Michael Lee discusses revolutionising global citizenship through innovative education, volunteering, and international travel
One warm evening in late 2011 Michael Lee (Mike) was relaxing in a bar in Chiang Rai, Thailand. He’d spent the day working on an ongoing project he was part of rolling out Montessori school programmes for Burmese refugees from the Shan state through the Kom Loy foundation. Taking a break in town, Mike overheard a conversation between two foreign English teachers, one of whose mother was heading out to pay them a visit.
Listening to the group discussing the best ‘tourist-friendly’ elephant sanctuaries in Thailand, Mike realised there was a glaring gap in the understanding and awareness around ethical tourism and animal welfare. Sanctuaries like these advertised elephant encounters to tourists and travellers. In reality, they often showcased young elephants bred in captivity. Ethically, it was a questionable model. Mike, though, was inspired: he saw that the challenges around ethical volunteering and tourism were multifaceted and deeply entrenched in a lack of proper education and awareness – there had to be a better way.
“Our vision is to reinvent education as the powerhouse for global citizenship”
— Michael Lee
Recognising the potential for true, transformative change, Mike found it, in his own words, through a journey that saw him connecting the dots. When working in an animal rescue centre
in Bolivia in 2018, for example, he saw how volunteers, while passionate and eager to help, often lacked clear guidance, structure, and a deeper understanding of the impact of their efforts. They needed a more structured educational framework to prepare and support them to deliver truly meaningful work.
During COVID, Mike was working with LSBU Global on Transnational Education (TNE) Projects at London’s South Bank University. The university, which is one of the UK’s main players in international validation and quality assurance for online and international programmes, was the ideal environment for his idea to grow. “I had the opportunity to reflect on and design an educational model that addressed a lot of the challenges I’d seen over the years,” he says, picking up the story. “I envisioned a course that would not only prepare people for volunteering but also provide them with a comprehensive understanding of the cultural, social, and ethical dimensions of their work.”
Education beyond the classroom
Mike’s vision rapidly became the Centre for Global Citizenship Studies (CGCS), which he established in 2020, bringing in his business partner Jared Borkum, a thought leader in education gamification, instructional course design, and impactful education. The mission was to pioneer new educational frontiers and empower students wanting to volunteer and actively engage in global challenges through a suite of meaningful and impactful project-based certificates and diplomas. “It was built on best practices in blended teaching and
learning methodologies, also incorporating elements from apprenticeships and traineeships to provide a structured yet flexible learning experience,” Mike explains.
“Key components include preparation for volunteering projects, understanding cultural nuances through the lens of inquiry, the cultural iceberg model, dealing with reverse culture shock, ways to measure and understand the impact of volunteering efforts, guidance on fundraising, and analysing and understanding the broader needs, impacts and dynamics of the communities that our volunteers serve,” he adds. “It’s a platform where education meets action, theory meets practice, and learning goes beyond the confines of traditional classrooms. We coined it ‘the classroom without walls’, but that’s now a common term I can’t take credit for. People are empowered to become informed, effective, and compassionate global citizens, equipped
to make a positive difference in the world.”
The CGCS runs accredited Diplomas in International Volunteering across marine conservation, wildlife preservation, and global citizenship. International accreditation gives volunteers tangible value from their experiences – CGCS’s courses are recognised in the UK, Europe, Australia, and Canada via the OFQUAL register and in the US through its School of Record partnership with Warren Wilson College and the University of Jacksonville. Upon completion, students receive academic credit and diploma-level qualifications that help with college, higher education and employment opportunities all over the world.
Mike has seen a shift towards this kind of practical learning and focus on understanding global challenges and perspectives beyond the classroom over his 20 years in education. “Learning isn’t trapped between bell rings anymore,” he says. “Most education has gone rogue, and in a good way. It’s spilled out into the streets and fields, and onto our screens – we’ve students tracking turtle migrations in Costa Rica or building solar panels
in a village in Ghana as part of their coursework.
“Sustainability has also become a mindset, not just a lesson plan. Students are stepping up as mini-activists, pushing for change and, in a lot of cases, making adults sit up and listen,” adds Mike. “Citizenship is global, too. You’re no longer a citizen of your hometown, but of the world – schools are twinning with others globally, just look at the #twinforhope campaign with Ukraine and UK universities, language lessons are about Microsoft Teams and Whatsapp chats with students in other countries, and history takes an increasingly global perspective. At the same time, you’ve an environment where skills are far more applicable to solving real-world problems. It’s a huge change that’s teaching young people to think big, have empathy as their compass, and prove they can understand and discuss concepts and ideas that matter.”
“It’s about teaching young people to think big, have empathy as their compass, and prove they can understand and discuss concepts and ideas that matter”
— Michael Lee
Making a meaningful impact
Volunteering and travelling is an essential part of this kind of learning. And while it’s always been a right of passage for many young people, Mike and CGCS promote volunteering that matters, only partnering with and recognising high quality projects and organisations to avoid the type of ‘volun-tourism’ often associated with white saviour syndrome – parachuting into a local community, looking to do good with little understanding of how and why work is necessary or acting in a disrespectful manner, then leaving with a few Instagram shots for good measure.
