UM's commitment to the SDGs
In April 2017, the president of the United Nations General Assembly wrote to higher education institutions around the world, including the University of Manitoba. The letter was delivered to spark movement and create a call-to-action to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainability Development within the university environment. The university was encouraged to include the Global Goals as part of research, teaching and study within the institution.
The University of Manitoba is dedicated to contributing to the cultural, social and economic wellbeing of peoples in Manitoba, Canada and around the world. This commitment aligns with and supports the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs unite people in action and aim to address three main themes: end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change.
The University of Manitoba is addressing these themes by creating opportunities for our students, staff, faculty and community to participate in actions to help achieve the SDGs.
As part of our effort to contribute to the SDGs, UM has begun the process of submitting our efforts to the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings in order to demonstrate our commitment and track our progress relative to post-secondary institutions around the world.
Featured goals
Good health and wellbeing
Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages at the University of Manitoba is evident through the initiatives and programming offered by the Recreation Services Health Promotion. In addition, the Success Through Wellness mental health strategy is a call to action for campus members to view the promotion and support of mental health as a collective responsibility. The strategy focuses equally on students, staff and faculty members, examining all aspects of the university and identifies ways in which the community can be committed, caring, healthy, responsive, supportive and resourceful.
Healthy U is a team of committed and trained student volunteers who provide health and wellness education on a variety of topics through creative outreach and presentations. They spread awareness on multiple aspects of health ensuring students learn to make health - including mental and sexual health - a priority in their lives.
The University has also collaborated with international organizations such as the KHPT Research Centre located in India. This centre works on maternal, neonatal and child health, adolescent health and education, violence against women, tuberculosis, nutrition, orphans and vulnerable children, HIV AIDS, and institution building for the community.
Clean water and sanitation
Water scarcity, poor water quality and inadequate sanitation negatively impact food security, livelihood choice and educational opportunities for communities across the world. The university has a variety of programs and initiatives which are helping improve the determinants of this goal.
Closer to home, the university's effective water resource management includes planning, developing, distributing and managing the optimum use of water resources for all UM campuses.
UM was recently named the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) Hub for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 for its ongoing research and initiatives that contribute to developments in clean water and sanitation.
Peace, justice and strong institutions
The University of Manitoba is dedicated to the advancement of human rights, conflict resolution, global citizenship, peace, and social justice through research, education, and outreach. There are a variety of programs, initiatives and research projects which facilitate learning which include:
The Arthur V. Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice, dedicated to the advancement of human rights, conflict resolution, global citizenship, peace, and social justice through research, education, and outreach. The Centre is also interested in the role of the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in pointing ways for people to live in peace and harmony in a post-modern world.
The university hosts the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, which has the mandate to ensure former Residential School Students and their families have access to their own history, educators can share the Indian Residential School history with future generations of students, researchers can more deeply explore the Residential School experience, the public can access historical records and other materials to help foster Reconciliation and healing, and the history and legacy of the Residential School system are never forgotten.
Working with local government:
Providing expert advice to government
Local
UM Extended Education offers the Municipal Administration credential which is often taken by elected officials and senior administration working at City Hall. The program offers participants specialized practical knowledge in administration, accounting, human resources, law and fundamental management skills. On the research side, Dr. Ahmed Shalaby serves as Municipal Infrastructure Chair for the City of Winnipeg supporting the city’s infrastructure department with highly specialized testing of materials and design practices to best utilize and implement them in the city. The Southwood development through UM Properties will contribute to the development of accessible housing for students and the broader community, which is contributing to municipal policy on active transportation corridors and rapid transit services, while also supporting population growth.
Regional
UM’s President Dr. Michael Benarroch participated on the Manitoba Immigration Advisory Council, providing the council and the Minister guidance on Manitoba’s immigration policies and strategies. The committee was critical in providing 39 recommendations to Government on ways to enhance and streamline the region's immigration process, resulting in record applications from prospective newcomers. Through the Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources and the Centre for Earth Observation Science, the Manitoba Great Lakes Program supports science-informed management of the province’s largest freshwater resources, which are critical to the regional economy and social infrastructure.
National
Over the course of 2022-23, 14 UM experts participated in federal House and Senate committees, providing lawmakers with advice and guidance on a range of subjects including health, Indigenous and northern affairs, human resources, skills and social development for persons with disabilities, Science and Technology. Topics covered on the subjects included reducing child abuse, improving graduation and success rates for Indigenous students, early childhood education, and data collection. Briefs were also supplied as evidence to committees relating to National Defense and Security.
Policy and lawmakers outreach and education
UM offers a range of programs and services to provide policy and lawmakers with upskilling, general knowledge, microcredentials and capacity building on a range of areas which are important to the region. Through the Extended Education program, we offer courses on public sector and municipal administration and law, artificial technology and machine learning, advanced manufacturing, and applied business management. We also offer regular courses in the areas of climate change and sustainability which are taken by students at all stages of life. The Centre for Social Science Research and Policy is the focal point for policy-related activities in social sciences and is available to policy and lawmakers at every level of government. The centre offers clients from all industries and backgrounds expert research services, training and professional development which can be used to influence decision making and strategic direction. The centre has a wide range of experts to contribute in the fields of architecture, social work, nursing, education, food sciences, economics, sociology, criminology, psychology, and labour studies.
Participation in government research
UM is a member of the U15 group which focuses on advocating and educating lawmakers on the benefits of research in post-secondary education in Canada. Through the Centre for Earth Observation Science, we are working with the Canada Research Chairs program to enhance Canada's understanding of how the ocean, atmosphere, sea ice and glaciers and ice caps have interacted over thousands of years. This research is highly collaborative, working with partners at the University of Copenhagen, Queen's University, University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, University of Ottawa and the Alfred Wegner Institute. Research hopes to reveal how sea ice conditions change in the Arctic during the past millennia and how sensitive ice caps are to changes in sea ice and climatic conditions.
Identify and engage with local stakeholders
A substantial component of our work includes identifying and engaging with external partners. The community relations focus of our team involved engaging with local stakeholders including chambers of commerce, boards of trades, and sector groups. Wherever there is potential for alignment in promoting mutual areas of interest as they relate to our strategic objectives, this is included in our community relations mandate. We have a broad strategy plan and develop briefing documents for the purposes of engaging with external stakeholders.
Partnerships for the goals
The University of Manitoba is working to strengthen global partnerships of sustainable development through experiential learning opportunities, international research projects and student engagement activities.
The Indigenous Scholar’s Network has expanded its service-learning and community-based research opportunities with global Indigenous communities.
The UM Student Chapter of Engineers Without Borders promotes environmental and social sustainability at UM and within other developing countries. Some of their recent projects include promoting fair trade on campus, working toward a fair trade campus designation and developmental planning in Africa.
The Sustainability Research in Action program connects University of Manitoba faculty and staff with students who are passionate about solving sustainability challenges on campus through research projects.
Contact us
Office of Sustainability
152 Physical Plant Building
89 Freedman Crescent
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg MB R3T 2N2
Office of Institutional Analysis
Room 213 University College, 220 Dysart Rd.
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2