An Evolution in Education: From GEBG to the Institute for Global Learning
As educators, we have a responsibility to adapt the field of education in response to the ongoing changes in the world around us. As schools prepare students for a future defined by interconnectedness, understanding global issues and developing global competencies has never been more critical.
The Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG)’s evolution from a grassroots community of educators into the Institute for Global Learning reflects a significant growth in the field of education, led by the innovative educators that comprise our community. As we update our name and identity to reflect the organization we have become, we celebrate the journey that brought us to this place, inspired by the future we hope to build together.
From Humble Beginnings to Global Impact
The GEBG began in 2008 when 16 school leaders, all passionate about global education, came together to exchange ideas and model practices. From these modest roots, the community grew rapidly. By 2013, the GEBG had officially become a registered non-profit organization, expanding its influence and providing institutional support and professional development to an increasing number of schools and educators.
Over the next decade, the organization blossomed, coming to serve four hundreds of schools across 23 countries and offering a wide variety of programs and resources for schools. Today, the Institute for Global Learning supports schools in delivering on their own unique missions by engaging their students with the world, both close to home and beyond. We connect educators with the community and resources they need to engage their students with global issues, global perspectives, and global experiences; and we collaborate with educators and schools to cultivate global citizens through customized, research-informed initiatives. Our programming focuses on a variety of always-evolving topics, including global perspectives and issues across the curriculum, intercultural dialogue, student action as global citizens, climate education, and off-campus and experiential learning.
The Need for Change: A New Name and Identity
As a result of all of this growth, it became clear that we had outgrown our original name, logo, and visual identity, so we began a process, led by staff and a board working group and in partnership with creative studio Evergib, to determine how to best update those elements to describe the organization of today and tomorrow.
Our original name aptly reflected the grassroots group of educators that initially came together to identify benchmarks in order to define and advance the then burgeoning field of global education. We wanted our new name and tagline to honor this history while better reflecting two primary characteristics that have come to best define us: we are both a nexus of model practices and practical resources guided by data and research as well as a connected community of educators who believe in empowering students through transformative global learning—in and out of the classroom, across disciplines and divisions.
Sophie Paris, a member of board working group that guided this process and Director of the Porters Center for Global Leadership at Miss Porter’s School (CT), shared her perspective on the new name in its impact: “I think that Institute for Global Learning as a name fully captures what the organization is today—a serious research institute and a warm, welcoming community connecting educators and students and broadening their understanding of what ‘global’ learning is. The Institute for Global Learning has become a space for visionary educators from all disciplines, administrators, and students to learn about, develop and engage in transformative global learning opportunities together.”
We believe our new logo reflects that global learning is not only about connecting with people and places different from one’s own but also about global competencies like resilience, intercultural communication, collaboration across differences, and valuing diverse perspectives. Our new logo also reflects the strength and stability of our community alongside its dynamism—the powerful foundation that comes from being connected to one another and the dynamic potential of engaging with the world around us.
Ann Diederich—Pasadena Chapter President of the United Nations Association (CA) and former long/time global direct at a member school, and another member of the board working group—echoed the sentiment of how the transformation reflects the organization’s evolving commitment to the field: “I like that our new name and look encompass all aspects of our work—travel, curriculum, leadership development, and global competency. The logo reflects our solid foundation in global education backed by data, as well as our ability to adapt to change or unexpected circumstances. With new branding we can communicate a clear and strong message about the importance of global competency development, which will engage more educators in our programming and ultimately, provide our students with the tools to face global challenges with empathy, resiliency, and creativity.”
Connecting Educators. Empowering Students.
The Institute for Global Learning’s new identity centers the essential role that educators play in empowering young people to thrive in our complex, interconnected, beautiful world and to shape the future toward one they wish to see. We do this, as we always have, by bringing together the educators who work tirelessly to continue to innovate and grow in order to respond to our ever-changing world and by utilizing data and research to guide and support the work.
As the Institute continues to thrive, we remain deeply committed to our grassroots origins; The community that helped shape the GEBG remains at the heart of the Institute’s work. This new chapter centers our dedication to making an impact in the communities we serve and staying true to the values and purpose that have always guided us. We are not changing what we do, just more accurately describing who we have become together over the last twelve years.
Looking forward, the Institute for Global Learning remains steadfast in its belief that global learning can take place in all areas of a school community. As educators and leaders continue to shape the future of global learning, the Institute for Global Learning stands as a dedicated partner in this important mission. By continuing to connect educators and empower students, the Institute ensures that education will remain a transformative force for generations to come.
A Future Focused on Engaged Global Learning
Our evolution from the Global Education Benchmark Group to the Institute for Global Learning reflects both our growth and transformation as an organization and of the field of global education as a whole. It’s a testament to the power of collaboration, the importance of adaptability, and the power of our commitment to preparing students to both deeply understand and shape the world they have inherited. Because of the work and generosity of our community, the Institute is poised to continue its impactful work for years to come.
Yom Fox, another member of the board working group and High School Principal at Georgetown Day School (D.C.), spoke to the long-term vision for the Institute: “My hope is that the Institute for Global Learning continues to be a guiding force for schools and educators who want to create meaningful, transformative learning experiences. I hope we continue to lead with research, best practices, and collaboration—informed by data and inspired by possibility—while staying rooted in our commitment to equity and inclusion. Additionally, I hope that as we grow, we empower more students to not only understand the world but to change it—taking informed action that bridges divides and builds a more just, compassionate global community. More than anything, my hope is that we are all by the stories, experiences and lessons, that our work reveals, allowing us to be fully invested in creating a future rooted in the belief that our shared humanity can bring us together, heal divides, and shape a world that is affirming, compassionate, and kind.”