“We combine the rigour of formal education with the vitality of real-world experience, and each programme is tailored to imbue learners with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to become proactive guardians of our planet and its inhabitants,” Mike explains. “Volunteering and travelling are the dynamic duo of the real world classroom and young people hitting the road are doing it with purpose. They’re change makers, earth-shakers, and bridge builders. But it’s about getting out of your comfort zone – you’re not just a tourist snapping pictures. We don’t just send people off with a backpack and good wishes, we integrate their passion for volunteering into a structured academic programme.”
Fostering a sense of global citizenship and an understanding of our wider place and impact in the world underpins the diplomas offered by CGCS. Mike calls this ‘the secret sauce in the recipe for a better world’, and it’s a philosophy he’s carried throughout his life. “When I was young, my grandmother would tell me you can change the world, and you never have to do it alone,” he reflects. “You only have to do enough work to change 1% then inspire 99 more people to do the same. That premise is always there: you can make meaningful and impactful change just by doing your bit, and it’s about citizenship but also stewardship.
“A sustainable and fairer planet isn’t just a nice idea, it’s an absolute must-have for us all. That only happens when every global citizen is on deck and ready to play their part,” Mike stresses. “At CGCS education transcends traditional boundaries. It’s learning with purpose and travelling and volunteering with an open heart and a keen spirit. We believe in swapping knowledge across borders, and that what you learn sticks when you’re in the heart of the action, contributing to the world not just as observers, but participants.”
The classroom without walls: a visionary approach
Beyond being just a course, each of the Centre for Global Citizenship Studies’ international volunteering diplomas are a journey into the realms of advocacy, environmental stewardship, and global responsibility.
Diploma in International Volunteering with a Specialisation in Global Citizenship
For those ready to tackle global challenges head on. A deep dive into what it means to be a global citizen today, blending political science, sociology, economics, and environmental studies. Students engage with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, develop critical thinking, and explore civic engagement. The programme encourages active learning, fostering a philosophy of global citizenship that goes beyond the course into lifelong advocacy for change.
Diploma in International Volunteering in Wildlife Conservation
For the wildlife enthusiasts. It offers an opportunity to become part of the solution to pressing environmental challenges. It’s an active, hands-on learning journey, marrying conservation biology with sustainable resource management. Students emerge not just as graduates but as champions of biodiversity, ready to make a tangible impact on the world.
Diploma in International Volunteering in Marine Conservation
A call to all who are passionate about preserving our oceans. This programme is a profound exploration of marine habitats and conservation strategies, blending theoretical knowledge with practical action. It’s designed to mould students into change makers in marine ecosystem preservation.
Tomorrow’s global citizens
CGCS provides a mix of online learning and immersive travel and volunteering that hones real-world skills and ensures students don’t just learn about global issues but work on solving them. Students can choose from three courses: Diploma in International Volunteering (Global Citizenship), Diploma in International Volunteering (Wildlife Conservation), and Diploma in International Volunteering (Marine Conservation).
Each of these flagship programmes is delivered over five interactive modules/courses, starting with preparation for international volunteering including planning for selection, before moving through the specialised content (Global Citizenship, Wildlife Conservation, or Marine Conservation), undertaking the volunteering placement, and then reflecting on the experience post-placement.
Mike designed the diplomas in conjunction with his network as a launchpad for students, whether they want to continue their academic journey or build a career. “The practical experience and specialised knowledge people gain positions them really well for roles in non-profits, NGOs, environmental consultancies, and other similar roles,” he notes. “Our goal is to offer a blend of academic prowess and practical expertise that’s highly valued in today’s interconnected and socially conscious job market. It shows not just what students know, but who they’ve become: proactive, knowledgeable individuals ready to make an impact on a global scale.
“You can change the world, and you never have to do it alone. You only have to do enough work to change 1% then hope you can inspire 99 more people to do the same”
— Michael Lee
“To ensure that’s the case every course is tailored: it’s hands-on, it’s real-time, and it’s personal to the individual,” continues Mike. “Say you’re helping with microfinance projects in Tanzania, that’s not just volunteer work, it’s your economics classroom. The lessons you learn and the experiences you gain become the building blocks for your CGCS Diploma. These kinds of experiences enrich peoples’ understanding of their field and shape their worldview. We want the diplomas to be a unique combination of academia, travel, sustainability, project management, and life experience, all tied up in one comprehensive package of learning and growth.”
CGCS expects to be enrolling 500 new students for 2024, with the majority of those coming from the UK and US. Growth, he says, isn’t just about numbers, but rather, being a part of the evolution of education – essential for sustainable development and recognised across many of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals – by encouraging practical wisdom and social consciousness. “Our vision is to establish education as a catalyst for global citizenship,” he states. “To do that, as we grow we have to let our values lead the way and prioritise impact over scale, and substance over size.
“We’re in an interconnected world, and the thirst for education that transcends conventional boundaries and nurtures active global citizens will only intensify. I predict a surge in demand for programmes that integrate global citizenship, positive action, and sustainable development and I want us to be right at the front of charting the course toward a future where education is the gateway to a better world for all.”