SDG 10 Reports

Reduce inequality within and among countries

Research

Mapping Climate Inequities Across Indigenous Communities

In 2025, a Western-led research team directed by Nicole Redvers completed a project mapping the effects of climate change on Indigenous communities across the Arctic, Africa, Europe and Asia. The research examines how communities in different regions experience unequal exposure to environmental disruption despite often contributing relatively little to global emissions. The project brings together Indigenous knowledge and cross-regional evidence, supporting more equitable climate policy and helping ensure that the experiences of communities in less-resourced regions are included in global decision-making.

Cross-National Research on Global Health Equity

Western’s Global Health Equity research network brings together scholars studying unequal access to health services across countries and health systems. Research within the network focuses on disadvantaged and marginalized populations, including migrants, refugees and communities in low- and middle-income countries, while examining the structural conditions that create differences in health outcomes. The network supports international collaboration and the exchange of locally developed solutions, contributing to efforts to reduce health inequalities between higher- and lower-resourced countries.

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Teaching

Building Inclusivity Through Anti-Racism Module

Western’s Building Inclusivity Through Anti-Racism module provides online anti-racism education for the campus community. The curriculum was developed using current EDI and anti-racism teaching practices and was shaped through consultation with faculty experts, staff, student leaders and diverse student associations. The module helps participants understand racism, reflect on institutional and interpersonal barriers, and apply more inclusive practices in learning and work environments. The module builds shared anti-racism knowledge across the university and supports more inclusive learning and work environments for racialized students and employees.

Teaching for Inclusion Program

Western’s Teaching for Inclusion program supports instructors in creating more equitable and responsive learning environments. Its programming includes sessions on neurodiverse communication, culturally responsive teaching and difficult classroom conversations, as well as workshops focused on epistemic justice and inclusive course design. These opportunities help instructors recognize how teaching practices can unintentionally exclude certain students and provide practical approaches for improving participation and belonging. By embedding inclusion into classroom communication, curriculum and pedagogy, the program contributes to reducing inequalities in students’ educational experiences.

Certificate in Universal Design for Learning

Western’s Certificate in Universal Design for Learning equips instructors with practical methods for designing courses that respond to a wider range of student needs. The program encourages faculty members to consider accessibility from the beginning of course development rather than relying only on individual accommodations after barriers arise. Its learning opportunities include sessions on neurodiverse communication, culturally responsive teaching, difficult classroom conversations and epistemic justice. Participants also explore student motivation, social inclusion and obstacles to learning while applying equity-centred frameworks to their own teaching. This approach supports fairer access to course content and allows more students to participate fully in university education.

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Outreach

Community-Based TESOL Project for Newcomer ESL Learning

Through a community-based TESOL learning project, Western students worked with local instructors to create language-learning activities for newcomers enrolled in adult ESL classes. The project responded to the practical needs of refugees and permanent residents by developing accessible materials for different English proficiency levels and learning formats. Activities focused on everyday situations such as communicating with landlords or returning items to stores, helping learners build

Unified Basketball Program

Western’s Unified Basketball Program brings Western students together with athletes who have intellectual disabilities to train, compete and build relationships through sport. As Canada’s longest-running university unified basketball program, it creates opportunities for participation that challenge social barriers and promote a stronger sense of belonging. In 2025, the program continued expanding its impact through research, community partnerships and participation in Special Olympics events. The event creates an inclusive space where athletes contribute as teammates and competitors, helping address inequality in access to recreation and community life.

Operations

Declarations of Indigenous Citizenship

The Indigenous Affirmation Advisory Committee, through the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, implemented Affirming Declarations of Indigenous Citizenship or Membership at Western University in summer 2025 to ensure that scholarships, admissions pathways, employment roles and other opportunities intended for Indigenous students, staff and faculty are provided to people with authentic Indigenous citizenship or community membership. The committee includes representatives from local Indigenous communities, Indigenous faculty members and Indigenous staff at Western. The policy protects Indigenous-designated opportunities from fraudulent claims while allowing students who self-identify as Indigenous to continue accessing Indigenous spaces and services.

Equitable Recruitment and Workforce Data

Western collects applicant equity and diversity data to identify barriers in recruitment and support more equitable hiring practices. The university collects voluntary information from applicants to measure progress toward greater representation of Indigenous and Black employees, women, people with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. This information helps Western evaluate whether its recruitment processes are reaching equity-deserving groups and informs efforts to improve workforce diversity. As an operational practice, the process supports more transparent and evidence-based approaches to employment equity.

Implementation of Western’s EDIDA Strategic Plan

Western continued implementing its Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Decolonization and Accessibility Strategic Plan throughout 2025. The plan provides an institutional framework for improving representation, removing barriers and embedding equity into university policies and decision-making. By 2025, Western had created 22 strategic-plan committees and begun work on more than 41 tactical goals across campus. This coordinated approach helps move equity work beyond individual initiatives and makes reducing institutional inequality a shared operational responsibility.

