Technical–Vocational Education for Sustainable Development in Manitoba

This report examines the integration of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) within technical-vocational education and training (TVET) in Manitoba, Canada. It identifies promising practices, such as the development of a new alternative energy program and the inclusion of sustainability outcomes in curricula, while highlighting significant barriers including lack of funding for green equipment, insufficient teacher training, and a gap in provincial-level policy guidance. The report suggests strengthening partnerships with industry to identify green skill demands and expanding professional development for educators to better prepare students for a green economy.

• Manitoba Education is implementing a 'whole school' approach to ESD, where the physical school environment serves as a model for sustainability. This includes requiring all public buildings, including schools, to be built to the LEED silver standard and implementing divisional changes such as high-efficiency lighting and low-flow toilets.
• The Technical-Vocational Initiative (TVI) is leading a curriculum renewal process to integrate sustainability into approximately 50 TVET subject areas. As of 2012, draft curricula for seven subject areas (61 full credit courses) were completed, each including overall sustainability goals and specific learning outcomes covering environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
• A new eight-course program in Alternative Energy was developed for W.C. Miller Collegiate in the Red River Technical-Vocational Area (RRTVA), starting in September 2012. This 'exposure-level' program aims to provide entry-level skills for renewable energy jobs and was developed with an industry advisory board and insights from bioenergy sites in Lower Saxony, Germany.

APA

Taylor, S. K., & Creech, H. (2012). Technical–Vocational Education for Sustainable Development in Manitoba. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/technical_vocational_education_sd_mb.pdf

Chicago

Taylor, Susan K., and Heather Creech. Technical–Vocational Education for Sustainable Development in Manitoba. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2012. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/technical_vocational_education_sd_mb.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Taylor |first1=Susan K. |last2=Creech |first2=Heather |title=Technical–Vocational Education for Sustainable Development in Manitoba |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=October 2012 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/technical_vocational_education_sd_mb.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{taylor2012technicalvocational, author = {Taylor, Susan K. and Creech, Heather}, title = {{Technical–Vocational Education for Sustainable Development in Manitoba}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2012}, month = oct, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/technical_vocational_education_sd_mb.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }