Global Citizenship Education in Finland, a Case Study

Abstract: The era of globalization and its multiple impacts around the world have affected the knowledge and skills that education should provide. This thesis examines global citizenship education (GCE) in the Finnish education context. The previous research of GCE in Finland revealed that there is a lack of understanding for what GCE is. This is the main reason for conducting this thesis. The thesis explains what is meant with GCE in the Finnish context, why it is considered important in the education field and how it is presented in the national compulsory education curriculum. I conducted three expert interviews and analyzed them by using Steinar Kvale and Svend Brinkmann’s interpretation of meaning method, and used critical discourse analysis to analyze the relevant parts of the national compulsory educations curriculum. The analysis revealed that GCE is considered as a multidisciplinary subject in Finland, which aims to increase students’ capabilities and increase equality and sustainability. GCE was viewed as a vital subject because of changing world. Additionally, GCE was considered to have the possibility to change the world and make more meaningful connections in students’ lives. GCE was presented in the curriculum as a multidisciplinary subject which follows through the values, aims and tasks of compulsory education. This study provides a clear starting point for future research of GCE and its implementation and impacts in Finland.