- The Goals
- SDG 1: No Poverty
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 3: Good health and well-being
- SDG 4: Quality education
- SDG 5: Gender equality
- SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation
- SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy
- SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
- SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- SDG 10: Reduced inequalities
- SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities
- SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production
- SDG 13: Climate action
- SDG 14: Life below water
- SDG 15: Life on land
- SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
- About
- Contact
Partnerships for the goals
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
The Global Goals can only be met if we work together. International investments and support are needed to ensure innovative technological development, fair trade, and market access, especially for developing countries. To build a better world, we need to be supportive, empathetic, inventive, passionate, and above all, cooperative.
How SFU is contributing
Achieving the United Nations' (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires cross-sectoral partnerships and interdisciplinary knowledge. SFU strives to convene collaborations and dialogue across these dimensions, both locally and internationally. We engage our global, national and local community to create mutuality, justice and equity in our partnerships with government, private sector, non-governmental and community-based organizations, civil society and academia.
SFU International is the university's hub of international relationships, knowledge and resources to mobilize the global reach of SFU’s teaching, research and community engagement. SFU International facilitates global connections through partnerships and collaboration with global networks and higher education institutions around the world. SFU International mobilizes SFU’s research and expertise to support global development and sustainability initiatives with the global south—in Africa, Asia and Latin America. SFU International has developed an SDG Framework to guide international collaborations.
SFU’s memberships in global networks that mobilize on the SDGs allow us to collaborate globally to advance the 17 goals. Memberships include: Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN); University Social Responsibility Network (USRN); Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU); and Inter-American Organization for Higher Education (IOHE).
Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions
SFU is a partner of the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS), hosted and led by the University of Victoria in collaboration with the University of British Columbia, SFU and the University of Northern British Columbia. PICS was established in 2008 with an endowment from the B.C. government, partners with governments, the private sector, researchers, non-governmental and community-based organizations, and civil society in order to undertake research on, monitor and assess the potential impacts of climate change, and evaluate, develop and promote viable mitigation and adaptation options to better inform climate change options and actions for B.C., Canada and the world.
Association of Pacific Rim Universities
APRU plays an important role in promoting international collaboration across the Asia Pacific Region with a mission of advancing knowledge and innovation to address the challenges of the 21st century. SFU is a key member of this coalition of global institutions. Recently, the University Presidents that are a part of APRU identified 3 priority areas to engage the members of the network, including supporting diversity, inclusion and minorities. While many of the APRU programs consider this priority through their activities, several existing APRU programs focus specifically on this priority area, including Indigenous Knowledges Working Group, Overcoming Anti-Asian Racism, and the Asia Pacific Women in Leadership Program which are aligned with the UN SDGs.
Inter-American Organization for Higher Education
Joy Johnson, SFU's president and vice-chancellor, is currently serving her first term as IOHE’s regional VP for Canada. In her role, she facilitated the first call for “Collaborative University Research Projects on the Implementation of the UN SDGs”, which received high demand and interest with 234 proposals submitted by 83 Institutions in 15 countries of the Americas, including Mexico.
SFU regularly collaborates with non-governmental and community-based organizations to amplify local, regional, and global impact. These partnerships enable students, researchers and faculty to tackle the SDGs in ways that authentically respond to community needs. Some current initiatives include:
I want to volunteer! (for students)
Sustainable Development Program (for students)
Queen Elizabeth Scholars Program (for students)
Community Engaged Research initiative (for researchers and faculty)
SFU HOSTS FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE CITIES
On September 15, 2022, SFU hosted the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Forum: Sustainable Cities—an event that aimed to explore critical questions around advancing SDG 11: sustainable cities and communities and connect with others who are working to build just, resilient cities and communities. The event was open to students, alumni, the local community and the general public.
RENEWABLE CITIES
Renewable Cities is a global program of SFU's Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue in Vancouver, Canada. Its mission is to work with policymakers and practitioners to accelerate the transition to renewable, restorative, resilient cities through meaningful engagement, critical research, capacity building and policy innovation. Using research-based dialogue, collaboration and thought leadership, Renewable Cities works towards urban energy solutions with cities, governments, the private sector, utilities, researchers and civil society.
GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKS
SFU International is the university's hub of international relationships, knowledge and resources to mobilize the global reach of SFU’s teaching, research and community engagement. SFU International facilitates global connections through partnerships and collaboration with global networks and higher education institutions around the world.
INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
SFU International mobilizes SFU’s research and expertise to support global development and sustainability initiatives with the global south—in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
SFU WORLD UNIVERSITY SERVICES OF CANADA STUDENT REFUGEE PROGRAM
SFU International Services for Students provides support services for SFU students who identify as refugees or newcomers. SFU also partners with World University Services of Canada to directly sponsor refugee students via the Student Refugee Program.
