Integrating Global Citizenship Education in Higher Education in Tanzania: Lessons from the Literature

Abstract

Global Citizenship Education (GCE) has become an essential aspect of international education. Although GCE has been emphasized to be applied by some nations around the world, a clear awareness of GCE and how to develop it and mainstream it into the national education system remains unclear in some developing countries like Tanzania. The issue of inadequate global citizenship skills among graduates from higher education is a serious concern to researchers and practitioners in awakening the current world realities. This study employs a literature review as a central method of studying the problem. For this purpose, the study reviewed the current literature on the concept of citizenship education and the practical and evidenced approaches that higher learning institutions should use to implement global citizenship education. Based on the standing points of the review, the study concludes that GCE is currently inadequate in most African countries and there is a need to create awareness by both governmental and non-governmental associations. Therefore, if higher education institutions in Tanzania wish to attain their interested goal of developing global citizens, every educator must support the appropriate pedagogy that is vital in promoting GCE in every country of this globalized world. Furthermore, every educational stakeholder is needed to dedicate effort, time and other educational resources to GCE. Moreover, to meet the intended goals of promoting GCE in Tanzania, active cooperation, coordination and networking among teachers, governmental and non-governmental organizations, colleges and universities is fundamental to engage effectively, as well as productively to provide support for collaboration on finding solutions to the national curriculum as well as on global issues. However, these suggestions need strong leadership that considers changes in the way that GCE is effectively implemented in Tanzanian higher education.