21st Century Civic Education: Creating Awareness of Cultural Diversity as Citizens of the World

摘要

As pedagogical response to challenge and demand in 21st century, Civic Education needs an approach which is more holistic, that is, the approach which capable to build awareness of various global problems such as migration, environmental crisis, human crisis, terrorism, etc. This awareness can be grown if student has understanding that he or she is social creature who has cultural diversity. This paper aims to explore (1) How students' perception of cultural diversity as world citizen; (2) How Civic Education can build students' awareness of cultural diversity in the life as global citizen. This study was conducted in 3 universities, namely State University of Medan, University of South Sumatera, University of Medan Area. As for the subject of study were students in those three universities with total of 540 students along with lecturers and Civic Education experts. This study used analytical descriptive as research method, with two research approaches namely qualitative (qualitative descriptive) and quantitative (survey). The study result showed that (1) Students are able to see the difference and willing to cooperate with people from different cultures in responding to global problem. But the survey result also showed that cultural difference and cultural bonding very influence someone to respond to global problem. (2) Civic Education is the course which play important role in building students' awareness as global citizen through an approach which is more holistic and integrative. This study result recommended that there is need of Civic Education learning which capable to build knowledge, awareness and responsibility as global citizen.