CENTRAL ASIA FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
SFU is partnering with the University of Central Asia (part of the Aga Khan Development Network) on the Central Asia Faculty Development Program. UCA’s mission is to foster the socioeconomic development of Central Asia, particularly its mountain societies, while helping the people of the region preserve and draw on their rich cultural heritages. Upgrading faculty members to PhD level is a key aspect of UCA’s development plan to offer high quality education, increase research capacity through global linkages, and meet requirements for accreditation internationally and in Central Asia. The program allows UCA faculty members to complete Masters or PhD programs at SFU, spending the first one to two years in Canada, and returning home to conduct research to complete their degree.
Aga Khan University - Arusha Climate Environment Research (AKU-ACER)
SFU is a priority partner for the AKU at the Arusha Climate Environment Research (ACER) site in Arusha, where the two institutions will further opportunities to develop climate-related research projects and the two-way flow of students and faculty over the next five years. The goal is to develop climate justice demonstration projects that are deeply rooted in community engaged innovation.
The Pacific Water Research Centre mobilizes cross-disciplinary exploration at the interface of water science, social values and public policy, the centre provides a forum for advancing evidence-based research and concrete societal change at the local, national and global scale.
The Centre for Sustainable Development is a research unit of SFU that uses the resources and talents of the university to deepen understanding and create solutions to advance sustainable development locally and globally.
FACTS AND FIGURES
4115 research publications related to SDG 17, 2017-2021 (source: SciVal)
The Migrant Systems Change Leadership (MSCL) program is the first certificate of its kind offered by the Refugee Livelihood Lab. The program is designed for people who have lived a refugee or immigrant experience. Through a collaborative process taking place over eight months in an online setting, students will gain an understanding of foundational concepts related to equity, racial justice, Indigenous rights and decolonization.
SFU's Semester in Dialogue is a one-semester, full-time program designed to inspire students with a sense of civic responsibility and encourage their passion for improving society. Each semester the program offers an original, interdisciplinary experience that bridges the classroom with the community and creates space for students to reflect on what they are doing and why it matters.
Central Asia Faculty Development Program
SFU is partnering with the University of Central Asia (part of the Aga Khan Development Network) on the Central Asia Faculty Development Program. UCA’s mission is to foster the socioeconomic development of Central Asia, particularly its mountain societies, while helping the people of the region preserve and draw on their rich cultural heritages. Upgrading faculty members to PhD level is a key aspect of UCA’s development plan to offer high quality education, increase research capacity through global linkages, and meet requirements for accreditation internationally and in Central Asia. The program allows UCA faculty members to complete Masters or PhD programs at SFU, spending the first one to two years in Canada, and returning home to conduct research to complete their degree.
Through partnerships and relationships with universities, companies and community organizations across the world, SFU provides opportunities for students to engage with the world.
International Field Schools: SFU launched an inaugural Field School in Arusha, Tanzania, focused on Climate Change and Community Resilience. The goal for the field school in environmental / ecological education is to describe a framework for education that is grounded in an ecology which emphasizes the 'imbeddedness' of human societies and cultures within particular places (or communities). Environmental topics are linked to concepts such as ecological and community resilience and climate change. The Field School is delivered in partnership with the Aga Khan University and currently had 13 SFU Students participate. Future iterations will include local Tanzanian students.
International Co-op: In the summer of 2023, three Simon Fraser University (SFU) students had the opportunity to travel to Arusha, Tanzania in East Africa for a learning experience that brought new and global perspective to their studies. Emily Burkholder, Maggie Cross and Lauren Ord study resource and environmental management (REM) at SFU. Burkholder is pursuing a master’s degree in the planning program, while Cross and Ord are completing bachelor’s degrees in planning. The trio travelled to the Aga Khan University of East Africa (AKU) Arusha campus as part of their programs. AKU is a pioneering institution of higher education and research that works to improve quality of life in the global south and beyond. The campus is on the nearly 4000-acre Arusha Climate and Environment Research land (ACER) where environmental research takes place.
SFU's Scholars for a Sustainable World supported knowledge-sharing to further the UN's SDGs in five countries: Bangladesh, Ecuador, Iran, Nepal and South Africa. The program supported inbound and outbound students from 2017 to 2020.
SFU students travel to South Africa for field school on HIV and youth: A group of SFU graduate and undergraduate students had the opportunity to travel to South Africa in summer 2019 for an intensive, experiential learning course taught by Health Sciences Professor Angela Kaida. The field school—which took place in Durban over 11 days—was offered in partnership with the Sub-Saharan African Network for TB/HIV Research Excellence (SANTHE).
SFU IS ONE OF THE FIRST CANADIAN UNIVERSITIES TO BECOME A SIGNATORY OF THE UN PRINCIPLES OF RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT
SFU is among more than a dozen Canadian universities to sign a charter furthering their commitment to addressing global climate change.
Under the charter, the universities pledge to adopt responsible investment guidelines that follow recognized standards, such as the UN-supported Principles of Responsible Investment.
SFU JOINS INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS NETWORK
SFU is a member of the International Sustainable Campus Network, a global network of nearly 100 higher education institutions in 30 countries. Network institutions work collaboratively to increase sustainability best practices in their campus operations, research and teaching.