A united institutional approach towards the SDGs: The KPU story (E/SI)
April 24, 2023 | 8:00 am - 9:00 am
In the 2022/2023 academic year, Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) embarked on a journey to identify initiatives in the campus ecosystem that contribute to the advancement of the SDGs: from academic courses and programs, research, services, policies, to other programming and initiatives. The project team, comprised of faculty members, students, and alumni, employed a campus community approach where extensive consultations and informant conversations were held with internal community members (administrators, faculty, staff, and students) and external collaborators (CICan, SDSN, other post-secondary institutions). Additionally, an environmental scan was conducted to explore notable practices from national and international post-secondary institutions that KPU can learn and draw from. The identification process, known as Step 1 in the SDG integration process (Sustainable Development Solutions Network – Australia/Pacific, 2017), uncovered areas of strength that might be offered as best practice examples for other post-secondary institutions, and as well, potential for opportunities to inform KPU’s strategic planning and direction to align with its Campus 2050 Campus Master Plan. Themes of recommendations include: enhancing cross-functional collaboration and reporting of the SDGs, promoting and supporting teaching with the SDGs, and educating the KPU community on the SDGs at every opportunity. In this session, project team members and KPU’s VPA who commissioned the project share their process and learning and exchange insights with conference delegates.