Reduce inequality within and among countries

Research

Hate Indicators

Researchers from the Faculty of Law developed the Canadian Hate Crime Case Law Research Tool. It strengthens legal research, teaching, and outreach by providing a structured, evidence-based resource for analyzing hate crime cases in Canada. Developed through collaboration between law students, faculty, and the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, the tool identifies key indicators across 15 years of case law. It supports legal professionals, educators, and students in understanding patterns and improving responses to hate-motivated offenses. By integrating academic research with practical application, the tool enhances legal literacy, promotes equity, and fosters collaboration between the university and justice system stakeholders.

Intimate Partner Violence

Western researchers are advancing public understanding of intimate partner violence (IPV) through evidence-based analysis and policy engagement. Drawing on national data and legal inquests, their work highlights the widespread impact of IPV on health, economic stability, and social systems. By identifying patterns and consequences of gender-based violence, Western contributes to informed policymaking and community awareness. The research supports calls for systemic change and encourages municipalities to recognize IPV as a public health crisis. These efforts reflect the university’s commitment to addressing complex social issues through rigorous scholarship and collaboration with legal, health, and advocacy sectors.

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Teaching

Blackademia

Blackademia supports inclusive teaching by amplifying Black scholarship and lived experiences within academic spaces. Through curated resources, events, and storytelling, it fosters critical dialogue around race, identity, and systemic inequities. The initiative encourages faculty to integrate diverse perspectives into curricula and pedagogy, promoting equity and belonging in the classroom. By supporting culturally responsive teaching and highlighting Black excellence, Blackademia helps dismantle barriers to representation and learning, contributing to a more inclusive and socially aware educational environment at Western.

Accessibility Boosts

Western’s Accessibility Boosts initiative enhances inclusive teaching by helping instructors design online learning environments that support diverse student needs. It provides practical strategies and downloadable resources to improve accessibility in course content, assessments, and digital platforms. By applying principles of universal design and equity, the initiative enables educators to reduce barriers and encourage participation across learning styles and abilities. These efforts promote fairness and opportunity for all students through thoughtful, research-informed teaching practices.

Indigenous Program Modules

Western’s new Indigenous Studies undergraduate modules support inclusive teaching by centering Indigenous knowledge systems, histories, and perspectives. The updated curriculum offers interdisciplinary approaches that reflect Indigenous worldviews and lived experiences, fostering critical engagement with colonialism, reconciliation, and cultural resurgence. These modules encourage respectful dialogue and relational learning, equipping students to understand and challenge systemic inequities. By embedding Indigenous scholarship into core teaching practices, Western promotes equity, representation, and culturally responsive education, contributing to a more inclusive and socially aware academic environment.

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Outreach

Domestic Violence at Work Initiative

The Domestic Violence at Work initiative helps organizations create safer, more inclusive workplaces by offering tools, training, and policy development resources. It supports employers in recognizing and responding to domestic violence as a workplace issue, with customizable policy templates, readiness assessments, and risk screening tools. Research highlights how domestic violence affects job performance, workplace safety, and economic stability, especially for marginalized groups. By integrating evidence-based practices into workplace operations, the initiative promotes equity, supports vulnerable workers, and fosters healthier, more resilient employment environments across sectors.

Global Health Equity Hub at Western

Western’s Schulich X-LABS program engages high school students from varied backgrounds in immersive biomedical research experiences. By connecting youth with advanced lab environments, mentoring from PhD candidates, and exposure to university life, the initiative builds confidence and scientific literacy. It opens pathways to higher education and careers in science for students who may not otherwise access such opportunities. Through hands-on learning and personal mentorship, X-LABS strengthens community ties and expands participation in biomedical fields across generations.

Global Skills Opportunity Ambassadors

Western’s participation in the Global Skills Opportunity program supports outreach by expanding access to international learning for underrepresented students. Through funding and tailored support, the initiative enables students to gain global experience, build intercultural competencies, and strengthen career readiness. It promotes equity by reducing financial and systemic barriers to study abroad, particularly for Indigenous students, those with disabilities, and low-income learners. These efforts extend Western’s educational impact beyond campus, fostering inclusive global engagement and helping students thrive in diverse professional and academic environments.

Operations

Declarations of Indigenous Citizenship

Western’s Indigenous Affirmation Policy ensures that designated opportunities for Indigenous students, staff, and faculty are accessed through verified citizenship or membership. Developed with local Indigenous communities, it strengthens institutional integrity and accountability. The policy is operationalized through a formal procedure led by the Indigenous Affirmation Advisory Committee, promoting transparency and respect for Indigenous sovereignty in recruitment, admissions, and resource allocation.

Gender-Based Sexual Violence Training

Western’s operational support for gender-based violence prevention is reflected in its use of evidence-based models and resources. The university promotes knowledge dissemination through mandatory training and printable tools, helping staff and students recognize and respond to violence. Programs like Undressing Consent offer engaging, pleasure-focused approaches to learning about consent and rejection, while ManMade provides evaluated strategies for engaging men in prevention. These models contribute to Western’s broader initiatives by embedding research-informed practices into campus operations, fostering safer environments and promoting equity through education, policy, and community engagement.

Accessible Education

Accessible Education at Western University ensures students with disabilities receive tailored academic accommodations across courses, exams, and internships. It provides accessible formats, assistive technologies, and learning strategy instruction, while coordinating with faculty and services to remove barriers. Through individualized support and inclusive infrastructure, the unit operationalizes equity in academic access, enabling students to fully participate and succeed in their educational journey.