The UNESCO Chair for Global Citizenship Education
Mission Statement
The UNESCO Chair at Penn State aspires to be the leading source of high-impact research, educational programs, policy and partnerships that improve the lives of youth and communities worldwide.
The UNESCO Chair Program
Awarded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UNESCO Chairs program seeks to advance research, training and program development in all of UNESCO's fields of competence by building university networks and encouraging inter-university cooperation through the transfer of knowledge across borders. Dr. Mark Brennan currently serves as the UNESCO Chair in Global Citizenship Education at Penn State.
Focus Areas of the Program
Our proven research, education, and outreach programs focus on three key interrelated areas: youth development and empowerment, community capacity building in which youth play a central role, and activism oriented toward social justice, change, and equality.
Empowerment of Our Young People
A third of the worlds population is under age 15, and half of all citizens are under age 25! In this setting there is a well-documented need for community, leadership, and youth development research, teaching, and programming particularly in developing countries to make a difference.
This UNESCO Chair on Global Citizenship Education for Sustainable Peace through Youth and Community Engagement supports UNESCO's priorities for addressing the specific issues and needs of youth and communities.
To enable the personal development of young people, we focus on research, teaching, and programming designed to facilitate leadership development, enhance youth social supports, provide life skills, and foster civic engagement. Such work creates an environment where youth are safe, engaged, empowered, and supported as they grow to become contributing members of their communities.
Development of Our Communities
We seek to develop communities and the collective capacity that enhances local life. Our proven work focuses on significantly engaging citizens of all ages in their communities to shape to the empowerment and betterment of their local societies. Through this process citizens take on ownership of decision-making, social and economic development, planning for the future, and coordinating to meet current local needs.
The Quest for Social Justice and Peace
Through the empowerment of young people and their communities we seek to build more open, just, and caring societies. In this setting all citizens are activists for social change, change agents against inequality, and champions for the rights of their fellow citizens.
Empowerment of Our Young People
A third of the worlds population is under age 15, and half of all citizens are under age 25! In this setting there is a well-documented need for community, leadership, and youth development research, teaching, and programming particularly in developing countries to make a difference.
This UNESCO Chair on Global Citizenship Education for Sustainable Peace through Youth and Community Engagement supports UNESCO's priorities for addressing the specific issues and needs of youth and communities.
To enable the personal development of young people, we focus on research, teaching, and programming designed to facilitate leadership development, enhance youth social supports, provide life skills, and foster civic engagement. Such work creates an environment where youth are safe, engaged, empowered, and supported as they grow to become contributing members of their communities.
Development of Our Communities
We seek to develop communities and the collective capacity that enhances local life. Our proven work focuses on significantly engaging citizens of all ages in their communities to shape to the empowerment and betterment of their local societies. Through this process citizens take on ownership of decision-making, social and economic development, planning for the future, and coordinating to meet current local needs.
The Quest for Social Justice and Peace
Through the empowerment of young people and their communities we seek to build more open, just, and caring societies. In this setting all citizens are activists for social change, change agents against inequality, and champions for the rights of their fellow citizens.
UNESCO Chairs for Peace Video
The UNESCO Chair in Global Citizenship Education for Peace through Youth and Community Engagement focuses on issues of youth and community capacity building to advance social justice and peace. Dr. Mark Brennan currently holds this position at Penn State.
Youth-as-Researchers
This program trains youth and young adults to create and carry out youth-driven and youth-owned social justice research projects of their choosing.
Empathy Education: Activating Social Empathy
The Empathy Project was created in 2017 to teach empathy to participants ages 14-25 through the Activating Empathy Curriculum.
The Pennsylvania State University 2023
410 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802