Among individuals, groups, and institutions committed to building a peaceful world, there is a long-standing consensus that there can be “no peace without justice”. Hence, this course seeks to provide a critical understanding of the relationship between conflicts and social and economic justice at local and global levels as well as peacebuilding initiatives to transform such conflicts in both South and North contexts. Identifying structural violence or social and economic inequalities and injustices as one of the major root causes of glocal (global and local) conflicts, it also explores strategies whereby nations and their citizens can live together with justice and compassion to build a culture of peace through personal and social action. Drawing on case studies in diverse regions in the Global South and in part in the Global North, four specific themes or sectors will be critically examined, including paradigms of development and globalization, marginalized rural communities, women and Indigenous Peoples The impact of unjust social structures and relationships at international, national and local levels in catalyzing conflicts will be analyzed. Various exemplars of grassroots peacebuilding initiatives and movements to transform these conflicts towards realities that reflect the values and principles of social and economic justice will also be explored. The course also provides a forum for understanding the roles played by NGOs, other civil society organizations and social movements in the building of a just world community.   ※For any inquiries regarding taking the course, please contact GCED Online Campus administrators, gcedonline@unescoapceiu.org.

The unfortunate reality is that, as of 2024, no country has fully achieved gender equality. However, the good news is that you and I can work together to change this and make gender equality a reality.  This course will introduce you to feminist activist approaches to eliminating discrimination against women. While efforts to combat discrimination often begin at the local level, global mechanisms are in place to support governments in fulfilling their commitments to women. You will learn about key United Nations mechanisms, including: • CEDAW (The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women),  • Special Procedures, • The Universal Periodic Review, and • The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A core focus of the course will be on Violence Against Women (VAW), which is both a cause and a consequence of gender inequality.  • Violence against women, particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence, is a significant public health crisis and a grave violation of women’s human rights. • According to estimates from the WHO, approximately 1 in 3 women (30%) globally have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.  We will examine the various forms and types of VAW and explore two critical topics in greater depth: Women’s Reproductive Rights and Women in Media. *Please take a look at the following dates for the Zoom live sessions during the course:

APCEIU launched the Korea-Japan Teachers’ Training Workshop on GCED in 2021, targeting 30 teachers from Korea and Japan, offering various sessions to enhance the participants’ GCED competencies as well as to foster global citizenship. Since then, they have engaged in varied activities, including collaborative lesson plan development, online seminars, joint classroom projects and student exchanges.   APCEIU is convinced of the necessity for continuing the Korea-Japan Teachers’ Network on GCED so that the created platform can further reinforce its role and meaning in encouraging the participants to truly understand the values of GCED and putting them in practice. In 2024, a new batch of teachers from the two countries will be invited to join the Network along with the existing members. To reach out to new teachers, APCEIU collaborates with the Japan Association of International Education (JAIE), Okayama University and Sophia University. Korea-Japan Teachers’ Network on GCED provides a training workshop for the participating teachers, which will be followed by the continued learning and interactive activities among the participants such as online seminars and case studies. In particular, teacher-centered learning communities within the Network are strongly encouraged for their mutual learning and interaction. The support for these teachers’ communities aims to provide a space for teachers to learn together, to broaden the perspective on GCED both as a teacher and a global citizen, and to reflect and grow together. Continuing the effort of enhancing mutual understanding among teachers and expanding their GCED practices, the Network aspires to contribute to building a culture of peace between Korea and Japan. 

What can be done when online hate speeches spread into the physical world? This closed course is designed for educators who want to teach about Media and Information Literacy. It will focus on the spreading of prejudice and stereotypes online and their consequences offline. The workshop will explain the role played by the Internet and the mechanisms of their diffusion on social networks (trends and patterns of online extremism). Using material found online, this course will allow the participants to experiment hands-on the functioning of Internet, define their own posture, and will give them the tools and recommendations to teach about it. In particular, students who want to apply for this course should complete the prerequisite course “Critical Media Literacy” in advance. Module No Title 1 The Challenges of Privacy Online 2 Consequences of Fake News and Conspiracy Theories 3 Online Discrimination and Hate Speech by Extremist Groups 4 The Role of Education  

From  the 60s onwards,   an awareness grew among governments  and citizens globally of an “environmental crisis”  due to a wide range of human activities and problems impacting on the environment.  There is now  universal consensus that “climate change” is one of the most serious and urgent threats facing the survival of humanity. Given GCED’s vision to promote  education and action to build a holistic culture of peace that includes human and planetary “development” based on values, principles and strategies of sustainability, the “climate crisis” is hence an indispensable theme in  GCED programs. This APCEIU online course seeks to initially provide a critical understanding of the causes and consequences of climate change resulting in the climate crisis that disastrously affects the well-being of humanity and our planet.  It also clarifies the alternative paradigms of “sustainable development” that underpins proposed and implemented strategies to address the climate crisis. The role of international policy and administrative institutions  to undertake climate action, such as the Conference of the Parties (COP) to implement the UNFCCC, will be highlighted.  Drawing on critical perspectives and social movements led especially by grassroots civil society organizations , NGOs and communities, the course also seeks catalyze personal and social action for climate justice in GCED.   PRE- or CO-REQUISITE COURSE: GCED101: Introduction to GCED

This 5-week course covers a basic introduction to human rights principles, standards and mechanisms, discussion of specific issues related to GCED from a human rights perspective, and an understanding of the teaching of human rights in relation to GCED issues. After taking this course, participants will be able to explain basic principles of human rights, discuss GCED issues from a human rights perspective, and expound on issues and systems of teaching human rights. Week 1 : Society, History, Culture and Human Rights Week 2 : International Human Rights Standards Week 3 : GCED Issues Affecting Human Rights Week 4 : Realizing Human Rights and GCED Week 5 : Building Sustainable Communities Various materials such as articles, videos, and documents from the United Nations, national/local governments, other institutions, and also individuals' are utilized for this Online Course. Each weekly syllabus has several sections containing materials and questions.   Course Preview