Funded by the Government of Canada’s Outbound Student Mobility Pilot Program Global Skills Opportunity (GSO), York University’s Go Global SDGs in Action Student Challenge set out to empower York students and their peers around the world to take action towards the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a global lens.
Through facilitated discussions, workshops, and immersive abroad opportunities, York students and their peers developed global competencies, leadership, digital fluency, and project management skills necessary to take action on SDGs. Each year the project focused on 4 SDGs plus SDG17 relevant to each individual SDG. The outcomes of the projects listed under SDG action projects below.
Objectives
- Increase global learning opportunities for York students especially Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, and low-income, or students living with disabilities, to non-traditional destination countries (Asia, Latin America and Africa)
- Develop students’ intercultural communication, leadership, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, digital fluency and project management skills.
- Expand students’ knowledge of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and provide them an opportunity to contribute to the SDGs from any discipline of study.
- Increase awareness of SDGs by creating platform for knowledge sharing between York community and partner countries.
200+ students |
30+ mentors |
25+ student action projects |
Program Design
EXPLORE: Students participated to build SDG knowledge and global competencies including concepts in international development, social change, grassroots movements, and community engagement.
ENGAGE: Student groups executed SDG community action advised by faculty mentors and supported by staff from project ideation, pitch and implementation..
EXEMPLIFY: At a Knowledge Fair, Students showcased projects with the wider York community, Canadian peers and international partners. Students (student groups) shared their learnings and experiences from the program.
EXPERIENCE: YorkU students went abroad to study, research, intern or visit communities and partners they impacted through their SDG action projects. Learn more about study/work abroad opportunities.
GSO Funding
For York students, GSO funding placed priority on supporting those who identified as Indigenous, came from low-income backgrounds, or lived with disabilities. The amount of funding available was dependent on the duration and location of the students' study, work, or research abroad, all of which were tailored to align with students' degree path and objectives.
Note: The GSO program will conclude in March 2025. Students interested in learning about other awards to support their programs abroad can visit: https://yorkinternational.yorku.ca/outgoing-global-learning-funds/
Contact Us
Funded by the Government of Canada’s Outbound Student Mobility Pilot Program Global Skills Opportunity (GSO).
