Students walk past the University of Manitoba Fort Garry campus Administration building in the evening as the sun sets.

Education and research

Education

Sustainability education is future-oriented, focusing on protecting the environment and creating a more ecologically and socially just world through informed action.

Sustainability courses for UM students

We invite you to enhance your learning experience, life skills and job market readiness by including sustainability in your studies at UM. 

  • UM offers more than 900 courses across 85 academic departments at the undergraduate and graduate level that focus on or relate to sustainability.

    We continue to increase the number of courses that address sustainability as an integrated concept with social, economic and environmental aspects. This reflects our central mandate to preserve, communicate and apply knowledge that contributes to the well-being of our community and the world.

    Review the sustainability course catalog 

  • 32%

    of all UM courses are sustainability-related

  • 21

    Living Laboratory projects completed

  • 232

    UM faculty members engaged in sustainability research

  • 56%

    of research-producing departments engaged in sustainability research

  • 980+

    courses offered at UM include sustainability

Sustainability programs for UM faculty and staff

We can use our collective skills to consider solutions to real-world problems. Faculty and staff have the opportunity to be a part of the sustainability journey at UM.

The Green Office Program

The Green Office Program offers a guide for campus offices to incorporate green practices into day-to-day operations while directly contributing to the University of Manitoba's sustainability strategy. You can make simple changes in your office to support healthy lifestyle choices and provide an outstanding work environment!

Participation in the program requires little time commitment, and you receive ongoing support from the Office of Sustainability. To get started, follow these steps:

•    Talk to your office director and get approval to participate.
•    Download the Green Office Checklist as your guide.
•    Contact the Office of Sustainability. A program facilitator will meet with you to discuss the program and answer your questions.

Introduction to Sustainability at UM

Location: UM Learn

Title: Sustainability at UM - SS_WRC_032020

All University of Manitoba students, staff and faculty can now access a new resource to learn about sustainability on our campuses.
Each module gives participants an introduction to topics such as climate action, waste and food choices, an overview of related resources and options available on UM campuses and opportunities for further involvement.

Take the course

Research

The UM Strategic Research Plan is a roadmap to champion research excellence. Our researchers address the most pressing issues facing Canadians as well as global societies.

UM Strategic Research Plan

These themes include Arctic system science and technology; human rights and social justice; safe, healthy, just and sustainable food systems; sustainable water management and sustainable systems for resilient communities - all of which add to our wealth of knowledge about complex issues in this field.

Learn more about UM research and our Strategic Research Plan

Living Lab

The Living Lab program connects UM faculty and staff with students who are passionate about solving sustainability challenges on campus through research projects. 

The Office of Sustainability helps to coordinate these initiatives while providing a platform for the community to access the completed research. The Living Lab program promotes a culture of sustainable change through growth, education and action.

Get involved with the Living Lab 

Sustainable Campus Index

The Sustainable Campus Index highlights the most sustainable colleges and universities in 17 impact areas and overall by institution type, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). UM was a top 10 performer in the categories of Research Coordination and Planning.

STARS Sustainable Campus Index (2019)

UM’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations has framed world sustainability with 17 global sustainable development goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030, as agreed to by all countries of the UN, for addressing people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership.

The UN’s SDGs recognize that ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring all people enjoy peace and prosperity must be supported by actions and initiatives to promote economic growth, enhance our environmental protection and address social aspects such as health, education, human rights and employment.

For its research related to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Clean water and sanitation, the University of Manitoba has been named a UN Academic Impact Hub.

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Contact us

Office of Sustainability
150 Physical Plant Building 
89 Freedman Crescent 
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus) 
Winnipeg MB R3T 2N2