UNESCO Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU)

What UNESCO Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU) does

APCEIU is a UNESCO Category 2 Centre established in 2000 by intergovernmental agreement between UNESCO and the Republic of Korea, headquartered in Seoul's Guro-gu district. The organization is the only UNESCO-mandated institution specifically dedicated to Education for International Understanding (EIU) and Global Citizenship Education (GCED) in the Asia-Pacific region, serving over 40 UNESCO member states. Its mission is to advance SDG Target 4.7 by building educator capacity, developing contextual curricula, and convening policy dialogue on peace, sustainability, and global citizenship.

The Centre delivers five mutually reinforcing programmes: research and policy development, capacity-building, teaching and learning materials development, international teacher exchange (APTE), and information sharing and networking. The core technology stack includes the GCED Online Campus (gcedonlinecampus.org), the GCED Curriculum Development & Integration Platform (gcedcurriculum.org), the IConGCED conference portal, the UNESCO Clearinghouse on GCED, the NEST network platform, and the EIU Photo Class multimedia resource. Operational scale includes 8 GCED Cooperation Centres across Asia-Pacific, 14+ countries engaged in the multi-round GCED CDI programme, 25 consecutive annual training workshops, 12 consecutive batches of National GCED Lead Teachers (2,000+ trained), and 30+ active MOU partnerships. Flagship intellectual outputs include the SangSaeng semi-annual publication (Issue 65+), 78+ books, 120+ reports, and the annual International Conference on GCED.

APCEIU operates as a non-profit international organization governed by a joint UNESCO–Republic of Korea board comprising Korean ministries (Education, Foreign Affairs, Culture), UNESCO headquarters, member state representatives, and EIU/GCED experts. It is not a revenue-generating enterprise; funding flows from the Korean host government, UNESCO, and project-specific grants. The 2026 agreement renewal (Treaty No. 2619) and recent GCED CDI expansions into Uzbekistan, Nepal, Thailand, and Bangladesh demonstrate sustained programmatic expansion. Distribution occurs through direct programme delivery to ministries, event-driven workshops, the global GCED Online Campus, and a channel network of 8 GCED Cooperation Centres. The 8th Director, Dr KIM Jong-Hun, assumed office in June 2026.

Name

UNESCO Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU)

Legal name

UNESCO Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding

Website

https://unescoapceiu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Short description

UNESCO Category 2 Centre, established in 2000 by UNESCO and the Republic of Korea, dedicated to Global Citizenship Education (GCED) across 40+ Asia-Pacific member states, delivering curriculum development, teacher training, exchange programmes, and policy research through digital platforms and an 8-country Cooperation Centre network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Education and Capacity Building Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Access & Quality (International Development) (BPAGABAE), International & Comparative Education Policy Organizations (EDADADAL)

Keywords

• Global citizenship education
• Education for international understanding
• Teacher training programmes
• Curriculum development services
• UNESCO category 2 centre

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

APCEIU operates as a UNESCO Category 2 Centre that delivers Education for International Understanding (EIU) and Global Citizenship Education (GCED) programmes across the Asia-Pacific region. Its core offerings include GCED curriculum development and integration support for member states, educator training workshops, international teacher exchange (APTE), e-learning platforms (GCED Online Campus), publications (SangSaeng, books, reports), and the annual International Conference on Global Citizenship Education (IConGCED).

Product overview

APCEIU operates as a unified educational center offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and resources focused on Education for International Understanding (EIU) and Global Citizenship Education (GCED). The center's offerings include: the GCED Online Campus e-learning platform and GCED Curriculum Development & Integration Platform as digital resources; SangSaeng serial publication and various books/monographs as print materials; the IConGCED conference platform and regional training workshops as professional development events; the Youth Leadership Workshop and Asia-Pacific Teacher Exchange Program (APTE) as capacity-building programs; and the EIU Photo Class as a cultural understanding initiative. These products collectively serve educators, policymakers, and youth across Asia-Pacific member states to promote peace and global citizenship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GCED Online Campus: E-learning platform on Global Citizenship Education
• SangSaeng
• IConGCED
• EIU Photo Class

