Humber International Development Institute

09/15/2026

🏆 Humber’s International Development Institute (IDI) has been awarded the 2026 Internationalization Award at the Humber Polytechnic's President’s Breakfast for the Bhutan Education and Skills Training (BEST) Project.

The team was recognized for advancing Humber’s internationalization efforts through contributions to curriculum development, student engagement and employment pathways for youth in Bhutan, as well as strengthening the skills of Bhutanese trainers to deliver labour-market and industry skills that support employability and improved livelihoods.

This achievement would not have been possible without the faculty, staff and students who have contributed their knowledge, expertise and experience to the project.

To celebrate the people behind this work, IDI is launching The International Development Institute (IDI) in Practice: People & Perspectives, a spotlight series highlighting the cross-institutional, multidisciplinary and multi-level collaboration that drives IDI’s international development projects.

Faculty of Applied Science and Technology faculty Liane Cook and Anna Santilli share their experiences travelling to Bhutan as part of the BEST Project, where they supported capacity building for trainers at technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions.

🎥 Hear Liane and Anna’s testimonials from their time in Bhutan: https://youtu.be/vdmQ1qGshUY

Bhutan Education and Skills Training - BEST Humber College, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology

Humber Polytechnic's Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology fac...

08/19/2026

08/06/2026

Fadheela Ahmed, one of Humber Polytechnic's Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship recipients, recently delivered a presentation on Green Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to the environmental sustainability committee at the Royal Institute for Tourism and Hospitality, one of the 10 TVET institutions participating in the Bhutan Education and Skills Training (BEST) Project.

As a recipient, Fadheela is one of the QES Young Leaders for Climate Action in Bhutan, where she is building the knowledge and skills to help address climate change.

Her presentation focused on raising awareness of sustainable practices that can be implemented at RITH. The session encouraged participants to foster a culture of sustainability among students by highlighting the importance of our shared responsibility to protect the environment.

To make the learning practical and culturally relevant, Fadheela facilitated an interactive workshop where participants used local snack packaging to practice sorting waste into the appropriate recycling categories.

We look forward to seeing these practices at RITH in the future!

The Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships (QES) Program is funded by Fondation Rideau Hall Foundation and administered by Universities Canada/Universités Canada.

07/29/2026

07/25/2026

Today we celebrate International Day for Women and Girls of African Descent under the 2026 theme “Rising Together: Women and Girls of African Descent Leading with Strength.”

Women and girls of African descent continue to face barriers to education, gender inequality, healthcare, and representation in leadership roles. Despite these challenges, they continue to rise, excelling academically, advocating for gender equality and healthcare, and setting an example, leading the way for women and girls.

Across Humber Polytechnic’s International Development Institute-led projects, women and girls in East Africa are enhancing their skills and knowledge for opportunities to lead in their communities and pursue meaningful careers, shaping a more inclusive future.

In Kenya and Ethiopia, adolescent girls aged 14-18 are gaining STEM skills, life skills, and the confidence to transition into tertiary education, STEM careers, and entrepreneurship.
Meanwhile, in Tanzania, women and girls are undergoing training, gaining access to business and labour-market-relevant skills, and gender and human rights training.

In Kenya, youth are being equipped with knowledge and industry-relevant skills to generate employment opportunities and economic growth in the blue economy, while youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET) are bridging skills gaps, recognizing skills acquired outside of formal learning environments to discover employment and entrepreneurship within Kenya’s blue economy.

By investing in education, skills development, and leadership opportunities, we are empowering women and girls of African descent to shape stronger communities and inspire future generations.

07/15/2026

Today we celebrate 2026 under the theme "Skills for a Shared Future,” highlighting the importance of equipping young people with the skills they need to succeed in employment and entrepreneurship. It also brings together youth, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, industry, development partners, and governments to recognize the vital role of skills development in building a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Across Humber Polytechnic’s International Development Institute-led projects, youth are developing industry-relevant skills that prepare them for employment, entrepreneurship, and lifelong learning.

In Bhutan, the Bhutan Education and Skills Training (BEST) project is strengthening youth competencies through TVET and 21st-century skills that respond to labour-market needs and support the country’s socio-economic development.

