As part of iLEGEND III, a joint programme funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe implemented by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe take place from 18 to 24 November on the theme "Connected people for an inclusive planet". This edition includes thousands of activities organised in more than 26 countries, including conferences, school mobilisations, training for teachers and practitioners, and a range of initiatives with diverse methodologies.

Implemented by the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute and the Ministry of Education, Sport, and Youth, with support from CARDET, the Global Education Week in Cyprus encompasses both formal and non-formal education, empowering young people to drive change in their communities.  

This year, Cyprus responds to the Global Education Week's call for action by organising a conference for practitioners and experts and creating a school network focusing on sustainable practices.

From the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute (CPI) of the Ministry of Education Sport and Youth, Dr. Aravella Zachariou, Head of the Unit of Education for Environment and Sustainable Development and Chair of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Education for Sustainable Development Steering committee, Dr. Elena Papamichael, First Educational Planning Officer and Dr. Marios Antoniou, Educational officer of the Unit of Education for the Environment and Sustainable Development, accepted to answer some questions about Global Education practices in Cyprus.

Non-formal education complements the formal curriculum by fostering creativity, adaptability to new challenges, and cooperative learning methods. "It provides flexible, accessible learning opportunities that focus on practical skills, critical thinking, and social awareness," explains Dr. Marios Antoniou.

As an example of good practice, Dr. Aravella Zachariou, highlights the "Greening My School – Greening My Community" programme, which addresses climate change through local action. "Students studied how planting native species could improve local ecosystems and learned about global biodiversity loss. For example, they identified pollinator-friendly plants, observed their impact on local wildlife, and applied their findings to community spaces", she explains. Monitoring temperature, humidity and carbon levels allowed students to track outdoor spaces and show how urban greening mitigates climate impacts such as heatwaves—a local issue with global relevance.

Dr. Antoniou also presented a school-wide project exploring the interconnections between climate change and plastic pollution. "Through research, discussion, and hands-on activities, students came to understand that they are both part of the problem and part of the solution, empowered to reduce their impact and advocate for change."

Global Education methods in Cyprus incorporates human rights and inclusion principles through experiential activities in the formal curricula. Dr. Elena Papamichael notes the impact of the Pedagogical Institute’s School Network in supporting the Ministry’s anti-racism policy. "The Network employs an intersectional approach, empowering teachers to deal with under-reported incidents and adapt interventions to address the evolving nature of racism globally", she explains. To support this work, CPI provides helplines, multilingual leaflets for parents, and training for the school community.

Collaboration among policymakers, educators, teachers, and NGOs is fundamental for preparing young people to think critically, evaluate the social and environmental consequences of political and economic decisions, and propose sustainable alternatives in both the content and format of learning methods.

In this sense, Global Education facilitates engagement with global challenges through both theoretical and practical approaches, fostering skills that students can carry and apply throughout their entire lives.

The Global Education Week is part of iLEGEND III, a joint programme co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe with the Global Education Network. It offers diverse opportunities for participation and aims to develop learning communities for active global citizenship. Educators, students, civil society organisations, government agencies, educational institutions and communities around the world are invited to come together and address these global challenges through local actions.