Global Citizenship and Wilfrid Laurier University

This report by LSPIRG Researcher Luke Stewart is intended to introduce the concept of Global Citizenship within the context of the contemporary opportunities and challenges facing the university institution. In specific this report will offer an analysis of Wilfrid Laurier University as a case study for the embrace of Global Citizenship and Global Citizenship Education. It will be the contention of this report that through conceptualizing the student body as Global Citizens, through embracing a more globally focused curriculum and promoting civic engagement through service learning – Wilfrid Laurier University will find a new and meaningful way to meet the challenges and opportunities our system will be facing in the twenty-first century. The university is in a position to exploit, question, explore and debate this contentious concept and in the process make its own conclusions and in turn help shape the character of its student body as they move into different stages in their lives.