Knowledge Sharing Leader: Carleton University
Carleton University, founded in 1942 and based in Ottawa, Canada, has over 30,000 active students and 177,000 alumni globally. At the forefront of Canadian institutions working towards building an inclusive, sustainable future, Carleton University is taking a holistic and multifaceted approach to knowledge building and knowledge sharing, to support the advancement of Quality Education (SDG 4), as well as its other SDG commitments. The university is dedicated to empowering students to use education as a force for change, and give students experiences that are respectful, diverse, inclusive, and where possible, both cultural and international.
Experiential Learning
A core facet of Carleton’s strides towards advancing Quality Education is its commitment to experiential learning. Carleton believes strongly in the importance of immersive, international educational experiences, key in supporting a holistic, plural education. As a result, Carleton has developed an exchange program with comprehensive pre-departure curriculums, which help prepare students for cultural, academic and professional nuances abroad. Sessions on the curriculums discuss travel safety, intercultural nuances, and key outputs for building future employability needed to be completed prior to exchange.
After returning from an international experience, Carleton offers ‘post-exchange sessions.’ In these sessions, students share and reflect upon their experiences with dialogue on how best to leverage the merits of each international experience into pathways for a professional career. Students have the opportunity to enrol as an ‘Exchange Ambassador’ whereby they meet with other prospective students to share their experiences.
Preparing Students for the Workforce
Key to Carleton’s goals in advancing Quality Education for its students is ensuring that they contribute to cultivating a skilled workforce that is also both socially conscious, and engaged in their communities. Carleton’s graduates historically have stood out for their robust cultural competencies and dedication to sustainability, with open-mindedness and collaboration significant in placing Carleton graduates at the forefront of innovation and leadership in professional environments.
A Vision for the Future
As Carleton maintains its commitment to advancing the goal of Quality Education, it plans to expand its partnerships in experiential learning, with students offered greater benefits from more shared knowledge, resources, and cultural exchange. These partnerships will be essential towards building initiatives that enhance progress towards Quality Education globally, and progress towards all SDGs collectively.