The Importance of Local-to-Global Collaboration in Access to Education

It's no secret that our world faces numerous challenges, many of which can be directly addressed through access to quality education. Education not only empowers individuals to overcome poverty and improve their quality of life, but it also drives economic growth and promotes peace and stability in society, which ultimately benefits everyone. In 2015, the United Nations established 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) designed to address the world's most pressing challenges, with SDG 4 specifically focused on "ensuring inclusive and equitable education for all."

At Skills Council of Canada, we believe that collaboration is essential in achieving SDG4 and that fostering a local-to-global community can create a truly transformative and holistic approach to education. By partnering with businesses, employment agencies, training companies, skilled trades programs, upskilling companies, and government-funded not-for-profits, we can collectively tackle the vast complexities of the education sector and provide a viable solution for the global skills gap.

Collaboration to Support SDG4 and Beyond

SDG4 serves as a foundation for all other SDGs and addressing it effectively can significantly contribute to the global sustainability agenda. To this aim, Skills Council of Canada offers an Ecosystem that leverages partnerships with various stakeholders to develop innovative solutions to make education more accessible and relevant to the needs of our society. Our Ecosystem assists in:

• Promoting partnerships with businesses and educational institutions to develop state-of-the-art online platforms, scholarships, and mentorship programs designed to reach marginalized populations and ensure equitable access to quality education.
• Aligning education and training with the current and future needs of the workforce, fostering entrepreneurship, job creation, and innovation, which fuel economic growth.

The United Nations' SDG Action Plan outlines several goals and targets that must be achieved to make inclusive and equitable education a reality:

1. Ensure that all children complete primary and secondary education.
2. Increase access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education.
3. Improve access to technical, vocational, and tertiary education, including university.
4. Increase the number of people with relevant skills for financial success in an evolving global economy.
5. Remove gender disparities in education and ensure equal access for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and children in vulnerable situations.
6. Provide all youth and adults with relevant and effective learning opportunities.

Our Ecosystem has the framework, structure, and educational resources to serve as the foundation for this local-to-global solution, working collaboratively to address each of these vital targets.

Joining Forces for Positive Change

As a collaborative organization, Skills Council of Canada invites your organization to partner with us in our pursuit of a more equitable and accessible education for all. With your support, we can expand our growing library of skills development resources, as we strive to bridge the global education gap.

To learn more about our efforts or discuss potential partnerships, please visit our website at www.skillscouncil.ca, send us an email at info@skillscouncil.ca, or start up a chat here, and we will connect with you.

About Skills Council of Canada

Skills Council of Canada is a social impact organization focused on advancing the United Nations' SDG4, SDG6, and SDG17. Our mission is to create a collaborative network designed to break down barriers to education and provide access to content on soft skills, technical skills, vocational skills, and more for all industries. With our state-of-the-art skills management system and a global ecosystem of collaborative social impact organizations, we remain dedicated to fostering positive change in the world through education and opportunity. Together, we can achieve the global vision of equitable and inclusive education for all.