Global Competence Program: A Project of the NEF Collaborative Initiative
Why Global Competence?As economies and cultures become more interconnected, and technology creates instantaneous links across the globe, cooperation, success and peace in the twenty-first century will increasingly require knowledge and understanding of the world beyond our borders.
Over the past decade, the Needham Schools have pursued a number of initiatives aimed at offering our students a broader, more multi-cultural and international experience. The goal of the Global Competence Program is for students to gain interdisciplinary experience and knowledge of the world, and concurrently develop the communication and self-awareness skills to be flexible, respectful, and creative as participants in, and contributors to, a globalized society.
This program is the first developed under the NEF's Collaborative Initiative.
NHS graduates will need the following skills in order to participate in and contribute to a globalized society:
Think Globally
- Be a geographically informed person-- understanding people, places and environments from a spatial, cultural, economic and historical perspective
- Understand the interdependence of the world
- Participate in international experiences
- Think about issues from a global perspective
- Evaluate information critically from various sources
- Converse proficiently in a foreign language
- Communicate through a variety of media
- Use global knowledge to build relationships with people from other cultures
- Seek knowledge to shape one’s own values and perspective and creatively imagine a world of possibilities
- Interact with people of other cultures with respect and flexibility in behavior and thinking
- Be able to analyze one’s own motivation in relation to others, reflect and adjust
- Help others embrace multiple perspectives
1. Foreign Travel
Students must participate in a challenging international experience in which they step outside of their comfort zone and connect directly to the culture and the people, preferably practicing foreign language skills.
2. Academic
Students must take a world language through Level 4, and receive a passing grade each year of C or above.
3. Global Service
The equivalent of one Community Classroom credit (30 hours) must be GCP related. The GCP community service project must expose the student to another world culture and should, ideally, employ their foreign language skills.
4. Extra-curricular
A minimum of three GCP extra-curricular activities must be completed (e.g. reading related books, watching films, cooking, attending a cultural event).
5. GCP Portfolio and Reflection Project
Upon completion of the GCP requirements, each student will present a portfolio to the GCP Portfolio Committee. The portfolio must include:
- The completed and approved GCP Travel Experience Form
- The completed and approved GCPGlobal Service Form
- The completed GCP Extra-Curricular Activity Form
- A GCP Résumé
- A Reflective Essay of 250-500 words, reflecting upon the student’s travel experience and/or other GCP experiences.
To assist students in finding eligible travel and community service options, the GCP has identified travel and service “partners” which are available on the GCP website.
For more information, visit the Needham High School Global Competence Program website.
NEF 2008-2009 Autumn Grant Application
Grant requests for up to $5000 may be completed by Needham Teachers, Administrators, or Parents. This is a Word Document.
Grant Application Deadline: October 10, 2008
Download the
NEF 2008-2009 Large Grant Application
Grant requests for up to $15000 may be completed by Needham Teachers, Administrators, or Parents. This is a Word Document.
Large Grant Concept Paper Deadline: Sept. 26, 2008
Large Grant Final Application Deadline: Nov. 25, 2008