Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 71.36
Liaison Michael Chapman
Submission Date Sept. 20, 2023

STARS v2.2

Nova Scotia Community College
EN-10: Community Partnerships

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Anna Jessop
Sustainable Development Coordinator
Facilities and Engineering
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability :
Happiness Now Project

Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? :
Yes

Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe?:
Multi-year or ongoing

Which of the following best describes the partnership?:
Sustainability-focused

Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners? :
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability:

The Happiness Now project began in 2018 in partnership with VETA Hotel & Tourism Training Institute. This multi-year project supports local partners in engaging local female students to work with NSCC’s international students on mini-venture to create economic opportunities for women, which are otherwise lacking locally.
The Happiness Now Project is an annual two-week International Global Skills Opportunity which takes place in Arusha, Tanzania thanks to the strong partnership between Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) and the VETA Hotel & Tourism Training Institute (VHTTI).
NSCC and VHTTI students collaborate on “mini-ventures”, designing small businesses to be implemented on VHTTI campus to raise funds in support of some of the local entrepreneurs. In addition to cross-cultural collaboration, students learn about social entrepreneurship and how these enterprises work to build a more just and equitable society.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrBfMQ_wybs


Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (2nd partnership):
The COVE

Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? (2nd partnership):
Yes

Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe? (2nd partnership):
Multi-year or ongoing

Which of the following best describes the partnership’s sustainability focus? (2nd partnership):
Sustainability-focused

Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners? (2nd partnership):
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (2nd partnership):

The Centre for Ocean Ventures and Enterprises – is a world-class facility for applied innovation in the ocean sector. It is the only such hub of its kind in the world where start-up companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, large firms and post-secondary expertise will be housed together developing ocean technology.
Since the inception of COVE, NSCC has served as the lead post-secondary institution for the development of the facility, working with a partnership which included Waterfront Development, the province’s Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal department and the Institute for Ocean Research Enterprise (IORE). In less than two years, this team turned the former Coast Guard building into a vital community resource for the oceans sector.
The centre will serve as a catalyst for applied innovation, with a dynamic formula of leveraging:
• the research expertise of our post-secondary institutions;
• advanced ocean technology infrastructure; and
• education & training capacity
to support industry success – and ultimately drive economic growth. COVE also leads and exemplifies equity, diversity, and inclusion. It is central to their mandate and is woven into every practice and project. COVE’s initiatives include thought-leadership in diversity. Our Changing Tides: Discussing diversity in the ocean industry is a panel discussion series addressing underrepresented workers in the blue economy.

https://www.nscc.ca/about/news/stories/2018/cove-a-collaborative-environment.asp


Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (3rd partnership):
Engage Nova Scotia

Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? (3rd partnership):
Yes

Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe? (3rd partnership):
Short-term project or event

Which of the following best describes the partnership? (3rd partnership):
Sustainability-focused

Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners? (3rd partnership):
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (3rd partnership):

Engage Nova Scotia is a local charity that works towards a better quality of life in Nova Scotia. That drives provincial and national initiatives as part of a global movement aimed at measuring and improving the quality of life for all. Engage Nova Scotia also facilitates an SDG Program to raise awareness of and advance the Sustainable Development Goals.
This past winter, Engage Nova Scotia in partnership with Nova Scotia Community College offered a series of ten community engagement sessions focused on sustainable development and the SDGs. The session focused on community voices through a panel discussion and audience Q&A. The community speakers were chosen for their leadership in the community and their ability to reflect diverse perspectives. Speakers were from organizations such as Black Business Initiative, Yarmouth Association for Community Residential Options, African Nova Scotian Road to Economic Prosperity Youth Council, Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk / Halifax, Pictou County Mental Wellness Roundtable, The Portal Youth Outreach Association and many more.
Although this was a short-term project, NSCC stays engaged and supportive of Engage Nova Scotia throughout the year with multiple representatives on the board of Directors and staff members in their monthly networking group.


A brief description of the institution’s other community partnerships to advance sustainability:
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Website URL where information about the institution’s community partnerships to advance sustainability is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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