Capacity Development

Projects that support people, communities, partnership, and possibility.

Shared Expertise. Shared Impact.

Partnering with institutions and communities around the world, we design and deliver projects that build skills, strengthen systems, and promote long-term resilience. Guided by principles of equity, reciprocity, and local ownership, we ensure solutions are relevant, resilient, and community-driven. By engaging in these initiatives, Mohawk College not only supports the development of partner institutions but also enriches its own community through the exchange of knowledge, fostering global citizenship, and addressing shared challenges in education and workforce development.

Our opportunities

About our Projects

Current Projects

Past Projects

Testimonials

Projects with Purpose

Commitment to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)

Mohawk College’s capacity development projects advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through action-driven partnerships. As an SDG signatory, we work with communities and institutions in Canada and globally to build skills, strengthen systems, and deliver inclusive, sustainable impact. To learn more visit the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Collaborative Funding for Shared Impact

Capacity development projects are typically funded through competitive national and international project calls aligned with global development and education priorities. We apply to funding opportunities offered by organizations such as Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), Global Affairs Canada, and international development organizations. We select initiatives that closely align with Mohawk’ College’s institutional values, strategic priorities, and areas of expertise.

In-kind expertise from faculty, staff, and students ensure these shared investments enable the design and delivery of applied learning, work-integrated learning, and research-driven initiatives that respond to local priorities and deliver sustainable, mutually beneficial outcomes.

Making an impact in Guyana and South Africa

South Africa Skills Training and Enhancement Program (SASTEP)

In collaboration with the Vocational Education division of the Department for Higher Education and Training (DHET) in South Africa’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, the SASTEP project is a Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan)–funded capacity development program led by Mohawk College in partnership with the College of the North Atlantic. This program supports strengthen the capacity of all 15 public TVET institutions in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces of South Africa. The project focuses on strengthening workforce development systems through work-integrated learning and applied research, supporting curriculum innovation, industry engagement, and skills development aligned with local labour market needs. This is a four year project from 2025 to 2028.

SDG Impact: SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities, SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals

QES Scholarship : Empowering Future Healthcare Leaders: Pediatric Echo Training in Urban and Rural Guyana

Awarded in 2025, this project is funded by the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship (QES) and led by Mohawk College in partnership with healthcare and education institutions in Guyana. The project addresses critical gaps in pediatric cardiac care by strengthening local capacity to deliver specialized echocardiography training for healthcare professionals in both urban and rural settings. Through reciprocal knowledge exchange, applied training, and institutional collaboration, the initiative builds sustainable healthcare expertise, supports improved patient outcomes, and contributes to long-term health system resilience while providing meaningful global learning opportunities for Canadian and Guyanese participants. The $200,000 project will support Mohawk College in delivering training to 16 health care professionals from Guyana who will train here at Mohawk College.

SDG Impact: SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being , SDG 4 – Quality Education , SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities , SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals

Learn more about our previous projects

Skills to Access the Green Economy (SAGE) Project

In February 2020, Mohawk College was thrilled to learn that we were selected to partner on the Skills to Access the Green Economy (SAGE) project, coordinated by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan). Mohawk College is working with College of the North Atlantic (CNA) and Durham College to increase the local capacity of training institutions in Guyana, delivering gender-sensitive skills training programs that meet economic and environmental needs in the region.

According to CICan, “The ultimate goal of the program is a more qualified labour force for employment in key economic sectors vulnerable to climate change.” All in all, ten Canadian colleges and institutes will partner with twelve local Caribbean partners across the SAGE program’s six countries of focus. This $15 million program is funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada.

In the most recent phase of the project, CTL faculty Cathy Ozols and Johanne McCarthy are supporting the development and delivery of workshops to be provided to the teachers at Bina Hill Youth Institute (BHYI) and New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) in Guyana. Meanwhile, the project lead for Mohawk, Daniel Farr will be facilitating a discovery meeting with partners at BHYI to determine how best to support the development of a preparatory program that will be developed for students this fall by partners Durham College and CNA.

Read more about the program at Colleges & Institutes Canada.

Faculty Training Experience- Ecuador

A group of 10 Mohawk College Faculty and staff travelled to Ecuador in February 2020 for a 9-day Food Revolutions program with Operation Groundswell, partially funded through a generous donation from guard.me. The purpose of the initiative was to offer training to faculty who are interested in organizing and facilitating short-term abroad experiences with student groups, and to provide service to local communities in Ecuador. Short-term abroad experiences for students and faculty can be transformative as they are rich with new learning opportunities. Immersing oneself within another culture provides an opportunity to challenge personal worldviews, through the exploration of different cultural and community practices.

Global Autism Project - India

A group of Autism and Behavioural Science students from Mohawk College were in Northern India for a week to support the Global Autism Project. The group worked with local teachers to support students with Autism.

According to the Global Autism Project, there are more than 90 million people with Autism worldwide, and more than 85% live in developing countries.