Georgetown University is deeply committed to its role as a global university, paying particular attention to social justice issues at the root of its strong Jesuit tradition. Our Center’s initiatives form an important component of this agenda and span all regions of the world with a particular emphasis on developing countries and emerging democracies. As part of our mission the faculty of the The Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development (GUCCHD) participate in advocacy, workforce development, training, and technical assistance around the world.

The GUCCHD collaborates globally with other academic institutions. 

• Since 2004 our Center and East China Normal University, School of Preschool and Special Education (ECNU) have participated in a variety of scholarly and exchange activities.   
• In 2014 the Presidents of Georgetown University and the Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia executed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate cooperation in education and research. One of the first initiatives is a partnership with our National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC) to help establish a university-wide center at the University of Sydney focused on cultural competence.
•  In 2015, with the University of Tsukuba, Center for Research on International Cooperation in Educational Development in Japan, our Center’s faculty began a collaboration on issues related to people with disabilities through the life span.

As part of our global engagement, our Center is host to international visiting scholars interested in collaborating on research, training, and technical assistance activities that explore contemporary topics in support of children, adults, and families. We partner with organizations like the China Scholarship Council, Fulbright International, and a number of other similar groups. In particular, we have collaborated with programs in Lebanon, Dubai, and Mexico, enrolling students in our Early Intervention Certificate Program.

Working closely with other global foundations, our Center has provided transformative technical assistance and program activities. For example, since the early 1990’s, we have worked closely with the Open Society Foundation to develop democracy oriented preschool programs throughout Central and Eastern Europe. We were cofounders of the International Step by Step Program.  

Our faculty serve on a range of advisory groups and support a range of international organizations including the World Bank, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the United Nations (UN).

For example, working closely with the United Nations Scientific, Educational, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), our center Director holds a UNESCO Chair and serves as a US National Commissioner for UNESCO, promoting disabilities and gender equity within this 190 country culturally diverse framework, as well as addressing the globally neglected issues of early childhood education and services. In conjunction with the UNESCO Chair, our Center is home to the US Afghan Women’s Council, a public-private partnership whose mission is to mobilize the public and private sector to empower Afghan women and address gender equity issues in Afghanistan. The Council focuses on entrepreneurship, education, political leadership, legal awareness, access to health care, and disabilities.