We are sharing an update on the Strategic Plan deliverable, “Consolidate and leverage BCIT’s leadership in sustainability metrics training through Centre for Ecocities partnerships.” This important work supports our commitment to enrich partner and industry experiences at BCIT.
Our focus is to foster collaborations with local and international organizations that expand opportunities for employees and students to engage in interdisciplinary applied education and research that drives innovation.
Through the Centre for Ecocities, BCIT has partnered with York University and the University of Iceland in an International Ecological Footprint Learning Lab. This initiative supports BCIT graduate students with Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council funding to learn about ecological footprint analysis methods. A related elective course will be available next fall through the School of Energy.
With support from the Real Estate Foundation of BC (REFBC) and in collaboration with the Ecocity Peer Network and Centre for Ecocities, we’ve launched two online tools. These tools help local governments, organizations, businesses, and communities understand their impact on the environment and take meaningful climate action. Through BCIT’s Industry Sponsored Student Projects program, a Computer Systems Technology student team ensured one of the tools was converted into a publicly accessible and easy-to-use web interface.
These projects build on previous work in developing and delivering curricula to advance climate leadership as well as contributions to a variety of sustainability measurement and monitoring frameworks including UN-Habitat’s Global Monitoring Framework, International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Urban-Nature Index, and Ecocity Builders’ International Ecocity Standards. Visit the BCIT Centre for Ecocities website to learn more about recent projects, tools, reports and resources.
If you are a BCIT employee, we encourage you to follow the BCIT Centre for Ecocities on the Intranet to stay updated on events and opportunities to participate.
Thank you,
Jennie Moore
Director, Institute Sustainability
Christina Olsen
Sustainability Manager, Institute Sustainability
Commitment: Enrich Partner and Industry Experiences
Initiative: Relevant Education and Sustainable Practices
Deliverable: Consolidate and leverage BCIT’s leadership in sustainability metrics training through Centre for Ecocities partnerships, including delivery of a course on urban greenhouse gas and ecological footprint analysis through the SSHRC-funded International Ecological Footprint Learning Lab partnership with York University and University of Iceland.