The WLA-CdM and the Varkey Foundation are launching the new initiative 'Education for Shared Societies' aimed at producing a global agenda on education that takes from former projects of the WLA-CdM
Education for Shared Societies is a new initiative by the World Leadership Alliance – Club de Madrid (WLA-CdM). It aims to mobilize political will around a global agenda that channels the key messages of Shared Societies and Preventing Violent Extremism into the education field. Acknowledging the defining role of education in shaping a society, the WLA-CdM will convene its members, senior representatives and experts from other partnering organizations to outline global policy recommendations stressing that formal and non-formal education can lead to inclusive, and more peaceful societies.
A shared society, as defined by the WLA-CdM Shared Societies Project, is that in which everyone has a sense of belonging and shared responsibility, shielded from dynamics of social exclusion, inter-group tensions and violence. Education is already one of the “Ten Commitments for a Shared Society” and this new initiative seeks to develop it further into a global agenda that promotes difference, diversity and mutual understanding in education centres and their curricula.
Similarly, Education for Shared Societies draws from the lessons of another WLA-CdM project, Preventing Violent Extremism, which identified education as a key prevention strategy to nurture shared values between communities. We have also identified technology as a crucial component of education nowadays. Consequently, Education for Shared Societies will have the following three pillars:
- Inclusive education for migrants and refugees.
- Education for preventing and countering violent extremism.
- Digital resilience for shared societies.
The WLA-CdM is developing a year-long process, setting up three working groups with the mandate to formulate policy recommendations that will be brought together into the global Agenda on Education for Shared Societies. The Agenda will be launched at the 2019 Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai.
