Global Citizenship: from Theme to Practice

Wellington College is a leading boarding school in the UK, with a global family of schools spanning China, India, and Thailand. As part of its commitment to global citizenship, Wellington sought new ways to help students engage directly with communities and perspectives beyond the classroom.

Client
Wellington College

The Experience

First in 2022, and subsequently in Fall 2022, 2024 and 2025, Wellington partnered with Shared Studios to bring a Portal to campus, integrating it into key school events like Global Empathy Week and the Arts Festival.

Educators collaborated with Shared Studios to curate programs that enriched lessons in history, religious studies, global perspectives, and the arts.

Across the years:

Over 150 sessions were integrated across history, global citizenship, religious studies, drama, and language courses.
More than 2,000 student interactions took place with a diverse range of global speakers and facilitators from across our portal network.
Programs were co-designed with faculty to align directly with academic units and curriculum themes.

The Results

Our immersive programming has become a recurring part of Wellington’s educational offering. It serves as a key tool in helping the school deliver on its vision of meaningful, student-centered global learning and differentiate itself from other schools.

Student Outcomes:

92% of students said the Portal deepened their understanding of global issues.
90% reported increased empathy and respect for different perspectives.
84% felt more confident engaging with people from different backgrounds.

Faculty Feedback:

100% of teachers agreed the Portal enriched their curriculum delivery.
Teachers highlighted increased engagement, reflection, and curiosity from students.
Feedback included how it helped students grasp abstract ideas, brought a real-world dimension to their subjects, and encouraged thoughtful discussion.

"It really gives pupils the ability to develop understanding of people in other communities through the medium of conversation, highlighting both the differences but more importantly the similarities we all share."

Rebecca Park, Head of Global Citizenship
"It ignited a tapestry of global connections, weaving together diverse perspectives and fostering profound empathy. Through immersive conversations from Erbil to Johannesburg, from Mexico to Barbados, our students delved into the heart of pressing global issues. This year’s journey not only broadened our minds but deepened our sense of interconnectedness and empathy, echoing the sentiment that we find our common humanity in embracing differences."

Ana Romero, Head of Global Education
"Connecting with other people on a deep level allows us to develop our humanity and understanding. I think this project has been really successful in delivering this aim."

Adrian Stork-Ordish, College Chaplin
"I better understand now how climate change knows no borders, and how it is a global problem that truly demands collective action by us all, everywhere."

Student