competence Certificate Portfolio + Heritage Language Grant 

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) Multilingual Education Department awarded a Heritage Language Program Grant to Evergreen Public Schools in Vancouver, WA (2020-2022) and Wenatchee Public Schools in Wenatchee, WA (2022-2024), supporting a two-year remote-learning program for Heritage Language speakers of Romanian, Russian, Spanish, and Ukrainian. The project supports students in developing their language proficiency and literacy in their Heritage Language while also preparing a portfolio for the GCCP program in the Heritage Language (and English too, if they like) through the World Affairs Council - Seattle's Global Classroom. Upon completion of the program, students also have the opportunity to complete World Language Competency-Based Credit testing to earn high school credits in their language and potentially qualify for the Washington State Seal of Biliteracy. They may also qualify for the Global Seal of Biliteracy.

History of the the Global Competence Certificate Portfolio

Research in 2016
The concept of recognizing Global Competence with student portfolios was presented at the August 29, 2016 International Schools Symposium in Seattle Public Schools. The International Schools Leadership Team (ISLT) spent several months researching various models from the Asia Society, states of Wisconsin and Illinois, and a number of schools and colleges. Members of the ISLT completed a questionnaire, and based on the results, a design was created for the pilot in spring, 2017. For more information, see: https://sites.google.com/site/seattleislt/projects/global-certificate.

Pilot in Spring 2017
In 2016-2017, Seattle’s International Schools Leadership Team (ISLT) researched the feasibility of offering a recognition or certificate of some sort for students demonstrating global competence. We launched an effort to pilot the Certificate with the World Affairs Council Global Classroom during spring 2017 and awarded our first two Global Competence Certificates in June 2017 to a students at Chief Sealth International High School and Lakeside School in Seattle.

Interested in participating in the GCCP Program? Students and teachers, please click the blue button (top right) to complete the Global Competence Certificate Portfolio Interest Form! We will follow up with you on next steps.

GCCP Program Leadership Team

• Ryan Hauck, World Affairs Council Global Classroom Director, rhauck@world-affairs.org
• Michele Anciaux-Aoki, International Education and World Languages Advocate, michele@anciauxinternational.com
• Pedro Lopez-Chaves, ML/DL Instructional Specialist, lopezchavesp@tukwila.wednet.edu
• Otilia Baraboi, Vice President of Development & Co-founder of the American Romanian Cultural Society, otilia.baraboi@arcsproject.org
• Ileana Marin, ARCS Chair of the Board, ileana.marin@arcsproject.org
• Brandon Severance, Spanish Teacher & PACE Coach, Tacoma Online, bsevera@tacoma.k12.wa.us