Academic and student experience
NSCC provides our students with industry-driven training that sets them up for success and strengthens Nova Scotia’s economy.
Education for Sustainable Development
We are dedicated to empowering students by providing them with applied learning, comprehensive services, and ongoing support, ultimately propelling them toward successful and fulfilling careers. By integrating education for sustainable development (ESD) and sustainability literacy into our students' learning profiles, we better equip them for resilient careers while driving systemic changes in our societies to address pressing social and environmental challenges.
This year, the College made significant strides in our commitment to enhancing education for sustainable development and sustainability literacy. The College has continued to develop and expand several resources, including the NSCC SDG Subject Guide and the NSCC Sustainability Hub (log-in required), both of which were introduced in 2022.
As part of the College's recertification to STARS, the Sustainability Team conducted a comprehensive assessment of all academic courses and programs to evaluate their integration of sustainability. The findings revealed that 16% of courses at our college offer content related to sustainability, and 14 out of 15 academic clusters offer at least one sustainability-related course.
Moreover, this year, the College partnered with the UN Sustainable Development Goals Open Pedagogy Fellowship, hosted by Montgomery College. This fellowship provides NSCC faculty with valuable opportunities to expand their expertise and receive guidance on integrating sustainable development goals into their curriculum. Faculty members participate in the fellowship during the summer, collaborating with international peers to design assignments that prioritize sustainability and promote renewable practices.
Additionally, the College has established a micro-credential framework, allowing for the implementation of several microcredentials this year. These include introductory credentials for various trade specialties, such as high-voltage safety. Looking ahead, the College is actively working on launching additional microcredentials in the coming year in areas such as:
- Climate Change Literacy for Construction Trades;
- Electric Vehicle Maintenance and Safety;
- Fisheries Aquaculture Quality and Management;
- Forestry Management and Geomatic Surveying; and,
- Safe Workplaces
These courses create opportunities for skill specialization and workforce reskilling, which the Government of Canada has identified as top priorities for building a skilled and agile workforce.
By taking these comprehensive steps, our College is committed to ensuring that our students are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the future while making a meaningful impact on both society and the environment.
Goals for 2023/24
- Implement a series of targeted microcredentials to effectively bridge workforce gaps.
- Foster ongoing collaboration with key college stakeholders to align academic portfolios with the principles of sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Recap of 2022/23
- Conducted a comprehensive inventory of sustainability-related offerings.
- Established a valuable partnership with Montgomery College, enabling faculty enrollment in the esteemed UN SDG Open Pedagogy Fellowship.
- Offered a year-long education campaign of the SDGs
Co-Curricular
Our commitment to providing a holistic learning experience goes beyond the classroom. Through dynamic co-curricular activities, such as innovative competitions, inspiring workshops, captivating guest speakers, enlightening conferences, and vibrant campus events, we aim to ignite our learners' passion for sustainability and nurture their entrepreneurial aspirations. These exceptional opportunities form an essential part of the NSCC’s student experience.
Throughout the past academic year, our students actively participated in numerous co-curricular activities that complemented their education in sustainable development. Noteworthy initiatives, including Enactus and Challenge NS, provided platforms for students to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world settings, fostering their growth as socially conscious and enterprising individuals.
The Enactus team at Ivany Campus launched the Cap Cycle Project this year, transforming bottle caps into bracelets to reduce waste. With over 2400 volunteer hours contributed by 30 students, they diverted 100 lbs of plastic and generated $750 in revenue.
NSCC Entrepreneurship
Local entrepreneurship builds the economy and creates resilience, directly supporting NSCC’s mission and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
NSCC offer numerous programs for student and alumni to capture entrepreneurship opportunities and develop skills.
Start-up Accelerator is a 30-week course offered to NSCC graduates with the goal of launching and managing their own businesses. This program equips students with the entrepreneurial skillset needed to get a successful enterprise off the ground.
Students enrolled in this course are motivated to explore their existing or new business ideas and evaluate their feasibility and viability through robust market research, development of communications strategies, and operational plans while leveraging peer and community mentoring opportunities and strengthening connections to community resources and supports available. Students learn to apply sustainable methods supporting economic, social, cultural and environmental stewardship.
Scotiabank Entrepreneur in the Making (EITM) is a funding, mentorship and networking opportunity open to all students and recent NSCC alumni to help kick-start or expand businesses across Nova Scotia. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are prioritized during promotional and recruitment efforts and during the selection process. Twenty participants were selected for the year-long program representing every campus, which included 11 students and 9 alumni. Community collaboration is an essential aspect of the EITM. Through an established network of community partners, EITM participants have access to a full suite of skill and knowledge development opportunities to support their entrepreneurship journey. This included a hands-on training module offered through MashUp Labs, mentorship and workshops led by subject matter experts through Seasoned Pros, and 1-1 business advisory sessions and numerous networking opportunities. With businesses ranging from emergency planning and preparedness consulting, manufacturing and selling bath and body products, swim instructor training for youth with autism, data/predictability analysis, home renovation and repair, HVAC installations and maintenance, and more. Participants explored a wide range of business sectors and opportunities and throughout the year developed skills and knowledge that will serve them well in their entrepreneurial and career pursuits.
Photo credit: CBC
Autism Swim Miramichi
Cindi Green, a participant in the Entrepreneur in the Making program, launched Autism Swim Miramichi to provide an inclusive, fun, safe swimming experience for children living with autism while providing a professional development opportunity for swim instructors and enhanced peace of mind for families. Cindi, a lifelong swimmer, understood the increased risk for children living with autism as they are naturally attracted to water but may not have an awareness of the potential dangers. Through her business, Autism Swim Miramichi, Cindi is collaborating with the community and training swim instructors with tools and techniques tailored for youth with autism
NSCC International
NSCC International provides leadership for international learning at NSCC, fostering a global worldview for students and employees through experiential learning at home and abroad. We also strive to create inclusive communities for immigrants, embracing diversity and cultural exchange. Focus areas of work include externally funded technical assistance programs with partner colleges and institutions worldwide, scholarship programs for students from less developed countries to study on exchange at NSCC programs to enhance immigrant and international student experience, and global skills opportunities. Through these programs, NSCC engages local, international and immigrant students in many co-curricular activities through which they gain valuable global employability skills.
NSCC has a wide range of externally funded technical assistance projects in partnership with colleges in less developed countries to enhance the quality of vocational training in those countries. NSCC is actively engaged with 10 projects in the Caribbean, South America, and East Africa. Two new projects over the past year include an eco-tourism development project in the Caribbean and an empowerment through skills program in Tanzania focused on skill development for women and girls.
NSCC International co-curricular programs for students take many forms, including the International Student Ambassadors (ISA) program and Global Skills Opportunities. Global Skills Opportunities include study abroad programs for students with funding from the Government of Canada/Colleges and Institutes Canada. Over the past year, 70 students and 14 employee leaders participated in 13 programs in 9 countries.
Whether at home or abroad, virtual or in-person, these are opportunities for students to gain skills in global citizenship, appreciation for cultural diversity and culture’s contribution to sustainable development.
