Entrepreneurial Action / Leadership and HR Consulting

ENTR 4110/HRMT 4155 – Andrea Niosi and Monica Affleck

Campus as a Living Lab

Summary:
Using Campus as a Living Lab, the KPU Surrey campus becomes a site for teaching and learning about real-world sustainability solutions.

Description (taken from the Interdisciplinary Activities for Teaching Sustainability guide by Lee Beavington):

1. Have students research Campus as a Living Lab and share their findings.
2. Do a tour of the campus, which could be led by the Office of Sustainability or Facilities, and stop at specific sites. Possible sites include:
   • KPU Langley: vertical raingarden, Horticulture greenhouses, Logan Creek, parking lots built over the creek
   • KPU Richmond: KPU Farm, parking lot, Wilson School of Design, Lansdowne mall, SkyTrain station
   • KPU Surrey: parking lots, Westerman Property, main courtyard/pond, pocket forest, inner courtyard, campus garden
   • KPU Tech: Auto mechanics, millwright, e-car charging stations, outside west entrance
   • KPU Civic Plaza: Collaboration space, SkyTrain station, parking lot, living wall (Surrey City Hall)
3. While on the campus tour, have students notice and critically reflect on what in their surroundings may be connected to a sustainability challenge or strength. Ask them these questions developed by Alicia Gowan:
   • Why might we be standing here in this location?
   • What in our surroundings may be connected with a sustainability challenge? A sustainability challenge KPU may face?
   • What might be missing that would better support your needs as a student at KPU, and how might this relate to sustainability?
4. Students write a proposal for a project that connects one or more specific campus sites to 1-2 SDG goals. Ideally, they should collaborate or consult with an internal or external member who has expertise on their chosen topic. E.g., facilities, campus planning, or the KPU mentors listed below.
5. Students complete their project with regular formative feedback from their instructor, and do a final presentation.

From Andrea Niosi, ENTR 4110 instructor:
ENTR 4110 students engage in the Campus as a Living Lab project by using KPU Surrey campus as a test bed for sustainability issues, and by integrating academic research with operational campus activities to support real-world learning and innovation. Student select a sustainability or community justice issue that aligns with the UN SDGs, KPU’s Vision and Academic Plan, and then develop a project implementation plan to help advance the university’s sustainability commitments. 

From Monica Affleck, HRMT 4155 instructor:
This Leadership and HR Consulting course explores the role of human resources professionals as consultants and strategic partners within organizations. It integrates leadership practices with practical HR consulting skills. Students apply organizational development frameworks to diagnose workplace issues and design HR initiatives mirroring real-life consulting engagements. Students get to work across different functional areas through a variety of projects, including Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL).