Introduction
In a rapidly changing world, young learners must understand how their choices connect to global systems — from the environment to the economy. The IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) helps develop this awareness through the Global Context “Globalisation and Sustainability.”
This context encourages students to explore how everything — people, nations, technology, and nature — is interconnected. It’s about more than climate change; it’s about responsibility, ethical decision-making, and understanding the long-term consequences of human activity. This article explores how teachers and students can design meaningful MYP projects that bring this context to life through inquiry and action.
What Is “Globalisation and Sustainability”?
“Globalisation and Sustainability” is one of the six IB MYP Global Contexts, and it focuses on the interconnectedness of systems across the planet.
It invites students to ask:
- How are we connected to other people and places?
- What are the environmental, social, and economic consequences of our actions?
- How can we build a more sustainable future?
Key Themes Include:
- Global economies and trade.
- Environmental systems and resource management.
- Ethical production and consumption.
- Human impact and ecological balance.
- Global citizenship and social responsibility.
Through this lens, students learn that every action — from what we buy to how we travel — has global effects.
Why It Matters in the MYP
The MYP’s mission aligns perfectly with this Global Context: to create caring, knowledgeable young people who contribute to a better world. “Globalisation and Sustainability” helps students:
