Overall Rating Platinum
Overall Score 85.74
Liaison Mike Wilson
Submission Date Dec. 13, 2023

STARS v2.2

University of Victoria
EN-10: Community Partnerships

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Claire Irvine
Sustainability Coordinator
Campus Planning and Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

1st Partnership 

Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability :
The Living Lab 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 Living Lab Project exemplifies a collaborative endeavor, fostering partnerships between the Songhees, Esquimalt, and WSANEC First Nations, UVic faculty and staff, local schools, NGOs, and government entities. This initiative aims to synergize eco-cultural restoration, science education, and indigenous knowledge to address diverse environmental challenges.

Central to the project's objectives is the facilitation of experiential learning, community engagement, school programs, and capacity building efforts. These initiatives are meticulously designed to impart knowledge, skills, tools, and a comprehensive curriculum for environmental education, water quality monitoring, and eco-cultural restoration.

In this multifaceted project, UVic plays a pivotal role by offering essential lab space and state-of-the-art equipment to conduct research. Additionally, the university contributes to educating students in the fundamental scientific principles necessary for water quality testing.

Through The Living Lab Project, the collective efforts of diverse stakeholders combine to create a platform for meaningful collaboration, where the convergence of academic expertise, indigenous wisdom, and community participation lead to innovative solutions for environmental issues. UVic's active involvement demonstrates its commitment to supporting sustainable initiatives that transcend disciplinary boundaries and embrace a holistic approach to environmental stewardship.

https://livinglabproject.ca/

2nd Partnership

Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (2nd partnership):
Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET)

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):
Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET) is a multi-partner research initiative helping small- to-mid-sized communities achieve their unique clean-energy systems goals.

From harvesting offshore wind, tidal and solar energy to innovative low-carbon financing and governance models, ACET is integrating breakthrough renewable energy technologies and solutions that will help Canada get to net zero emissions—one community at a time.

https://www.uvic.ca/research-innovation/research-at-uvic/climate-environmental-change-and-sustainability/community-energy-transition/index.php

3rd Partnership 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution’s other community partnerships to advance sustainability:
---

Website URL where information about the institution’s community partnerships to advance sustainability is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
---

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.