Mohawk College is a signatory to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals
Joyce Center
Mohawk College’s recognized leadership in sustainability, equity access to education, ground-breaking research, and equity, diversity and inclusion align perfectly with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
The United Nations launched its SDG initiative in 2015 and has declared 2020 to 2030 the decade for action.
The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs says the SDGs “recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth—all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.”
Mohawk College’s new strategic plan uses the SDGs as a framework for continuing its long-term commitment to sustainability.
Mohawk College officially signed the global SDG Accord, the university and college sector’s collective response, in February.
“The Accord recognizes that sustainability requires the participation of all sectors of society,” says Allison Maxted, Manager of the Sustainability Office within the Centre for Climate Change Management.
“There is a unique role for postsecondary education institutions in training future leaders, conducting research that supports sustainability goals and advocating for innovative solutions.”
Mohawk College is among 34 colleges and polytechnics in Canada that have signed the accord, committing to improvement in all areas and to reporting annually on progress and sharing learnings with others.
Mohawk College is a recognized leader in sustainability and is actively engaged in many areas covered by the 17 goals and their targets including:
- Goal #4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
- Target 4.3: By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.
This is the heart of the work of Mohawk College and includes all the free and subsidized access programs for underserved and marginalized groups through City School and Indigenous Student Services that break down barriers to postsecondary education, along with other initiatives such as Women in Technology & Trades (WiTT).
It also includes the development of micro-credentials through City School as an affordable and achievable means for equity-deserving groups to move forward into education. Mohawk has since expanded micro-credentials to its Challenge 2025 (C2025) initiative that confronts labour shortages and helps traditionally marginalized people access education that leads to meaningful employment. C2025 aims to accelerate, amplify and scale the impact of City School.