Humanity is made up of richly different national and cultural identities and we are more than ever interdependent, confronting the same global problems and opportunities, with a responsibility to cherish and sustain our planet and its resources. The urgent challenge facing educational establishments is to instil students with a deep-seated understanding of this heterogeneity and interdependence. Comprehending global citizenship – its values, duties, responsibilities, knowledge and skills – is therefore a mission for education everywhere and at all levels. Internationalisation needs to be introduced into school curricula and international exchange programmes have an important role to play in developing respect and understanding of human diversity.