Mohawk College recently completed its involvement in the Responsible Futures International Pilot Program, a global initiative transforming higher education to support sustainable development. The college announced it has committed to ongoing membership in this student-centred international movement.
Based in the United Kingdom, the Responsible Futures accreditation program supports universities and colleges around the world to make transformative changes to their teaching and learning, strategies, and policies in partnership with students. Mohawk is the first college in North America to participate in the program.
"There is a strong desire among students to have sustainability included in their everyday programs," said Kelsey Armour, a student leader on the Mohawk College Responsible Futures team. "The environment touches every single sector, no matter what job you're in, so it's important to have sustainability included in each program to make sure students can take those skills into their careers."
Student surveys confirm that students consider sustainability a high priority in their lives and they want the college to be socially and environmentally responsible while preparing them for today's global challenges. Additionally, there is a growing demand for graduates with these skills in the workforce across all sectors.
"Responsible Futures offers students a really great opportunity to voice their concerns, their ideas and priorities," said Jonah Scrymgeour, another student leader on the Responsible Futures team. "We can focus on the issues that students think are most important and take the steps to raise awareness and make change happen."
Membership in Responsible Futures is consistent with recent initiatives at Mohawk. In 2023, an ambitious new Climate Action Plan was introduced that will see the college reach net-zero emissions in direct campus operations by the year 2035; will embed sustainability across the curriculum of all programs; and will support research with community partners to develop more than 50 deployable solutions to the climate crisis by 2030.
"At the core of Responsible Futures is a commitment to student leadership in sustainability. This program is unique because students assess the college's progress against sustainability criteria through their own perspectives," said Cebert Adamson, VP, Academic at Mohawk College. "The students hold us accountable and guide us toward more sustainable practices. We are excited to move forward on the college's decarbonization journey with student priorities guiding our path."
The criteria within the Responsible Futures framework covers key themes, such as establishing baselines and benchmarks, partnership and planning, leadership and strategy, policy and commitment, interventions and outreach. The 50 criteria used by Responsible Futures provide a roadmap for actions.
In just seven months, Mohawk College has made significant strides in establishing a baseline for progress toward meeting the Responsible Futures criteria. Typically, that process takes two years.
Some key milestones of the pilot project include:
- The Responsible Futures Planning Team was formed, including students, student union representatives, and staff working together on sustainability efforts.
- A student-led audit was conducted, with eight students assessing progress against the Responsible Futures criteria by reviewing evidence and conducting interviews.
- A Student Sustainability Survey was conducted, reaching over 2,000 students and providing valuable insights into how students view sustainability in education.
- Mohawk College received international recognition for its leadership and commitment to this global initiative.
Based on the accreditation audit by Responsible Futures, the Mohawk College Responsible Futures Planning Team will identify strategies to advance sustainability efforts at the college. The Responsible Futures mark is awarded to institutions that follow their student-led audit, embedding sustainability across all aspects of student learning.
The Responsible Futures international framework was co-created in 2023 with pilot institutions and students: Queen's University, Trinity College Dublin, Murdoch University, Mykolas Romeris University, University of the West Indies, Women's University in Africa, Mohawk College and delivery partner International Association of Universities.
