RCE Saskatchewan - 2023

Non-Profit and Voluntary Sector Studies Network (NVSSN)
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Non-Profit and Voluntary Sector Studies Network (NVSSN)
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Saskatchewan
Contributing organization(s) : 
Luther College, the University of Regina, and representatives of non-profit organizations in the NVSSN governance structure.
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Colleen Strauch
Organizational Affiliation: 
Director, Non-profit and Voluntary Sector Studies Network (NVSSN)
E-mail: 
colleen.strauch@uregina.ca
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Update
Web link: 
www.luthercollege.edu/nvssn
Additional resources: 
https://www.luthercollege.edu/university/academics/luther-programs/voluntary-sector-studies-network/courses/
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
No
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Americas
Country: 
Canada
Location(s): 
Saskatchewan
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Luther College at the University of Regina
3737 Wascana Parkway
Regina, Saskatchewan
Canada S4S 0A2
Ecosystem(s):

Target Audience:
Community
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
The NVSSN is a part of a mid-size university, which is one of two universities in Saskatchewan, a prairie province in Canada. Regina is a city with a population of approximately 250,000 inhabitants. Traditional economic activity is related to agriculture, oil and gas, potash and other mining. Saskatchewan has three natural vegetation regions: grasslands, parklands, and forests.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
Some of the greatest challenges include an increase in hazardous events such as flooding, wildfires, and drought. Despite the impacts of climate change on key livelihood activities such as farming and ranching, there is also considerable climate change denial due to lower levels of formal education, more conservative political affiliation, and a lower trust in science(Stewart, 2022). http://hdl.handle.net/10294/15563
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Rationale: 
The research underway at NVSSN is advancing the state of knowledge about the voluntary sector in Saskatchewan. The mixed methods approach embedded in NVSSN links the community with the university and involves students and others in ongoing processes of data collection, analyses, report writing and knowledge-sharing. The voluntary sector with its expertise in both human services and protecting the natural environment make it key in advancing sustainable development in the province of Saskatchewan.
Objectives: 
The NVSSN facilitates many public events throughout the year for students, nonprofit/voluntary organization staff and volunteers as well as university faculty/staff. These events are educational in nature and work towards solving real-world problems that the voluntary sector is currently facing in Saskatchewan (e.g., a public forum on funding models for the sector that struggles with inadequate funding). These opportunities create dialogue among attendees to allow learning from each other and forming relationships.

In addition, the NVSSN oversees an academic certificate in Non-profit Sector Leadership and Innovation (NSLI), which is a 5-course, undergraduate certificate open to both community members and traditional undergraduate degree seeking students. The goal of the certificate is to support a thriving non-profit sector through education and research.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
Academic Certificate, public events, advocacy, awareness, community building, research, and education.
Size of academic audience: 
Approximately 120 students enrolled in NSLI courses per year. Apart from that, there is extensive community engagement with non-profit and voluntary organizations throughout Saskatchewan.
Results: 
There have been various outcomes of the work of the NVSSN. Some of these include: the development of service-learning placements, student training in the SDGs, SDG localization projects, free professional development events and learning opportunities for the non-profit and voluntary sector, targeted work with specific voluntary sector organizations (e.g. service clubs).
Lessons learned: 
It is essential to maintain strong community connections to support the non-profit and voluntary sector as there are always new socio-economic or socio-political factors that call for constant innovation and flexibility. Without community connections, the certificate and programming aren’t responsive to needs.
Key messages: 
The Nonprofit Voluntary Sector Studies Network (NVSSN) is a community-driven network made up of professionals from the nonprofit and voluntary sector, University of Regina students, faculty members, staff, and campus partners. Our mandate is to provide sector-driven learning and networking opportunities to support innovation for a sustainable and vibrant non-profit and voluntary sector in Saskatchewan.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
The NVSSN is supported by the Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development Saskatchewan and is represented on the RCE Facilitation Group that guides the RCE's activities. In May of 2018 it won an RCE Saskatchewan ESD Recognition Award. See: https://saskrce.ca/recognition-event/past-awards/
Funding: 
The NVSSN is primarily funded by Luther College at the University of Regina and grants. We strive to use collaborative and sustainable models such as volunteerism to power the work of the NVSSN.
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Indirect
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Indirect
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Indirect
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 
Indirect
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Indirect
SDG 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 
Indirect
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Direct
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Indirect
SDG 10 - Reduce inequality within and among countries 
Indirect
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Indirect
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Direct
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Indirect
SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
Indirect
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Indirect
SDG 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 
Indirect
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Direct
Theme
Disaster Risk Reduction 
Indirect
Traditional Knowledge  
Direct
Agriculture 
Indirect
Arts 
Indirect
Curriculum Development 
Direct
Ecotourism 
Indirect
Forests/Trees 
Indirect
Plants & Animals 
Indirect
Waste 
Indirect
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Indirect
Update: 
Yes
I acknowledge the above: 
Yes