Why Global Education Prepares Students for Postsecondary Opportunities

Preparing middle and high school students to succeed after graduation requires a comprehensive education that nurtures critical skills. Whether their postsecondary plans include college, military service, or entering the workforce, students need a strong foundation to excel in a fast-paced world.

Providing meaningful learning experiences to help students hone their skills and explore their interests requires input from the entire school community.

At Participate Learning, we believe global education is essential for preparing students to thrive in today’s interconnected world. By integrating global topics, current events, and core skills into existing school priorities, the Global Leaders framework ensures students are ready for postsecondary opportunities.

North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction, in collaboration with thousands of educators across the state, has created the Portrait of a Graduate. This framework identifies seven durable skills students need to succeed: adaptability, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, empathy, a learner’s mindset, and personal responsibility.

These seven skills can be developed through a global education, starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Below, we explore how students grow in these areas with a globally focused education experience.

Global Leaders Alignment with the Portrait of a Graduate

Adaptability

Students with adaptability demonstrate flexibility in challenging situations. They view issues from multiple perspectives and show resilience in the face of setbacks.

Exposing students to global perspectives helps them build adaptability throughout their education. By engaging with different cultures and ways of life, students learn to understand and respect new perspectives.

Collaboration and Communication

No matter their future paths, students will need strong collaboration and communication skills to succeed.

Students with a global perspective are equipped to work respectfully with individuals from various backgrounds. They develop the ability to consider multiple viewpoints and collaborate effectively to solve problems.

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is one of the most essential skills for career readiness. It enables students to analyze information, solve complex problems, and make evidence-based decisions.

In a Global Leaders classroom, students are encouraged to view the world critically, question assumptions, and dig beyond surface-level understanding. Through action-driven learning, they tackle real-world problems while building academic skills.

Empathy

Empathetic students demonstrate understanding, concern, and respect for others. They embrace differences and engage with people whose experiences and beliefs may differ from their own.

Global education fosters empathy by teaching students to value and respect the perspectives of others. This understanding helps them navigate various environments and build meaningful connections.

Learner’s Mindset

Students with a learner’s mindset are open to new ideas, embrace challenges, and demonstrate persistence. They apply their knowledge across contexts and maintain a positive attitude toward learning.

Global education nurtures this mindset by encouraging students to explore how factors such as geography, history, and community shape perspectives. They learn that growth comes from continuous learning and self-reflection.

Personal Responsibility

Students with personal responsibility take ownership of their decisions and understand the impact of their actions on others.

Global education equips students to recognize connections between local and global issues and motivates them to contribute positively to their communities and beyond.

Preparing Students for Success

A global education develops the skills students need to succeed after graduation while preparing them to lead in an interconnected world. Students with a global perspective are better equipped to collaborate, think critically, and adapt to new challenges, enabling them to thrive in their personal and professional lives.

For more information about the Global Leaders framework, check out this video to see how it works in action at one of our partner schools.