Resources
Explore a wide range of valuable resources on GCED to deepen your understanding and enhance your research, advocacy, teaching, and learning.
3,500 Results found
Dialogue for Prevention Year of publication: 2025 Corporate author: UNESCO In an era where geopolitical power struggles disrupt traditional peacebuilding, where identity and misinformation fuel divisions, and where trust in institutions is eroding, UNESCO’s Intercultural Dialogue for Conflict Transformation briefs series presents an adaptable, culturally grounded, and people-centred approach to peacebuilding. With 1.5 billion people living in contexts with low intercultural dialogue where global challenges such as absolute poverty, terrorism and forced displacement are more prevalent, this four-part series draws on firsthand experience, country case studies, and expert analysis to demonstrate the transformative potential of dialogue in fragile and conflict-sensitive settings. The Dialogue for Prevention brief, developed with the Auschwitz Institute for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities, explores the powerful role intercultural dialogue can play in preventing large-scale identity-based violence, particularly in the upstream and downstream phases of conflict. Grounded in the idea that dialogue can bridge divides and foster mutual understanding, the brief argues that enabling environments for intercultural dialogue—marked by stability, inclusive governance, freedom of expression, horizontal equality, and social cohesion—also mitigate key risk factors for atrocity violence. Drawing on diverse examples from Cambodia, Colombia, Italy, and Kenya, it showcases creative, context specific applications of dialogue. Through practical guidance, the brief equips policymakers, practitioners and civil society seeking to embed dialogue into prevention strategies. 
Dialogue for Social Cohesion Year of publication: 2025 Author: Isaure Vicarini | Euan Mackway-Jones Corporate author: UNESCO In an era where geopolitical power struggles disrupt traditional peacebuilding, where identity and misinformation fuel divisions, and where trust in institutions is eroding, UNESCO’s Intercultural Dialogue for Conflict Transformation briefs series presents an adaptable, culturally grounded, and people-centred approach to peacebuilding. With 89% of conflicts worldwide occurring in countries with limited capacity for intercultural dialogue, this four-part series draws on firsthand experience, country case studies, and expert analysis to demonstrate the transformative potential of dialogue in fragile and conflict-sensitive settings. The Dialogue for Social Cohesion brief—developed in collaboration with the Berghof Foundation and Search for Common Ground—bridges theory and practice to explore the horizontal (community-to-community) and vertical (citizen-to-state) dimensions of social cohesion and highlights how inclusive dialogue can support both. Case studies from Afghanistan, Germany, Somalia, and South Sudan illustrate how dialogue—whether through theatre, education, local governance, or environmental peacebuilding—can cultivate mutual understanding and trust, bridge identity-based divides, and restore, step by step, the social fabric in fractured societies. Through actionable recommendations, this brief equips practitioners, policymakers, and civil society with the essential guidance needed to tailor and embed dialogue in their respective contexts, helping to ensure that peace processes are inclusive, locally driven, and enduring. 
Mainstreaming the General History of Africa into Education Systems: The Curriculum Pathway Year of publication: 2025 Corporate author: UNESCO Education about the history of Africa in formal, non-formal and informal learning settings continues to be dominated by Eurocentric perspectives, which has led to imbalanced representation of Africa’s history and preconceptions.This publication is a tool to support countries in challenging the skewed perspectives on how African history is taught and how Africa is perceived. It aims to bring to the foreground Africa’s history, cultures and heritage through the curriculum to strengthen knowledge, skills, values and attitudes that contribute towards addressing long-standing hegemonic, colonial thinking and connected racial bias, while forging a united, prosperous and peaceful Africa and world.Stemming from the decolonial vision and content of the volumes of the General History of Africa, the publication proposes guiding principles and approaches for designing and implementing the General History of Africa into the curriculum. It puts forth curriculum outlines for basic and secondary education to offer renewed and broader perspectives on the history of Africa and its diasporas, and their contributions to humanity.The curriculum outlines are structured around nine thematic Learning Units, arranged chronologically from the origins of humanity and civilizations to Africa’s most recent history. 
