In Australia, Global Citizenship Education (GCE) has been recognized as a crucial part of education due to the impact of globalization. Both the federal-state ministerial Melbourne Declaration (2008) on Educational Goals for Young Australians and the recent (2019) Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration emphasise the need for young Australians to become responsible local and global citizens who understand their global responsibilities and can bring about positive change. Nevertheless, the policy interest in GCE has not translated into significant financial support or curriculum emphasis, as high-stakes testing and economic preparation are prioritised. For example, the Global Education Project (GEP), which played a key role in advancing GCE in Australian schools, ceased to receive government funding in 2014, yet the need for GCE has not diminished. Despite the significant challenges that GCE faces, it remains important for connecting students to the world and equipping them with critical thinking and decision-making skills.
This study aims to investigate the understanding and appropriation of GCE among Chinese international students (CISs) in Australia, which will provide valuable insights into GCE in the Australian context. Australia, known as one of the world’s largest immigration nations, hosts over 141,000 registered CISs as of June 2022, but the existence of strong anti-China sentiments in the country makes this research particularly significant. The study will utilize TikTok, a popular social media platform for youth, including CISs, to explore how these students construct and negotiate their identities regarding GCE. The research will focus on a select group of students to understand how they interpret the conflicts between cosmopolitanism and nationalism, in order to gain a better understanding of how GCE is perceived and implemented in Australian high schools by students. This study aims to provide valuable insights into GCE in Australia and the role it plays in the lives of international students.
