Concordia’s Queen Elizabeth Scholars will tackle climate challenges through global partnerships

Concordia University’s Sustainable Polygeneration for Communities Initiative has secured funding through the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Scholars (QES) program. Designed to empower the next generation of global leaders, the initiative focuses on renewable energy and resilience-building in the face of climate change.

“This program highlights the best of what Concordia strives for — collaborative, impactful solutions to global challenges,” says Ursula Eicker, founding director of the Next-Generation Cities Institute (NGCI). “Our students and researchers will work with international partners to co-develop innovations that empower communities and foster resilience.”

Program overview

The Queen Elizabeth Scholars program, led by the Rideau Hall Foundation and Universities Canada, fosters leadership development, community engagement and cross-cultural exchange. Concordia’s Sustainable Polygeneration for Communities Initiative includes:

• Global exchanges: 10 international scholars will spend several months at Concordia, while 10 Canadian students will undertake fieldwork in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico.
• Experiential learning: Activities include designing renewable energy solutions, understanding sustainable land use from Indigenous communities in the Amazon rainforest and working on community energy projects.
• Impact-driven focus: Scholars will address biodiversity conservation, economic impacts of climate change and renewable energy integration while strengthening resilience in local communities.
  

Supported by $300,000 in QES funding, along with additional contributions from Concordia and its partners, this initiative bridges academic research with practical applications, empowering students to make meaningful contributions at home and abroad.

A platform for changemakers

This initiative is supported by the NGCI, directed by the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Communities and Cities. The institute is recognized for leading large-scale research initiatives on urban sustainability, including the development of TOOLS4CITIES, a software suite that helps stakeholders explore alternative urban scenarios.

Concordia International played a key role in securing the funding for the Sustainable Polygeneration for Communities Initiative. Its successful management of the QES West Africa Advanced Scholars project, which focused on gender equality, demonstrated how Concordia can act as a bridge for knowledge exchange on an international level. The team’s expertise in facilitating collaborations, managing intercultural communications and navigating logistical complexities underscores the university’s readiness to lead impactful global projects.

Expanding global partnerships

Collaboration is central to the new initiative. The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) is a key partner, bringing expertise in interdisciplinary research and community engagement.

“UNAM is pleased to be a part of this global initiative that will help address some of the most pressing problems of our age and mentor a new generation of scholars that will foster exchange and collaboration in the pursuit of these goals,” says William Lee, vice-provost for international affairs at UNAM.

Learn more about the Queen Elizabeth Scholars program and Concordia’s international initiatives.