Sustainability
Curriculum
Curriculum
Should all university students have to learn about sustainability and the climate crisis in their curriculum? In a recent referendum question co-led by enuf during the 2021 by-election of the Concordia Student Union (CSU), 89% of Concordia undergraduate students answered “yes” to that question, with a turnout of 21%, which appears to be the highest in CSU's history. According to the currently available data on STARS, only 19% of Concordians graduate from programs with any mention of sustainability in their curriculum. The national average in Canada is 39%.
Keroles and Juliette make a case for a general curriculum on waste sustainability in Elementary and High-schools, citing their results from Laurier MacDonald High School in St-Léonard. Following the workshops at LMAC,compost bins were virtually pure, recycling bins had almost a third of the usual contamination (nine per cent instead of 23 per cent) and, most important, total waste generated per person per day was cut in half (81 grams instead of 159 grams). This impact has been sustained over multiple years.
Keroles and Juliette argue for teaching recycling beginning at kindergarten
In 2023, McGill’s Senate approved a new sustainability policy and academic plan committing to the “expectation that students will graduate with an understanding of sustainability and the ability to address sustainability challenges in a global context.
Sustainability education at the post-secondary level: the academia perspective
Sustainability Literacy Initiative in partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada and SDSN Canada, March 2023
Keroles participated in a webinar alongside Ceileigh McAllister, Sustainability Literacy Initiative, University of Waterloo, and Jaydn Cowie, Programming and Policy Assistant – Sustainability Office, Dalhousie University. The panel highlighted the role of education in creating a workforce to tackle tomorrow’s challenges effectively.
ASFA referendum vote results
Over 85% of the arts and science undergraduate students voted to demand that their faculty teaches all students about sustainability and the climate crisis via curriculum.
Fireside: Sustainability curriculum
November 2022
A chat on the importance of integrating sustainability curriculum for all students at universities with Phil Baty (Times Higher Education), Jennifer Maccarone (MNA Quebec National Assembly), and Daniel Forget (Sustainability Coordinator at ULaval)
“Preparing society to face the climate crisis is the responsibility of our tax-funded educational institutions, but it’s one they have shirked. Only one-third of graduates from Canadian universities have learned about sustainability in their curriculum. That number is only 21 per cent at McGill University, and 19 per cent at Concordia University.”
by Sean Henry
CBC Daybreak, November 2022
Sean Henry hosted Keroles Riad on CBC daybreak to discuss the referendum question asking students whether or not they want to demand that Concordia commits to teaching all students about sustainability and the climate crisis via curriculum
Fireside: Sustainability in business education
April 2022
To move forward, in March, we discuss sustainability in business education with Maxime Lakat (Founder and Executive Director – Canadian Business Youth Council for Sustainable Development), Dr. Shannon Lloyd (Assistant Professor – @johnmolson.cu @concordiauniversity), and Victoria Paul (VP academic – @jsecjmsb).
” ‘I think it’s one of those situations where it feels as if the university makes progress just by showing up’ said Riad. ‘Having senior administrators get out of their comfort zone, outside of those scripted PR events and actually have a conversation that is real, and that discusses different perspectives – I think that’s really important’ “.
“Keroles Riad admitted that he did not write ‘closing remarks’ on the schedule. He said, ‘I don’t think this conversation should end now or end here at Concordia. It’s important for us to keep working not only to get this done at Concordia but to set an example and start a national movement across Canada’ “.
“Canada must adopt a national sustainability education plan that cuts across grade levels in co-ordination with the provinces. We have the expertise to do this. The Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication has worked since the early 1990s to develop credible, effective and sensitive approaches that foster environmental literacy and stewardship.”
“Concordia is four times lower than the national average in sustainability curriculum, and we must demand better.”
“Montrealers are paying for the climate crisis with their money, with their homes, and with their lives. For example, Montreal had a record one-day snowfall that cost the city over $40 million of your tax dollars to clear up, floods that evacuated thousands from their homes in winter 2019, and a heat wave that killed over 50 people in summer 2018.”
“Concordia University students to vote on whether school should teach climate science and sustainability policy.”
by Shawn Apel
CBC Radio Noon Quebec, November 2021
Shawn Apel hosted Keroles Riad and Faye Sun on CBC Radio Noon Quebec where they fielded questions from callers discussing whether all university students should have to learn about climate change in their curriculum. Professors Damon Matthews and Heather Short have also joined the discussion.
CBC Montreal News
CBC News, November 2021
A TV segment on CBC 6 PM news covering the sustainability curriculum referendum campaign at Concordia University- featuring Keroles Riad, Professor Damon Matthews and Laval University’s vice rector.
CSU referendum vote results
Over 89% of Concordia undergraduate students voted to demand that Concordia University teaches all students about sustainability and the climate crisis via curriculum. Over 21% of the Concordia undergraduate student population showed up to vote, which appears to be the highest in CSU’s history.
Fireside: Sustainability curriculum in universities
Waste Not, Want Not
November 2021
In this #CUcompost fireside, we discuss sustainability curriculum in universities with Duncan Ross (Chief data officer at Times Higher Education), Anne Whitelaw (Provost at Concordia University) and Faye Sun (Sustainability coordinator at the Concordia Student Union).
Other Resources
The Sustainability Action Fund conducted a curriculum audit at Concordia University in 2014.
STARS Data Compilation
Based on our compilation of self-reported data from Canadian Universities to STARS, Canada’s national average for the percentage of students graduating out of programs with at least one sustainability learning outcome is 39%. Concordia University graduates 19% of students out of such programs, four times lower than the Canadian national average.