Geography Education and Global Understanding: Exploring Some Ideas and Trends in a Fast-Changing World

Abstract

In times in which not only technological changes but also bewildering political changes create an insecure society in many parts of the world, it is important to contribute to an increase of Global Understanding. 2016 was the International Year of Global Understanding, a project that will go on in the coming years. For us, still a basic and important question is what we consider as Global Understanding and how geography education can help to promote it. Central in this contribution are the outcomes of a survey about Global Understanding and geography education among geography educators from all over the world. These geography educators show us that Global Understanding is an interesting but not well-defined concept. They also help us to formulate priorities for geography education and Global Understanding.