The Youth Leadership Certificate for the SDGs is an online program to support university and college students across Canada to develop the expertise and skills to take action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The University of Calgary is proud to introduce the 2025 Youth Leadership Certificate for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), modelled on the successful program from the University of Waterloo. This fully online, no-cost program is designed to equip Canadian post-secondary students with the knowledge and skills necessary to lead impactful SDG initiatives in their communities.
From February to April 2025, students will complete an online SDG course through the SDG Academy and attend at least 4 skill-building workshops on Saturdays, at 1 p.m. ET.
Are you ready to be an SDG leader? Registrations are now open.
Students select an SDG Academy self-paced course focused on a specific SDG or sustainability topic, with opportunities to reflect and discuss progress in sessions.
Biweekly workshops feature guest speakers and interactive discussions on topics relevant to SDG leadership and implementation.
Empower students to apply their knowledge, organize community meetings and develop advocacy projects by encouraging discussion and critical thinking.
In partnership with the SDG Academy, a leading provider of free SDG courses, the program awards a completion certificate, signed by Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, a prominent economist and UN SDG advisor.
To earn a certificate, participants must:
Expected Time Commitment
All accepted participants must attend at least 4 of the 6 online workshops listed below.
Each workshop is designed to build practical skills and knowledge aligned with the program's focus on leadership, entrepreneurship and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). You can attend all six workshops if you wish.
All accepted participants must create a free EdX account to join the program. After registering, participants are encouraged to choose one course from the SDG Academy Course Catalogue that aligns with the participant’s interests and goals within sustainable development.
This course is an essential part of the certificate program and should be completed by April 30, 2025. Participants should plan to spend about 2–4 hours per week on coursework, balancing it with other program commitments.
Registration for the Youth Leadership Certificate for the SDGs is now open. Make sure to take note of these important dates to set yourself up for success!
Jan. 15, 2025
Last day to sign up! Registration closes.
April 26, 2025
Last day of workshops.
The workshops will be held on Saturdays from February to April 2025, starting at 1 p.m. ET.
These interactive workshops provide essential tools and strategies to empower participants in driving sustainable change. Each session will offer valuable insights and practical applications to support professional growth and impactful SDG-focused projects.
Full program schedule is coming soon.
A workshop designed to equip participants with foundational skills in project management and budgeting, enabling them to effectively plan, execute, and oversee initiatives that drive impactful and sustainable outcomes.
Facilitator
TBD
Date
TBD
An engaging workshop that empowers youth to explore entrepreneurship as a tool for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing them with innovative strategies and practical skills to create impactful solutions.
Facilitator
TBD
Date
TBD
A workshop introducing systems thinking as a powerful approach to understanding and addressing complex challenges, equipping participants with tools to analyze interconnected systems and drive sustainable solutions.
Facilitator
TBD
Date
TBD
A collaborative workshop focused on building skills to forge effective partnerships and foster cross-sector collaboration, empowering participants to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through collective impact.
Facilitator
Antonio Díaz Aranda
SDSN Youth – Global Events and Partnerships Lead
Date
TBD
A hands-on workshop teaching the essentials of grant writing, equipping participants with the skills to secure funding and drive impactful initiatives that advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Facilitator
TBD
Date
TBD
A workshop introducing community-based social marketing tools to drive behavior change, enabling participants to design and implement impactful strategies for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Facilitator
Jacqueline Ouellette
Ph.D Candidate – sustainability Management at UWaterloo
Date
TBD
Do you have any additional questions? Please refer to the FAQ below or reach out to us by email.
This program is open to students currently enrolled in a Canadian post-secondary institution. A total of 150 spots are available.
This program offers access to self-paced courses through the SDG Academy and skill-based online workshops, all designed to build knowledge and skills that advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
No, the SDG Youth Leadership Certificate is free for all that apply.
This certificate is a virtual offering available to all Canadian post-secondary students.
While only one SDG Academy course is required to complete the program, participants have free access to over 2,000 courses for further learning. If you wish to receive a certificate of completion from the SDG Academy, participants will need to pay the SDG Academy fee.
No. All six workshops are open to enrolled program registrants.