Student Mobility Training Program

Program Overview 

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Student Mobility Training Program aims to support top graduate students to conduct interdisciplinary research that advances knowledge and action on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The program seeks to provide opportunities for graduate students to work on research projects outside of their home discipline. Graduate students (master’s and PhD students) will work under the supervision of faculty fellows and affiliates with the SDGs@UofT Institutional Strategic Initiative (ISI) at institutions around the world.  

This program will build a global network of trainees and researchers that collaborate on research to generate actionable research insights to advance the SDGs and inform future global goals. The SDGs Mobility Training Program will provide:

• Networking and skill building opportunities for students. 
• Virtual seminar series that will include talks about SDGs-related research and key research-related skills led by SDGs@UofT faculty affiliates. Participants will be given the opportunity to co-facilitate these seminar sessions, providing them with an opportunity to build their network and leadership skills.

The SDGs Mobility Training Program is a competitive 12-week research program for graduate students offered from May to August.  Students should propose a project to work on under the supervision of a principal investigator that is an SDGs@UofT affiliate or fellow. Proposed projects must be interdisciplinary and must be relevant to at least one of the 4 research themes of the SDGs ISI. Proposed projects should clearly demonstrate a connection to the SDGs and be conducted internationally.

Deliverables

• Upon completion of the research project, students will prepare a report and a presentation about the research conducted during the duration of the program. The 2-page research report will summarize the project, including sections on the background, research questions, methodology, results, implications of findings for future action. 
• Students will also prepare a 10-minute presentation on their project that will be presented on a virtual SDGs Mobility Training Program research day. 

Funding

Students can request up to a total of $7,000 of funding to support the cost of travel, accommodation, meals and other incidental costs. Expenditures must align with the U of T’s Guide to Financial Management. 

Eligibility

Eligible participants must be: 

• Registered full-time at the University of Toronto in a graduate degree program.
• Enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program and have completed at least one year of graduate studies. 
• Meet travel requirements (e.g., visa, travel insurance) of their current institution and their host institution at their intended destination. 

How to apply

Applicants must complete an application form, a short proposal and submit their updated Curriculum Vitae (max. 5 pages) on the SDG ISI website. Applicants will need the following to complete the application template:

1. Project title
2. Project abstract (max. 200 words)
3. Research theme
4. Indicate which academic unit you are enrolled in:
   • Applied science & engineering
   • Architecture, landscape & design
   • Arts & science
   • Dentistry
   • Education
   • Information
   • Kinesiology & physical education
   • Law
   • Management
   • Medicine, nursing, public health
   • Pharmacy
   • Social Work
   • University of Toronto Mississauga
   • University of Toronto Scarborough
5. Department/Program of Study
6. Supervisor name, department and fellow/affiliate status. Students are welcome to apply with their current supervisor who can sign up to become an affiliate here.

Applicants should upload the following to the online form:

1. Complete application template outlining the following:
   • Background describing the rationale for the research and its alignment with the chosen SDG thematic area. (max 200 words)
   • Project objectives and research questions (max. 100 words)
   • Research design and methods (max. 250 words)
   • Project deliverables and timelines (max. 150 words)
   • Integration of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) considerations in research and research process (max. 100 words)
   • Knowledge Mobilization plan and anticipated significance of research (max. 300 words)

• Letter of support from primary supervisor outlining student’s qualities, strengths, relevance of project to SDGs, merits in conducting research activities, and potential project impact 

• Completed budget template, including justification for funding requested.

• References (max. 200 words)

• Abbreviated CV for student (max. 5 pages)

Deadlines

• Application Deadline: Monday January 20^th, 2025, at 11:59PM. Completed applications must be submitted here.
• Results deadline: Competition results will be available as of Monday March 24^th, 2025.

Applicants must ensure that their supervisor is an affiliate or a fellow with the SDGs@UofT initiative. Supervisors can easily sign up to become an affiliate here. 

Important Information for Outbound Students

Before submitting an application, students are encouraged to review the U of T’s safety abroad requirements. U of T students participating in university activities outside of Canada will need to complete the following steps:

• Review the Global Affairs Canada Travel Advisory for their destination(s).
• Complete the Safety Abroad Online Learning Workshop, available online and self-paced.   
• Add their trip(s) to theSafety Abroad Registry, including confirmation of travel insurance and signing of waivers.
  • UHIP/OHIP insurance is not sufficient. Learn more about the required travel health insurance here.

Students are encouraged to review the resources available to them In an Emergency.