Characterizing global citizenship education in U.S. international student services office websites

A critical discourse analysis

Authors

  • Ionell Jay R. Terogo Ohio State University, USA
  • Yun-Han Weng Ohio State University, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/shw7n923

Keywords:

global citizenship education, international student services office, websites, critical discourse analysis

Abstract

This study critically examines how U.S. International Student Services Offices (ISSOs) represent Global Citizenship Education (GCEd) on their websites. Employing critical discourse analysis, it explores the discursive strategies used to foster global citizenship among international students. The analysis identifies four key themes: (1) emphasis on “Living in the U.S.”, (2) neutrality toward global political issues, (3) absence of explicit GCEd spaces, and (4) inconsistencies in vision and mission statements. Findings suggest that ISSOs often promote a U.S.-centric, neoliberal, and implicitly colonial framing of GCEd, which may limit the transformative potential of global citizenship. The study proposes a framework of four levels of GCEd engagement as reflected in ISSO communications. It argues that higher education institutions must strive for deeper, more critical engagement with global issues if they are to genuinely cultivate global citizenship as an institutional goal in higher education internationalization.

Author Biographies

  • Ionell Jay R. Terogo, Ohio State University, USA

    IONELL JAY “IO” R. TEROGO is a Ph.D. candidate in higher education and student affairs at The Ohio State University Department of Educational Studies through the U.S. Fulbright scholarship. At his home university in the Philippines, he is responsible for the curriculum and instruction needs of the faculty, focusing on evaluating the attainment of graduate Catholic outcomes and attributes. He received grants from the UNESCO Asia Pacific Center for Education for International Understanding (APCEIU) to conduct a professional development program for faculty in global citizenship education and a tertiary course in global citizenship education for college students in education. His research interests are qualitative studies involving international students, discourse analysis, postcolonialism, Catholic higher education, teacher preparation, and global citizenship education. At present, he is a Graduate Teaching Associate at the OSU Dennis Learning Center.

  • Yun-Han Weng, Ohio State University, USA

    YUN-HAN WENG is a Ph.D. candidate in the Higher Education and Student Affairs program. She serves as a Graduate Research Associate at the College Impact Laboratory at The Ohio State University. She holds her B.Ed. in Civic Education and Leadership in Taiwan and M.S. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at UW-Madison. Yun-Han has work experience in the career management office, mainly supporting and advising international graduate students on their career trajectories. With enriched experience with international students and education, Yun-Han is interested in international student admission and identity development, specifically the graduate program.

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2026-02-10

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Vol. 16 No. 4 (2026): Journal of International Students

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How to Cite

Terogo, I. J. R., & Weng, Y.-H. (2026). Characterizing global citizenship education in U.S. international student services office websites: A critical discourse analysis. Journal of International Students, 16(4), 139-160. https://doi.org/10.32674/shw7n923