Engagement
This year NSCC worked to create additional opportunities for our staff and students to engage in sustainability.
On our campuses
These opportunities included educational opportunities to learn about the SDGs, funding opportunities for on-campus projects and professional development.
SDG Workshops were offered to all staff as an opportunity to build foundational knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals. These workshops introduced the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Sustainable Development Goals and how NSCC is advancing the goals across the College.
The interdisciplinary approach used to develop these workshops brought in information from NSCC’s facilities, international and entrepreneurship departments. Staff who participated reported a greater understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals and an interest in incorporating the goals into their work. Fourteen workshop sessions were delivered throughout the year including sessions at the Facilities Staff Learning Conference, the Support Staff Learning Conference and several open-registration staff sessions.
Goals for 2022/23
- Continue to advance the SDGs on our campuses by allocating $15,000 to the SDG project Fund.
- NSCC will partner with Engage Nova Scotia to deliver an SDG Roadshow and engage communities in advancing sustainability and quality of life for Nova Scotia.
Recap of 2021/22
- NSCC hosted workshops for Staff and Students on the Sustainable Development Goals.
- The College continued to have a positive impact on our communities while advancing the SDGs
Facilities Staff Learning Conference
Truro campus welcomed facilities staff from all over the province this June for our annual learning conference. This year’s theme was the Sustainable Development Goals. Each participant was given an SDG passport which could be filled by attending a session related to one of the SDGs. Participants who filled their passports with stickers for all seventeen of the SDGs were entered in a draw for a grand prize.
The SDG Poster Campaign launched this year, publishing SDG posters on a weekly basis for each of the goals. Posters were specifically designed to quickly educate readers on the goals by presenting locally relevant information about each goal and how NSCC is working towards it. Posters were shared with campuses to be posted on the sustainability bulletin boards on a weekly basis for seventeen weeks.
This year, NSCC launched the SDG Project Fund. It is the first time that funding has been made available to specifically fund projects related to the Sustainable Development Goals. This fund allocated $15,000 toward facilities-based projects that will advance the Sustainable Development Goals on campus. Any staff member is welcome to apply for the fund with a project idea. In its first iteration from 2021/2022, the fund supported eleven projects.
SDG Project Fund Highlights
Digby Learning Center received funding to purchase a hydroponic indoor Zip Garden. The system is used to grow produce which is distributed to students along with food security information.
Annapolis Valley Campus applied for funding to commission a local artist to create an art installation portraying the Sustainable Development Goals in seventeen pieces of art. The art will be mounted in the main hallway to bring greater awareness to the goals.
Akerley Campus was able to host a hybrid event for Muddy Monday this year. The event which encourages local gardening, good health and biodiversity was held on February 28th.
In our community
NSCC’s mission is to improve Nova Scotia’s economy and quality of life. One of the ways that NSCC commits to this is by getting involved in our communities and supporting our students and alumni to do the same. NSCC staff and students regularly participate in giving back to our communities through, community clean-ups, paid volunteer days and supporting local organisations.
This April, NSCC co-hosted the Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) conference Navigating Anew. Nearly 1,000 participants registered for the conference and stakeholders from eight countries were represented at the event which was focused on sustainability. NSCC was thrilled to welcome such a large community to Halifax to further explore how colleges and institutes can deliver a more sustainable future. Over 45 NSCC staff members volunteered to make the conference a resounding success.
SDG Accord signatories at the Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) conference Navigating Anew