The Representation of Jews, Judaism and Antisemitism in School Textbooks and Curricula in Europe Year of publication: 2025 Corporate author: UNESCO Jewish communities have been integral to Europe’s social fabric for centuries, preserving rich religious and cultural traditions while facing recurring periods of exclusion, persecution, and resilience. School textbooks are important vantage points to understand how this history and heritage is represented, (de)constructed and embedded into a shared historical and cultural memory. They are also important practical tools used daily by students, teachers, and parents.This comprehensive research, carried out by UNESCO in collaboration with the Georg-Eckert-Institute and supported by funding from the European Commission, examines the ways in which Jewish culture, history, life, and anti-Jewish prejudice are represented in secondary school materials across eight European nations.The publication highlights opportunities within curricula to address Jewish experiences and antisemitism, reviews how these themes are incorporated into textbooks, and analyzes the narratives and portrayals that arise. The study also looks at the use of visual sources and assesses whether Jewish viewpoints and agency are sufficiently reflected. The findings highlight both recurring stereotypes and promising practices. By showcasing these contrasts, the study provides targeted recommendations to guide the creation of more inclusive educational materials. 
Values and Attitudes - Positive and Negative: A study of the impact of teaching the Holocaust on citizenship among Scottish 11-12 year olds Previous research on teaching the Holocaust, notably case studies in the primary or the secondary sectors, suggests that Holocaust education can make a significant contribution to citizenship by developing pupils’ understandings of justice, tolerance, human rights issues, and the many forms of racism and discrimination. Yet, there have been no longitudinal studies into its impact on primary pupils. This paper reports on the first stages of ongoing longitudinal research (sponsored by the Scottish Executive Education Department) and concentrates on the relevance of Holocaust education to citizenship, by comparing the attitudes of primary 7 pupils before and after Holocaust teaching using data from questionnaires. Results show an improvement in pupils’ values and attitudes after learning about the Holocaust in almost every category related to minority groups, ethnic or otherwise. One significant finding was a deep anti-English feeling and this in itself indicates the need for further investigation. (By the author) 
Research Report: A Comparative Study on Hybrid Learning in Schools Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: UNESCO International Bureau of Education (IBE) During the COVID-19 lockdown, policymakers and educators faced an unprecedented challenge disrupting all levels of education. The initial optimism about replacing physical classes with virtual lessons diminished as complex interconnected issues emerged. To address the need for continuous and sustainable learning, school systems implemented variations of hybrid learning during the pandemic, seeking to integrate physical and virtual classes. These approaches prompted this comparative study led by UNESCO-IBE. The initial phase of this study involved collecting and analysing data on hybrid strategies from six countries. The research aimed to examine factors influencing hybrid learning implementation during the lockdown, with a subsequent focus on developing and validating a practical Hybrid Learning Framework for Schools. The cross-case analysis was designed not to rank or compare, but to understand and connect different scenarios and contexts. Phase I focuses on current hybrid learning practices and influencing factors, while Phases II and III will concentrate on using the information gathered to create and validate a Hybrid Learning Framework for Schools. Hybrid learning is not just a response to pandemics but also serves as a viable solution for other scenarios where full school attendance is difficult. Aligned with UNESCO-IBE’s overarching vision of a comprehensive, personalized, and democratized curriculum accessible to all, hybrid learning facilitates inclusive education across diverse regions, overcoming geographical and temporal limitations. The approach aims to unlock the unique potential of every learner, fostering a more flexible educational environment.Published in February 2024 by the UNESCO International Bureau of Education (IBE) with support from the European Union. 
Happy Schools!: A Framework for Learner Well-being in the Asia-Pacific Year of publication: 2016 Corporate author: UNESCO Bangkok The Happy Schools Project was launched in June 2014 in the aim of promoting learner well-being and holistic development. It follows on the findings of UNESCO Bangkok’s research on ‘Learning to Live Together’, which examined the ways in which education systems can promote peace through education in the Asia-Pacific region. While the concept of ‘Learning to Live Together’ is often reflected at policy level, there is little evidence as to how it is implemented in practice. Therefore, the Happy Schools Project aims to identify and recognize proven practices at school level that integrate this concept. Écoles Heureux: Un cadre pour l'apprenant Bien-être dans la région Asie-Pacifique Year of publication: 2016 Corporate author: UNESCO Bangkok Le projet Bonne écoles a été lancé en Juin 2014, le but de promouvoir l'apprenant le bien-être et le développement holistique. Il en résulte sur les résultats de la recherche de l'UNESCO à Bangkok sur «Apprendre à vivre ensemble», qui a examiné la manière dont les systèmes éducatifs peuvent promouvoir la paix par l'éducation dans la région Asie-Pacifique. Bien que le concept de «Apprendre à vivre ensemble» se traduit souvent au niveau politique, il y a peu de preuves quant à la façon dont il est mis en œuvre dans la pratique. Par conséquent, des écoles Heureux vise à identifier et reconnaître les pratiques éprouvées au niveau des écoles qui intègrent ce concept. Счастливые школы: Основа благополучия учащихся в Азиатско-Тихоокеанском регионе Year of publication: 2016 Corporate author: UNESCO Bangkok Этот региональный доклад был подготовлен Региональным бюро ЮНЕСКО по образованию в Азиатско-Тихоокеанском регионе (ЮНЕСКО, Бангкок). В нем представлены результаты исследования проведенного в рамках проекта «Счастливые школы». Этот отчет, основанный на результатах серии мероприятий, проводимых в рамках проекта «Счастливые школы», признает важную взаимосвязь между счастьем и качеством образования. Он объединяет эти два элемента и призывает системы образования выходить за рамки традиционных областей обучения, чтобы охватить разнообразие талантов и умений, признавая ценности, сильные стороны и компетенции, которые способствуют как повышению счастья, так и благополучию учащихся, но также и их процветать и праздновать свои достижения. Mudança climática em sala de aula: curso da UNESCO para professores secundários (fundamental II e ensino médio) sobre educação em mudança climática e desenvolvimento sustentável (EMCDS) Year of publication: 2014 Author: David Selby | Fumiyo Kagawa Corporate author: UNESCO Brasilia This course has been created with the goal of bringing climate change education outside the science classroom into the many other subject areas upon which climate change now has an impact, or will impact in the future, such as ethics, social studies, economics, political science, among others. The course materials are organized into four parts: 1. Course Framework and Overview, 2. Teachers’ Education Course daily materials, 3. Regional Resource Packs, 4. Daily Classroom Materials for teachers. These materials are all described in more detail and can be accessed from the Start Menu found on the following pages. This course is designed to enable teachers at the secondary level from diverse subject areas to introduce climate change education for sustainable development (CCESD) across the curriculum. UNESCO has identified the professional development of teachers in education for sustainable development as the top priority in recognition of the transformative role that teachers and teacher educators need to play in re-orienting education to help realize a sustainable future (UNESCO, 2005, p. 19). But good intentions for the professional development of teachers have fallen short in practice. Although taken up by enthusiasts, teacher education for sustainable development has rarely been mainstreamed, and, where there are courses, is often approached within a disciplinary as opposed to an interdisciplinary frame (Wals, A., 2009). If professional development in education for sustainable development is at an adolescent stage, teacher education in climate change education for sustainable development is in its infancy. For instance, according to a 2009 international comparative study on climate change education and sustainable development in ten countries, climate change education has peripheral status in educational research and practice, and when it is addressed it is only within science education (Læssøe,J. Schnack, K., Breiting, S. & Rolls, S., 2009). There is a clear and present need to respond to climate change challenges through systematic teacher education programmes that are not restricted to a single subject area. This teacher education course is an attempt to fill the current gap and is in line with one of UNESCO’s key objectives for climate change education for sustainable development, that is, to support teacher training on climate change for sustainable development (UNESCO, 2010, p. 9). The programme has four distinctive features: 1. It helps teachers to understand the causes, dynamics and impacts of climate change through a holistic approach. 2. Teachers are exposed to, and experience, a range of pedagogical approaches and techniques, that they can use in their own school environment. This includes engagement of themselves and their students in whole school and school-in-community approaches. 3. Teachers will develop their capacities to facilitate students’ community based learning. 4. Teachers will develop future-oriented and transformative capacities in facilitating climate change mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk reduction learning.