Area of Focus: Learning

A snapping turtle rests on the shore of the lagoon with student signage in the foreground
Strengthen the sustainability awareness, competency, and literacy, for collective and transformative action within the broad NC community, through academic programming, experiential learning, and applied research.

This area of focus outlines several core priorities, with goals and targets associated with each priority. These can be found in the Goals and Targets section below. The Actions table lists the actions that we plan to take to achieve our goals and targets. Every action in the actions table has additional information associated with it that connects that action to sustainability efforts. Scroll down to begin exploring this Area of Focus, or use the menu below to jump to a specific section.

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Message of Support

Al Unwin
Al Unwin Dean of Business and Environment
We know our learners are seeking out educational institutions that are leaders in sustainability and are no longer arriving at NC with the notion that resources are limitless and there for all to exploit—moving away from material wealth to holistic well-being. This sustainability plan is highly ambitious and aspirational and achieving even the majority of this Plan will position NC as a true leader in sustainability. Simply put, it is a plan that is required of our planet and one that is expected from our current students and will become even more important for future students in this rapidly changing world.
Al Unwin, Dean of Business and Environment

Goals and Targets

Core Priority: Academic
  • Goal 1.1 Advance staff and student awareness and literacy of sustainability in various industries and careers.
    • Target 1.1a Track the increase in the percentage of students identifying gaining sustainability skills on the student survey.
Core Priority: Co-Curricular
  • Goal 2.1 Provide volunteer experiential learning opportunities for students, employees, and community members to learn about all areas of sustainability and climate change.
    • Target 2.1a Increase the total number of sustainability-focused volunteer hours through experiential learning opportunities by 10%.
    • Target 2.1b Increase the total number of events and experiential learning opportunities to explicitly incorporate sustainability by 10%.
Core Priority: Research
  • Goal 3.1 Integrate sustainability into research projects to increase awareness and grow a culture of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
    • Target 3.1a Establish a baseline of applied research projects that connect with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Canada’s colleges, institutes, cégeps, and polytechnics make up the largest post-secondary network in the country. At more than 680 locations, their collective engagement to support Canada’s transition to a low-carbon economy goes a long way. They provide students with job-ready skills, develop innovative solutions for small and medium enterprises through applied research, and serve as examples of campus infrastructure that can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and contribute to Canada’s net-zero ambitions.
CICan ImpAct Climate Report 1

Did You Know?

67% of respondents say a college’s commitment to the environment would contribute to their decision to apply to or attend the school.

— 2023 College Hopes & Worries Survey

SDGs in Action: SDG16

Every job is a climate job. Employees are a critical catalyst for climate action with a range of skills and knowledge that can scale climate solutions in the workplace and beyond.

— Project Drawdown

SDGs in Action: SDG8

The new NC Greenhouse facility scheduled to open in 2024 will be a hub for the college’s Horticultural & Environmental Sciences Innovation Centre (HESIC), which aims to meet growing demands for applied research services from industry.

— InsideNC

SDGs in Action: SDG4 & SDG9

Actions

Tap and drag on table (mobile) or use horizontal scrollbar below the table (laptop) to view the full width of the table below.

ActionConnected
Priorities		TimelineLeadSTARS
in Action		SDGs
in Action		Greening TVET
in Action
Academic and Liberal Studies to develop and deliver general education elective on sustainabilityAcademicShort-TermAcademic and Liberal Studies, SustainabilityAcademic
(AC 1, AC 2)		4Curriculum,
Culture
Complete an inventory of academic courses and programs that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Academic Medium-TermSustainabilityAcademic
(AC 1) 		4.17Curriculum
Establish a process for identifying opportunities to increase positive sustainability impacts in new research projects ResearchMedium-TermResearch & InnovationAcademic
(AC 9) 		4, 9, 11Curriculum,
Research
Create land-based learning opportunities to share knowledge systems such as traditional ecological knowledge Academic,
Co-Curricular,
Land		Short-TermSustainability, Indigenous Education Academic
(AC 8)		4, 10, 15Community,
Culture
Create pathways for more sustainability-related opportunities and activities to show case BIPOC voices and stories through internal and external partnerships and collaborationAcademic,
Co-Curricular 		Short-TermSustainability, Indigenous Education, Centre for Organizational ExcellenceAcademic (AC 8), Planning and Administration (PA 5) 10, 17Community,
Culture
Identify new course-based project opportunities to integrate direct and in-direct sustainability-related content into academic coursesAcademicShort-TermSustainabilityAcademic
(AC 1)		4, 17Curriculum
Increase accessibility to sustainability training material and support servicesAcademicLong-TermSustainabilityAcademic
(AC 7)		4Curriculum
Increase support for student, departmental or community-based projects, initiatives, and activities to incorporate sustainability and provide students opportunities to volunteerCo-CurricularShort-TermNC-WideAcademic
(AC 8)		4, 13, 7Curriculum,
Culture,
Community 
Understanding Areas of Focus & Actions
UN Sustainable Development Goals Reference

Stories

A colourful chart listing the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals
An Introduction to UNSDG Goals Module

In 2022, the Centre for Academic Excellence and NC Sustainability collaborated to create “An Introduction to the UN Sustainable Development Goals at Niagara College” module. This accessible module was created so that students, faculty, and staff can learn about the SDGs and the Niagara College initiatives that are already contributing to their success. The module provides tips and resources to help you personally start taking action, whether that be in your studies, your work, or your day-to-day life.

SDGs in Action: SDG4, SDG13, SDG17

Preview of a Zoom meeting screen with 4 webcam views displayed
Sustainability X Sport Summits

NC Sustainability, Athletics and Student Engagement, and the School of Media, teamed up with 2022 Niagara Canada Summer Games to host two Sustainability x Sport Summits leading up to the games, to educate and engage people from all over the world on the impacts of sustainability and sport.

SDGs in Action: SDG4, SDG13, SDG17

5 pots with basil plants demonstrating growth using vermichar product
NC Research and Innovation and Terra Optima Partnership

More than half of all food produced in Canada is wasted (58%), and up to 90% of soils may be degraded by 2050 globally. Terra Optima believes it has a solution—store carbon in soils, not the atmosphere. Niagara College’s R&I Horticultural & Environmental Sciences Innovation Centre (HESIC) team worked with the Terra Optima team to provide expertise in conducting comprehensive plant growth trials and validate the product’s efficacy on plant growth.

SDGs in Action: SDG2, SDG3, SDG13, SDG15, SDG17

References

1 CICan ImpAct Climate Report

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