For the past five years, the Skills to Access the Green Economy (SAGE-05) project has been a catalyst for change, by fostering excellence and sustainability in agro-food processing education in Jamaica.
Between February 2020 and March 2025, Niagara College collaborated with College of the North Atlantic to support the Moneague College (MC) and HEART/NSTA Trust Ebony Park Academy (EPA) in Jamaica through SAGE-05, an initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan).
“Niagara College is dedicated to fostering global partnerships that drive meaningful impact, and we are proud to engage with initiatives like the SAGE project,” said NC President Sean Kennedy. “The success of this partnership is defined by our ability to train the next generation of professionals, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to contribute to their companies, communities, and futures.”
As part of SAGE-05, NC played a key role in supporting the development of competency-based programs in agro-food processing while contributing to the enhancement of institutional capacity in gender equality, research-based learning, and environmental sustainability.
“The collective efforts of our students, faculty, industry partners, and institutional collaborators have been crucial in making this initiative a success”, said Kenene Senior, MC’s Vice President of Academics. “We will continue building on the foundation laid by SAGE-05, ensuring its legacy extends beyond these five years and creates sustainable, inclusive, and innovative opportunities for future generations.”
Closing Ceremony in Jamaica
To mark the conclusion of this impactful partnership, a closing ceremony was held at the Moneague College on March 13. The event was attended by NC representatives including President Kennedy, Global Education Projects Manager Oleksandra (Sasha) Gora, and School of Food and Wine Sciences Professor Amy Proulx, alongside students from Jamaica, representatives from the Canadian High Commission, and project partners. Together, they celebrated the project’s achievements and long-term impact.
“In everything we do, we must be mindful of sustainability and inclusivity,” said Calvin Weise, Director at EPA. “The primary focus of SAGE has been to create meaningful impact for marginalized groups, including women, mothers, single mothers, and individuals in vulnerable communities. This reflects the broader public impact of the initiative.”
The SAGE-05 project has delivered significant outcomes, including the development of an agro-processing curriculum that led to the launch of the Moneague College’s Climate Smart Agro-Processing Associate of Applied Science Degree program last year.
Three of the eight students enrolled in the first semester were graduates of Ebony Park Academy’s Process Operator Preparatory Program in Food Processing. This program, also developed under SAGE-05, was launched in May 2022 with 25 students enrolled in its first year. In addition, Niagara College supported the procurement of over $55,000 CAD in equipment to enhance applied learning opportunities in both programs at MC and EPA.
Among other key outcomes, institutional Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion action plans were developed by the partner institutions in Jamaica with NC’s support, enhancing accessibility, academic programming, and policy improvements. Additionally, three experiential learning trips to Canada provided participants with hands-on exposure to applied research, student services, a project on Goat Genomics, and sustainability initiatives at NC.
Research Symposium
The Research Symposium Empowering Communities Through Innovative Climate Smart Agriculture Research was held the same day as the Closing Ceremony at the Moneague College. The symposium marked the rollout of the applied research framework developed as part of SAGE-05.
Five applied research projects were launched during the event – four by MC and one by EPA. The projects, submitted in response to an Applied Research Call for Proposals, address food security, sustainability, resource management, and economic empowerment through innovative agricultural and environmental solutions.
Thank you to the NC Community
As this five-year project concludes, NC’s Institute for Global Education and Training would like to thank the 40+ NC experts, including faculty, staff and administrators from across the college, who contributed their time and expertise to support NC’s partners in Jamaica, as well as 25+ NC students involved in the project through internships, co-op terms, study tours, and collaborative online international learning sessions.
Through this project, the College made a meaningful impact on many lives and contributed to lasting improvements in education in Jamaica while supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically: SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequality), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals).
Niagara College’s Institute for Global Education and Training
Bringing together the expertise of a highly skilled NC team with partner organizations worldwide, Niagara College’s Institute for Global Education and Training proudly provides educational solutions designed to inspire sustainable global change. For over 20 years, NC has collaborated with global institutions to develop and deliver customized education and training programs as well as capacity building projects, empowering learners and global partners to achieve their goals. Building on this expertise, NC launched its official global education hub in May 2024. This resource leverages NC’s world-renowned education and training programs while also offering newly developed modularized global programs. Aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Institute is committed to fostering impactful partnerships and advancing sustainable development through education.
