Sustainability and 21st Century Skills Certificate

PART I: EXPLORING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs)

In this course students will:

• develop personal accountability to engage effectively in teamwork
• explore the dynamics of teamwork to facilitate team performance and the exchange of ideas
• position themselves as global citizens to enhance awareness of privilege and inequity
• demonstrate understanding of SDGs to reflect on the need for action
• apply design cycle inquiry and analysis to global challenges

PART II: IDEAS TO ACTION

In this course students will:

• use project management tools to prioritize tasks and support team efficiency
• reflect on self and team achievements to strengthen team performance
• analyze a global challenge to identify opportunities for mitigation strategies
• evaluate potential consequences to select appropriate responses
• work collaboratively to organize findings and present solutions

COMMUNICATION: CONVEYING A MESSAGE

In this course students will:

• work collaboratively with peers to discuss topics and plan and execute group work
• apply research skills to assess information from a variety of sources
• compile relevant data to develop and support arguments and lines of thinking
• explore audience and purpose to develop effective communication styles
• enhance communication skills to explain and justify actions and decisions
• use digital tools to enhance the appeal and clarity of visually presented information
• edit and revise drafts to enhance communicative clarity

CULTURE: EMBRACING DIVERSITY

In this course students will:

• develop cross-cultural sensitivity and awareness by examining both culture-general and culture-specific knowledge as well as by identifying their own cultural assumptions
• build strategies for managing cultural misunderstandings and adapting communication styles to different cultural contexts
• reflect upon the value of diversity in local and global sustainable development
• develop communication strategies that can facilitate cross-cultural communication

INNOVATION: THINKING CRITICALLY

In this course students will:

• develop critical thinking skills to identify problems and analyze issues
• enhance independent thinking and decision-making abilities
• apply critical thinking skills to evaluate the feasibility and potential impact of proposed solutions to real-world scenarios related to sustainable development
• strengthen their sense of responsibility and personal agency for sustainable development
• develop a mindset that embraces ambiguity as an opportunity for growth and innovation

• 20 hours of programming a week
• orientation session and campus tour on the first day of the program
• individual feedback sessions with instructors during regularly scheduled sessions
• course assessments to measure progress and demonstrate knowledge
• final achievement report (transcript)
• a certificate of participation from Renison University College at the University of Waterloo

The GOALS program is recommended for students with a Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level B1 (intermediate) and above.