Through the STEM Education for Empowerment Project (STEEP), girls in Kenya and Ethiopia are gaining STEM skills and the confidence to pursue higher education, careers, and entrepreneurship.

Under the Empowerment Through Skills Program in Tanzania (ESP-04), women and girls are gaining access to business, skills, and gender and human rights training.

Meanwhile, TVET institutions in Kenya are strengthening pathways to employment and entrepreneurship and also bridging the skills gap by recognizing competencies acquired through non-formal and informal learning under the Kenya Blue Economy Skills Training Projects.

Investing in youth skills is creating a shared future where young people are empowered to lead, innovate, and contribute to sustainable development in their communities and beyond.

06/24/2026

Bhutan is advancing inclusion by creating greater opportunities and access for persons with disabilities. Organizations across the country continue to strengthen support systems that promote participation and belonging.

The Disabled People's Organization of Bhutan-DPO was founded by a group of persons with disabilities to recognize their voices.

Focused on creating an inclusive society that recognizes, respects, and promotes the rights and needs of persons with disabilities in Bhutan, the DPO empowers persons with disabilities through advocacy, awareness, accessibility, capacity building, and inclusive community initiatives that promote equal rights, participation, and opportunities for all.

This support and access offer a wide range of possibilities for persons with disabilities and their families to thrive in their communities.

Let’s by building a more inclusive future where every person is empowered to succeed because !

BEST is funded by the Government of Canada through Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada. Humber Polytechnic leads the project in partnership with Bhutan's Ministry of Education and Skills Development and RENEW, a Civil Society Organization in Bhutan.

The Bhutan Education and Skills Training (BEST) project is a five-y...

06/17/2026

The Bhutan Education and Skills Training (BEST) Project is funded b...

06/15/2026

Humber Polytechnic is partnering with Saskatchewan Polytechnic to lead one of the projects under Colleges and Institutes Canada / Collèges et instituts Canada’s (CICan) SkillShift Mongolia Program.

Funded by the Government of Canada through Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada under CICan’s Education for Employment (EFE) program, SkillShift Mongolia is a five-year initiative (2025–2030) delivered in partnership with the Mongolian Ministry of Education (MoE).

This program brings together Mongolian ministries, Mongolian technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, and Canadian colleges and institutes to strengthen Mongolia’s TVET system. Learners will gain the skills needed for meaningful, in-demand careers, while employers can access a skilled workforce required for growth.

Aligned with Mongolia’s aim to strengthen its TVET system, the Canadian consortium will focus on enhancing the capacity of Mongolia’s Ministry of Education and other stakeholders to design and implement a national TVET leadership training program emphasizing entrepreneurial leadership.

The program will be developed collaboratively, with input from the Ministry of Education, polytechnic leaders, and other stakeholders to ensure it reflects Mongolia's priorities and context. Trainers will then be prepared to deliver the program, building local capacity to sustain it over the long term. Following implementation at three pilot polytechnics, lessons learned and best practices will be shared with the Ministry of Education and stakeholders to inform future expansion.

By using a competency-based approach that emphasizes national ownership, long-term sustainability, and measurable improvements in TVET leadership capacity and institutional performance, partners will create lasting change that strengthens systems, expands opportunities, and strengthens communities in Mongolia.

In May 2026, Humber Polytechnic travelled to Mongolia with CICan and Saskatchewan Polytechnic for an inception mission. During this visit, the SkillShift-02 team met with Mongolian partners, conducted site visits, and gained a deeper understanding of local context, priorities, and opportunities to help inform project implementation and deliverables.

We look forward to working alongside our Mongolian and Canadian partners to bring this initiative to life and share the progress, partnerships, and outcomes that will shape the future of TVET in Mongolia.

06/01/2026

📢 Open call for submissions 📢

Share your sustainable practice for a chance to be published in our community resource!

This project aims to develop a cross-cultural resource on sustainable practices by gathering responses from individuals in Canada 🇨🇦 and Bhutan 🇧🇹.

We are looking for unique responses and your creativity! Your sustainable practices can be anything from reusing old clothing to recycling bottles into something new.

Learn more about the project and submission guidelines at: https://capturingsustainable.wixsite.com/sustainablepractices.

‼ Last day to submit a response June 12 ‼

If you have any questions, please feel free to fill out our contact form, located on the submissions form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible!