The SDG Challenge: Advancing Global Citizenship Education and Professional Development Through The Power Of Film
“The inspiring and powerful films introduced by SIMA Academy have reminded us of our roles and responsibilities as global citizens, calling for our actions in solidarity. It is our pleasure to have SIMA Academy as our partner to help our educators to expand their perspectives, to teach global citizenship using media, and to motivate them to take actions as global citizens.”
The Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU), under the auspices of UNESCO, was established in 2000 to advance Global Citizenship Education (GCED) through a wide range of initiatives, from teacher training and curriculum development to youth engagement and capacity-building for education officers and local government officials.
SIMA Studios complements this mission by providing world-class, globally sourced documentary storytelling that inspires learners to develop the knowledge, skills, and values needed to reimagine education and address the most pressing challenges of our time.
Over the years, many APCEIU alumni have voiced the need for stronger media and information literacy training, practical skills, and hands-on support to implement their own projects in classrooms and communities. To respond, APCEIU partnered with SIMA to elevate its transformative online courses and resources, expanding their reach and impact.
Q&A with UNESCO APCEIU
What are the goals with this initiative?
- Deliver engaging and dynamic virtual learning experiences that meet the demand for online education while countering remote learning fatigue.
- Provide educators and students with memorable learning opportunities and practical tools to drive meaningful impact in classrooms and communities.
- Strengthen and expand the organization’s transformational learning programs with world-class, innovative services.
- Democratize access to high-quality educational resources that advance 21st-century learning worldwide.
What are the key ways SIMA contributes to your efforts and initiatives?
- The SIMA SDG Challenge – Trains educators to use film as a transformative tool, empowering students to become media-literate global citizens and active changemakers.
- Innovative Online Courses – From Film as a Tool for Advocacy to Regenerative Leadership and the IDGs, SIMA’s courses equip young leaders and educators with practical skills, frameworks, and inspiring global case studies to drive social and environmental change.
- Global Film Engagement – SIMA works with APCEIU to curate ongoing virtual film clubs on urgent global themes and UN holidays, connecting learners with filmmakers and experts worldwide.
- Access to World-Class Media – Provides the APCEIU community with unlimited access to SIMA Academy’s 280+ award-winning documentaries and VR/XR experiences, plus a branded playlist of APCEIU-selected films in multiple languages.
What has been the partnership’s impact?
Since the beginning of this partnership in 2021, SIMA’s global learning ecosystem has reached 12,084+ educators and changemakers worldwide, equipping them with innovative educational resources that spark action and deepen global awareness. Through 25+ SIMA-powered Virtual Film Club dialogues, more than 9,116 audience members came together across borders to engage in critical conversations on today’s most urgent social and environmental challenges.
The impact extends far beyond direct participation. Through the ripple effect of educator-led SDG projects, an additional 7,710+ educators and changemakers were inspired to integrate film-based learning and systems thinking into their own classrooms and communities. Meanwhile, 6,418 learners explored global issues through the UNESCO–APCEIU branded film playlist, connecting powerful storytelling with real-world context.
At the core of this work, 613 educators from 25 countries completed SIMA’s flagship online courses, gaining practical tools to lead change locally. Their leadership translated into action on the ground, reaching 2,110+ students across 20 countries through 62 educator-led SDG projects—turning learning into measurable impact and cultivating the next generation of informed, engaged global citizens.
Please share why this partnership is relevant for your institution.
“It was great to see that our educators around the world have enjoyed their learning through creative documentary films dealing with critical global and local issues, ranging from poverty, justice, human rights to climate crisis, which are happening in our daily lives in diverse forms. The inspiring and powerful films introduced by SIMA Academy have reminded us of our roles and responsibilities as global citizens, calling for our actions in solidarity. It is our pleasure to have SIMA Academy as our partner to help our educators to expand their perspectives, to teach global citizenship using media, and to motivate them to take actions as global citizens.” — Dr. Hyun Mook LIM, Director, UNESCO-APCEIU