Products and services

• GCED Online Campus E-learning platform providing open courses and remote education programmes on Global Citizenship Education for educators across the Asia-Pacific region.
• GCED Curriculum Development and Integration Platform Online platform supporting GCED curriculum development and integration in partner countries, hosting resources and collaborative tools for curriculum design.
• International Conference on Global Citizenship Education (IConGCED) Annual international conference platform bringing together GCED practitioners, policymakers, and educators to share best practices and pedagogical approaches in global citizenship education.
• SangSaeng Serial Publication Bi-annual serial publication covering education for international understanding and global citizenship topics, distributed to educators, policymakers, and partner institutions.
• EIU Photo Class Photo archive of Asian cultures searchable by theme, sub-theme, and country, developed since 2008 to promote understanding of values through visual media.
• Asia-Pacific Training Workshop on EIU/GCED Annual flagship training workshop held in Seoul bringing together educators from across the Asia-Pacific region for intensive EIU/GCED professional development, with the 25th edition held in 2026.
• Youth Leadership Workshop on GCED Annual workshop for youth leaders focused on Global Citizenship Education, conducted in collaboration with UNESCO MGIEP, with the 12th edition held in June 2026.
• Asia-Pacific Teacher Exchange for Global Education (APTE) International teacher exchange programme placing Korean teachers abroad and hosting teachers from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Philippines, and Thailand in Korean schools for cross-border educational exchange.
• GCED Best Practices Programme since 2006 collecting and sharing successful EIU/GCED implementation stories from different social and cultural contexts to encourage educators and activists.
• Research Reports on GCED Various research reports on GCED monitoring, capacity-building workshops, youth leadership programmes, and policy studies published annually.
• UNESCO Clearinghouse on GCED Digital clearinghouse providing open access to GCED resources, research, and policy documents for educators and policymakers globally.

Quantifiable outcome

• 34 exchange teachers from 4 countries participated in the 2026 First-Half Teacher Exchange Programme
• +5 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 사단법인 세계시민포럼 (Global Citizenship Forum)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2025MOU partnership with the Global Citizenship Forum (Korean civil society organization) to promote global citizenship education and cooperation on shared educational objectives.
• 경희대학교 후마니타스 칼리지 (Kyung Hee University Humanitas College)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2025MOU partnership with Kyung Hee University's Humanitas College for academic cooperation in global citizenship education, joint research, and student/faculty exchange.
• 후지필름 코리아 (Fujifilm Korea)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 June 2025MOU partnership with Fujifilm Korea for potential collaboration on educational programmes and promotional activities related to GCED.
• 우즈베키스탄 유아일반교육부 (Ministry of Preschool and School Education of Uzbekistan)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 May 2025MOU partnership supporting GCED curriculum development and integration in Uzbekistan, part of APCEIU's multi-round GCED CDI programme. Includes collaboration on teacher training and curriculum design for Uzbekistan's education system.
• 몽골국립예술문화대학 (Mongolian National University of Arts and Culture)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2025MOU partnership for cooperation on arts-based approaches to global citizenship education, potentially incorporating cultural heritage into GCED curricula.
• 네팔 교육과학기술부 (Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Nepal)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2025MOU partnership with Nepal's Ministry of Education for GCED curriculum development support, part of APCEIU's 5th round GCED CDI programme supporting Nepal, Morocco, and Thailand.
• 태국 교육부 기초교육위원회 (Office of the Basic Education Commission, Thailand)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2025MOU partnership with Thailand's Office of the Basic Education Commission for GCED curriculum development and integration support, part of the 5th round GCED CDI programme.
• 방글라데시 국가 교육관리원 (National Academy for Educational Management, Bangladesh)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2025MOU partnership for post-project support in Bangladesh under the GCED CDI programme, focusing on educational management and GCED capacity building for administrators.
• 서울대학교 대학원 협동과정 글로벌교육협력전공 (Seoul National University Global Education Cooperation)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2024MOU partnership with SNU's Global Education Cooperation programme for academic collaboration, joint research, and graduate-level educational exchange on GCED.
• 한국외국어대학교 특수외국어교육진흥원 (Hankuk University for Foreign Studies)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024MOU partnership with HUFS's Center for Critical Foreign Language Education for collaboration on global citizenship education through language education and cross-cultural understanding.
• 강원대학교 (Kangwon National University)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2024MOU partnership with Kangwon National University for academic cooperation in global citizenship education research and education, drawing on the university's anthropology and social sciences expertise.
• 조지아 교육과학부 (Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 January 2024MOU partnership with Georgia's Ministry of Education for GCED cooperation, extending APCEIU's reach beyond the traditional Asia-Pacific region.
• UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with UNESCO MGIEP on the Youth Leadership Workshop on GCED, co-organizing the 12th edition. MGIEP is another UNESCO Category 1 Institute focused on peace and sustainable development education.
• 충남대학교 BK21 세계시민교육 미래인재양성사업단minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for the 11th IConGCED, contributing academic expertise and research capacity to APCEIU's international conference on GCED.
• 마하트마 간디 평화지속가능발전교육센터minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the 11th IConGCED alongside the Republic of Korea Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, bringing UNESCO's peace education expertise to the conference.
• 한국국제이해교육학회 (KOSEIU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing Korean academic partner working with APCEIU on international conferences, the GCED Storytelling Conference (Korea-China-Japan), and the 27th Annual Conference on EIU.
• 일본국제이해교육학회 (JAIE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese academic partner collaborating with APCEIU and KOSEIU on the Korea-China-Japan GCED Storytelling Conference, bringing together future educators from three countries.
• 베이징사범대학교 (Beijing Normal University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChinese academic partner in the trilateral Korea-China-Japan GCED Storytelling Conference, contributing Chinese perspectives on global citizenship education to the regional dialogue.
• 대한민국 교육부 (Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the 11th IConGCED and ongoing partner in national GCED initiatives including the Central Lead Teacher programme and Korean Teacher Training Workshop.
• 대한민국 외교부 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the 11th IConGCED alongside the Ministry of Education, providing diplomatic and international cooperation support for APCEIU's flagship conference.
• 유엔개발계획 (UNDP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization, suggesting collaboration on development and peace-related educational initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region.
• 모로코 교육부 (Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports of Morocco)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive partner in GCED curriculum development, with Morocco accelerating efforts to build a GCED implementation framework from policy to classroom. Collaboration also involves Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection.
• 모하메드 6세 환경보호재단 (Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partnering with APCEIU and Morocco's Ministry of Education on GCED curriculum development, contributing environmental and sustainability dimensions to the programme.
• 유네스코 (UNESCO Headquarters)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPCEIU operates under UNESCO auspices as a Category 2 Centre. UNESCO provides normative guidance, co-organizes events, and APCEIU contributes to UNESCO's SDG Target 4.7 goals on GCED.
• GCED Cooperation Centres (Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Nepal, Bangladesh)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 8 GCED Cooperation Centres established in rounds 1-4 across Asia-Pacific countries, serving as regional delivery channels for GCED programmes with local adaptation and implementation.
• ACER (Australian Council for Educational Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with ACER on the GCED Monitoring Guide, producing case studies on monitoring and evaluation of GCED implementation in schools and educational systems.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP): UNESCO Category 1 Institute also focused on global citizenship, peace, and sustainable development education. Direct peer as both organizations co-organize the annual Youth Leadership Workshop on GCED and operate under UNESCO's normative framework with overlapping mandates.
• Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU): Japan-based UNESCO-affiliated centre focused on cultural and educational cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. Direct peer as both organizations operate as UNESCO Category 2-style centres with mandates spanning education and culture in the same geographic region.
• World Learning (formerly The Experiment in International Living): US-based international education NGO operating exchange and training programmes including the Fulbright exchanges. Comparable in delivering cross-border teacher and student exchange, training of educators, and curricula on global citizenship themes.

Broad incumbents

• UNESCO International Bureau of Education (IBE): UNESCO Category 1 Centre headquartered in Geneva that serves as the global centre of excellence in curriculum and learning. Comparable in being a UNESCO-affiliated education body, but operates at a global rather than Asia-Pacific scope.
• Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA): Korea's primary development assistance agency, providing grant-based education and capacity-building programmes across Asia-Pacific and Africa. Comparable as a Korean government-funded international education development organization, though with a broader development mandate.
• Global Partnership for Education (GPE): Multilateral funding partnership and the largest single funder of education in developing countries, focused on SDG 4. Comparable in operating at the intersection of education policy, government capacity-building, and donor coordination in Asia-Pacific and beyond.
• OECD Directorate for Education and Skills: OECD division producing comparative education policy research (PISA, TALIS) and convening education ministers. Comparable in operating as an intergovernmental body producing education research and policy guidance, though with global OECD membership rather than Asia-Pacific focus.

Emerging players

• Education Cannot Wait (ECW): UN global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises. Comparable in being UN-affiliated, focused on education for vulnerable populations, and aligned with SDG 4, though with a humanitarian/crisis lens rather than GCED curriculum focus.
• Teach For All: Global network of independent partner organizations working to expand educational opportunity. Comparable in building teacher capacity and leadership pipelines, though operating through independent local partners rather than intergovernmental agreement.

Regional players

• Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO): Intergovernmental organization of Southeast Asian education ministries, operating 26 specialist centres across Southeast Asia. Comparable as a regional intergovernmental education body delivering capacity-building programmes to member states, though with a different geographic scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/apceiu
• Facebookfacebook.com/apceiu
• Instagraminstagram.com/apceiu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about UNESCO Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU)