Sustainable Development Goals
The vision of the Sustainable Development Goals Affinity Group is to advance the awareness and adoption of the SDGs as integral to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) learning, through knowledge exchange, bridging of experiences and the creation of an engaged community of practice encompassing a diversity of views while working to embed SDG principles through our organization’s processes and practices to ensure no one is left behind.
Lead: Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), Canada
CICan is the secretariat for the WFCP and will be the lead chair for the SDG Affinity Group. The
co-chairs will serve on a 4-month rotating basis for 2021 and provide support in leading and guiding the Affinity Group. CICan is the Canadian national, voluntary membership organization representing publicly supported colleges, institutes, cégeps and polytechnics in Canada and internationally, while ImpAct builds on the common values and aspirations of CICan members and is designed to amplify the college and institute system’s contributions to economic and social development, community well-being and a sustainable future.
Collaborator: UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for TVET, Germany
UNESCO-UNEVOC is UNESCO’s centre for TVET supporting Member States in their efforts to strengthen and upgrade their TVET systems. It further equips institutions with the knowledge
and tools to advance skills for the world of work, and helps youth and adults develop skills needed for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. UNESCO-UNEVOC coordinates a global network of TVET institutions comprised of more than 250 UNEVOC Centres that have a similar goal for TVET. For the 2021-2023 period, its focus will be to promote future-oriented TVET that is responsive to sustainable development and labour market demands. It will expand its efforts to contribute to SDG 4 and 13 by mobilizing the UNEVOC Network in mainstreaming climate change response.
Co-Lead: Technical and Further Education New South Wales (TAFE NSW), Australia
TAFE NSW is the government public provider of vocational education and training in New South Wales, Australia. Dating back to the 1830s, today TAFE NSW is one of the largest training providers in the world
and each year, more than 500,000 students enroll into nationally recognized courses and training. TAFE NSW offers hundreds of courses with qualifications from certificates to Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Degree levels while the online arm, TAFE Digital, is the largest online education provider in Australia, currently servicing over 150,000 learners.
Co-Lead: Instituto Nacional de Capacitación Profesional (INACAP), Chile
INACAP is a higher education institution which offers 2-year vocational and 4-year professional programs. Since 1966 INACAP has opened 28 campuses in 20 of the most important cities of Chile,
currently educating over 100,000 undergraduate students. The curriculum offered at each campus is
designed to prepare highly trained technicians and professionals to work in various industries. INACAP has contributed to the socioeconomic and sustainable development of Chile through the impact of its multi-campus infrastructure.
Co-Lead: Kenya Association of Technical Training Institutes (KATTI), Kenya
KATTI is the body that coordinates the activities of Technical Training Institutes at over 250 institutions
throughout Kenya. Founded in 1997 it provides a forum for identifying common interests for institutions and determining strategies for addressing issues for the purpose of the improvement of Technical Education and Training in Kenya. The Association is a non-political body which promotes Technical Training to higher levels in technological advancement.
Co-Lead: ENAC
ENAC Technical Formation Center (www.enac.cl), is a Technical Higher Education Institution in Chile with 62 years of history, training students with its own identity and with a strong awareness of social problems, professional and human needs of women and men, contributing to human development to support the progress of the country and its society. Today, ENAC counts 28 study programs and an enrollment of almost 9,000 students. The institutional focus towards social issues as well as its innovation orientation provides a comprehensive quality training for students, well recognized at a national level. Sustainability is part of ENAC identity. Many initiatives have been developed and promoted to support the implementation and achievement of the SDGs. For instance, ENAC has committed to become a carbon neutral institution by 2050.
Co-Lead: Bridgend College
Bridgend College is a further education college, founded in 1923 in Wales, United Kingdom which has grown to become a large educational organisation, one of the largest providers of apprenticeship programmes and a major employer in the area. An extensive range of courses are offered across a large number of vocational areas ranging from General Certificates of Secondary Education, Welsh Baccalaureate to Honours Degrees as well as shorter options through our Community College. As the first college in the UK to declare a climate and nature emergency, we contribute strongly to socioeconomic and sustainable development through the impact of a highly robust sustainability strategy, partnerships and collaboration, infrastructure and curriculum development for sustainable futures.
To join the group, please fill out the Affinity Group application form.
More information about the SDG Affinity Group (for download)
