This article reviews the rival trends and competing discourses within the cosmopolitan tradition to formulate a comprehensive educational approach, called 'rooted cosmopolitanism', that is timely, conceptually operational, culturally sensitive, and applicable in local educational settings. After reviewing the existing conceptions of cosmopolitanism, I define cosmopolitanism and cosmopolitan education. Then I present various critiques of the cosmopolitan discourse, focusing on the need for rootedness. To bridge the tension between lofty cosmopolitan values and the concrete demands and aims of local educational systems, I conclude by claiming that cosmopolitan education can be sustained through a prism of local culture, religion, heritage and language.