What is Community Engaged Learning?
The Student Experience Office provides undergraduate students with various opportunities to gain real-life experience and knowledge through hands-on opportunities throughout the academic year. Experiential learning, high-impact practices, and a greater appreciation for the value of teaching will ensure we meet the expectations of diverse and changing student populations, create positive learning and career outcomes, and respond to societal needs identified as a strategic priority at Carleton.
Community Engaged Learning (CEL) is an experiential learning method that emphasizes action, reflection and real-world engagement. It allows individuals to participate in hands-on experiences while gaining critical thinking, problem-solving and reflection skills by creating mutually beneficial relationships between individuals and communities. To help students relate the work they do in our Community Engaged Learning programs back to the classroom, the Student Experience Office utilizes the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to help direct our programming and the work that students do.
Community Engaged Learning Opportunities
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 interconnected global objectives established to address a wide range of pressing societal and environmental challenges facing the world.
In 2015, Canada and 192 other UN member states adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Over a 15-year global framework, this agenda ensures success in achieving sustainable development across three dimensions – economic, social, and environmental – as well as the implementation of the 17 SDGs.
In 2024, now at the half way mark, the SDGs are more important than ever. They are a global blueprint to achieve gender equality, reach net zero emissions, halt and reverse nature loss, build resilient and inclusive societies and economies, and make sure everyone has access to quality education and health care. While the goals are ambitious, they reflect the scope of these global challenges and give real targets to strive toward, as well as a working agenda to achieve them.
Challenge What’s Possible
At Carleton University, we know that to solve big problems we must challenge conventional ways of thinking and doing. Join us in discovering innovative, inclusive and sustainable solutions that are making a positive impact and driving real change.
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