Sustainability in Action: Faculty Champions Advancing the UNSDGs at KPU 

Sustainability in Action: Faculty Champions Advancing the UNSDGs at KPU 

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) are a global call to action to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world by 2030. Seventeen interconnected goals address critical global challenges such as poverty, climate change, quality education, gender equality, and responsible consumption. They serve as a shared blueprint for individuals, organizations, and governments to drive meaningful change. 

In higher education, faculty and instructional staff play a crucial role in advancing these goals by integrating sustainability into their courses. By embedding the UNSDGs into teaching and learning, educators support students in becoming critical thinkers and proactive leaders who can contribute to solutions in their fields and industries. 

This blog highlights the efforts of six KPU faculty members who have taken up this challenge, embedding the UNSDGs into their teaching through innovative and impactful initiatives. Through a partnership with the KPU Teaching and Learning (TL) Commons, these educators were granted time-release positions to develop meaningful sustainability-focused projects. Their work is now showcased in a dedicated ePortfolio, celebrating their contributions, and inspiring others to follow suit. Explore the ePortfolio to learn more about these inspiring projects, and join us in celebrating the passion, innovation, and impact of KPU’s fall 2024 UNSDG champions! 

Six recorded Pecha Kucha presentations, now housed in the ePortfolio, highlight the scope and impact of each champion’s work. These dynamic, rapid-fire presentations show how sustainability has been implemented within diverse disciplines, allowing educators across KPU to consider embedding the UNSDGs into their own teaching practices. The ePortfolio also features reflections from the champions, to help readers appreciate the impact of these incredible initiatives.  

As we continue to advance sustainability at KPU, a live Pecha Kucha session is being planned for UNSDG Month in March. This event will allow the broader KPU community to engage in rich conversations about sustainability and explore ways to embed the UNSDGs into KPU’s diverse teaching and learning contexts. 

By integrating the UNSDGs into teaching and learning settings at KPU, we are not only enriching students’ learning experiences but also equipping them with the knowledge and skills to address complex global challenges. The inspiring work of KPU’s faculty champions demonstrates the power of education in driving meaningful change, and their projects can serve as a catalyst for transformative learning experiences and students who contribute to a more just, equitable, and sustainable future. 

As a Teaching and Learning Strategist within the TL Commons, I feel honoured to support these incredible initiatives. Together with faculty champions, we are fostering a culture of sustainability and global responsibility at KPU. Through the projects and resources that we are collectively building, we are creating opportunities for meaningful engagement with the UNSDGs, ensuring that our teaching practices at KPU contribute to a brighter, more sustainable future for our students, our communities, and beyond. 

Join Us 

Anyone from the KPU community is welcome to join us in the TL Commons community corner on Wednesday’s once a month for the UNSDG Community of Practice (CoP) where those interested in advancing the UNSDGs through teaching and learning gather to discuss recent initiatives and opportunities for collaboration. The next UNSDG CoP will be held on March 12 from 2-4 pm at the TL Commons in Surrey Arbutus A2400, so mark your calendar! 

Coming Soon  

In addition to this remarkable work, a separate release-time project led by Maryanne Eva from the Graduate Business Diploma program will result in a UNSDG resource website developed in collaboration with the TL Commons. Launching soon, this practical guide will feature curated toolkits, activity templates, and discipline-specific examples to support KPU faculty and instructional staff in embedding sustainability into their teaching. Stay tuned for insights and updates from Maryanne in a March blog post! 

Contact Us for Support  

If you want to learn more about the UNSDGs, ePortfolios, course design, instructional approaches and strategies, or the learning technologies we support, please email us to request a consultation; or explore and register for upcoming workshops and events.