The World Citizen School Model. Learning Philosophy and Learning System for Global, Socially Innovative and Value-Based Future Learning

This chapter presents the learning philosophy and learning system of the World Citizen School. The project started in 2013 at the Weltethos Institute of the University of Tübingen (The Global Ethic Project goes back to Küng (1997). ‘Weltethos’ is the German name for Global Ethic after which the Weltethos Institute and the Weltethos Foundation, which Küng co-founded, are named). Early in the development process, the founder and author of this paper was particularly influenced by the concept of the so-called “twenty-first Century Skills”, the 4C skill set of collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and creativity. Against this background, the ability to think and act procedurally (following the inquiry-based learning approach) receives special attention as an action-guiding process logic. This is practiced in particular with the didactic method which can be described as “dialogue around a common vision, mission, goals, and values, based on the concept of the ‘learning organization’”. With the latter, the primary focus of the learning philosophy moves to ethical competenceCompetenceEthical Competence development, for which the Weltethos Project and the Capability Approach serve as a reflective framework.