The Philippine Normal University sent 12 faculty members from the Institute of Teaching and Learning (ITL) to the Global Citizenship Education (GCED) Capacity-Building Training for the Second Cluster of GCED Cooperation Centres (GCC) at the Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU), under the auspices of UNESCO, on May 22-25, 2023 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The goal is to equip the participants with the knowledge and skills for integrating GCED in schools and teacher education institutions (TEI). The training was programmed to hold a variety of sessions, presentations, and visits to schools and universities, providing valuable insights and promoting collaboration among the participants.

Dr. Hyun Mook Lim, APCEIU Director, welcomed the delegates and reiterated support for GCED initiatives in the region. Ms. Yangsook Lee, Deputy Head of the Institute of GCED, provided an overview of the program. The participants shared concepts and principles related to GCED to deepen their understanding. The delegates from the National Institute of Education (NIE) and ITL presented the status of GCED implementation in Cambodia and the Philippines, respectively, followed by feedback sharing.

The training program, led by GCED experts and educators, was designed to be interactive in order to maximize interaction among the participants. They explored transformative pedagogy for GCED, discussed curriculum integration, and worked with their colleagues to map the curriculum using GCED concepts and principles. Visits to the GCED Museum, UNESCO Simulation Room, and Seoul Munsung Elementary School provided firsthand exposure to GCED practices in schools.

The delegates also had the opportunity to learn about GCED in Teacher Education through a presentation by Dr. Sung-Sang Yoo of Seoul National University. Action plans for GCED integration were presented by NIE and ITL delegates, focusing on training, curriculum, pedagogy, and physical structures.

The training equipped the PNU faculty members with the necessary skills and understanding to further integrate GCED and transform ITL into a model school.

The training concluded with a visit to Seoul Munsung Elementary School, where delegates observed classes and learned about the school’s Global Munsung Education initiative. The session ended with a sharing of reflections on GCED and a cultural showcase of the dance ‘Subli’ by select ITL faculty members.