Education for sustainability
Creating student learning opportunities for sustainability learning by innovatively revising the curriculum.
What is sustainability?
Sustainability means ‘the long-term viability of a community’ (Meadowcroft, 2023). It is about fair and preserved flourishing, respectful of all living and non-living beings. This prosperity is found by seeking a triple bottom line of a sound environment, social health and social justice, and a flourishing economy leading to a sustainable society. This equilibrium of all domains is inspired by the famous definition of the Brundtland Commission (1987), defining sustainable development as one that ‘meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’.
At Concordia, we define sustainability as a mindset and a process that leads to reducing our ecological footprint and enhancing social well-being while maintaining economic viability both on and off campus. We are dedicated to equipping our graduates with the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to help solving these challenges and to start or keep living a sustainable lifestyle.
Projects
Sustainability co-design project
The project was based on a Student as Partners collaboration model, with undergraduate and graduate students working collaboratively with faculty to redesign a unit or develop an instructional module in their course. Concordia faculty deeply engaged with sustainability acted as sustainability mentors to guide the co-design teams with the sustainability objectives.
Institutional context
Blueprint for sustainable progress
At Concordia, sustainability is one of our nine strategic directions, and central to our vision of becoming a next-generation university. We are committed to transforming into a net-zero carbon campus by 2040.
Concordia integrates all efforts for sustainability in a robust Sustainability Action Plan 2020-2025, focussed on five stream topics including a Sustainability in Curriculum Plan. The curricular goals are to:
partner with faculty to embed sustainability in the curriculum,
offer immersive interdisciplinary experiences for students, and
empower graduates to tackle wider societal challenges in their fields.
Learn more about sustainability initiatives within all streams by accessing the Sustainability Hub, led by the Office of Sustainability.
Globally ranked in sustainability efforts
The United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) serve as a blueprint for actions that will lead to a more equitable and sustainable future. Our institution has committed to the Decade of Action, evident from Concordia President Graham Carr signing the University Global Compact Declaration in 2020. We are proudly the first Canadian university to voluntarily assess our performance on each SDG.
Additionally, international rankings like the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings and Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) recognize Concordia’s continuing efforts toward sustainability, the latter rating Concordia Gold for sustainability. Concordia University is ranked among the top 100 worldwide and 13th in Canada in the 2024 QS’s Sustainability Rankings which emphasize environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges.
Empowering students for sustainable futures
Concordia's commitment to sustainability is driven by both institutional goals and strong student support, with 89% of undergraduates advocating for sustainability in their curricula (CSU, 2021). This commitment is reinforced by the Sustainability Cultural and Literacy Assessment (2021).
Concordia promotes sustainability education through various initiatives. The Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability emphasizes interdisciplinary education, while partnerships with Future Earth and the UN enhance our global impact, co-leading the Sustainability in the Digital Age initiative. The LEADS program empowers students to influence climate policies through skill development, and the John Molson School of Business offers Canada’s first sustainable investing practicum.
We provide a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional certificate programs focused on sustainability. Faculty efforts in teaching sustainability are documented in a 2024 report. Additionally, in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme, Concordia offers an interdisciplinary Massive Open Online Course titled “Wicked Problems, Dynamic Solutions: The Ecosystem Approach and Systems Thinking.”
References
Meadowcroft, J. (2023, May 12). sustainability. Encyclopedia Britannica.
UN Documents. (n.d.). Our Common Future: Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development. Retrieved June 6, 2023.