Through its Education Programs, the World Affairs Council works with students and teachers in secondary schools throughout the region. Each year the Council organizes and hosts over 100 events focused on the foreign policy challenges which lie ahead for the successor generation. These events are tailored to a student audience, and reach a combined total of over 11,000 students and teachers in nearly 300 area schools. As a result of these activities – and through the use of modern technology – students in Western Pennsylvania have had the opportunity to engage each other as well as their counterparts in secondary schools from as far away as Brazil, Italy, the Republic of Georgia, South Africa, and Taiwan.
The Council has been recognized as a leader in educational outreach and has received several awards including: The President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement as the Most Dynamic Mid-Size World Affairs Council in the United States; the World Affairs Councils of America's Carol Marquis Award Recognizing National Excellence in International Education at the High School Level; the International Bridge Award (Community) from the Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors and the Allegheny Conference on Community Development; and the Merit Award for Outstanding Contributions to World Languages and Cultures from the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association.