IGCSE Global Citizenship

introduction

The aim of the IGCSE Global Citizenship course is to introduce students to key issues affecting the global community and also to enable students to participate in local community actions and activities and understand the associated impacts

Students will develop analytical and evaluative skills as well as skills relating to independent research of topics and these skills will allow students to view global issues from different perspectives.

The course will be of interest to those wishing to progress to GCE level studies in citizenship, sociology or social sciences. In addition the course may be of interest to those seeking to understand global issues and citizenship from a personal perspective and apply their knowledge to practical situations such as voluntary work or within a career role.

Examination for this course is offered once a year in June

The IGCSE Global Citizenship course is presented over 5 units which mirror the specification and key examination questions. Students will also be required to undertake a local community action which connects to a global issue and which will form the basis of unit 5 examination questions. This is not a coursework element but an independent activity on which students will be questioned on in the written paper related to unit 5.

Each unit has an associated extended tutor marked assignment (TMA) which will provide students with feedback on general strengths and weaknesses
related to core topics, guidance and direction for improvement of performance.

Core content

1: Development of communities

• The origins and implications of identity
• Diversity
• International governance
• Universal Declaration on Human Rights – origins and main features
• Multiculturalism and integration
• Benefits and challenges of diverse societies
• The role of sport and culture in communities
• The causes and effects of migration on the global community

2: Democracy

• Government systems
• Features of democracy
• Totalitarianism regimes
• Monarchy
• Understanding how different types of government systems impacts communities
• Comparing national systems
• The impact of changes on representation including age, gender and race
• Local, national and global perspectives on democracy
• Patterns of representation
• Human rights
• Role of the United Nations

You will look at systems of government across the world and different forms of representation, as well as different perspectives on democracy.

3: Technology and communities

• Use of communications technology in both developed and developing countries
• The impact of technologies on communities including changes that take place as technology develops and the link between wealth and poverty and access to communications technology
• Rights and freedoms related to communications technology and the impact of census and bias related to communication technologies
• Political use of technology
• The uses of technology as a climate change solution

4: Creating a fairer world

• Global patterns of wealth and poverty
• Role and impact of the United Nations
• Economic relationships between rich and poor
• Developing sustainable economies
• Individual responsibility in creating a fairer world
• Business responsibility in creating a fairer world
• The role of charities and non-governmental organisations in creating a fairer world
• Rights and freedoms and the connections between economic development and human rights

You will inquire whether it is possible to create a fairer world, looking at patterns of wealth and poverty, sustainable economies and economic relationships. You will study the responsibilities of individuals and businesses and the roles of different organisations in creating a fairer world and how rights and freedoms might be affected.

5: Making a difference

• Research into an issues that has global connections
• Key stages of planning a relevant action
• Understanding different viewpoints on a particular issue
• Understanding the outcomes of an action at local levels and how these link to global issues
• Communicating your own views and perspectives
• Undertake your own community action relating to a global issue
• How to review the outcomes of your action