Humber Polytechnic’s Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) and youth engagement organization TakingITGlobal (TIG) have partnered on a new micro-credential earned by young people who are driving social innovation change.   

After a comprehensive review, Humber and TIG worked closely to identify key opportunities for continuous improvement and learning excellence in TIG’s Sprout Ideas Fellowship. This collaboration culminated in the launch of the new Project Design for Community Impact micro-credential, which is exclusive to 2025 Sprout Fellows.   

The Sprout Ideas Fellowship, funded by the Canada Service Corps program, helps youth aged 15 to 30 launch high-impact community projects that address pressing issues, such as climate change, mental health, and cultural revitalization. With mentorship, training, and seed funding of up to $5,000, Fellows develop practical leadership and social innovation skills that drive real change.   

Now, through their partnership with Humber, Fellows also gain academic recognition for their experience.   

Humber’s CSI shares many of the same values and learning objectives with which TIG leads the Sprout Fellowship. In this partnership, Humber brought their expertise in educational design to further strengthen the Fellows’ learning experience.     

“TakingITGlobal and the Sprout Fellowship have been engaged in great work for some time," said Eve Montgomery, acting associate dean, Continuous Professional Learning with the Faculty of Social & Community Services. “During the review process, we looked closely at learning outcomes and what competencies the youth were developing by engaging in the fellowship.”   

The Project Design for Community Impact micro-credential demonstrates several competencies, from establishing a mandate to implementation. Fellows learn key practices for project planning, community engagement, leadership, collaboration, and measuring and communicating social impact. These skills create a strong foundation that helps set the project up for real-life success.    

Ashelyn Fung, CSI project manager, said this year’s Sprout Fellowship cohort had approximately 175 highly motivated participants. They’ve completed the 12 learning modules in the micro-credential and are now in the community implementation stage.  

“Being able to design for, collaborate with, and take action in specific communities greatly elevates the Fellows’ learning experience and impact potential,” she explains.  

Fellows who earn a micro-credential from Humber receive a digital badge to display on LinkedIn or professional profiles. This helps communicate the value of their experience to other post-secondary institutions, employers, or impact investors.   

“This collaboration marks a significant step in expanding access to meaningful credentials that reflect the real-world impact youth are making in their communities,” said Jennifer Corriero, executive director of TakingITGlobal.   

Learn more by visiting the Sprout Ideas Fellowship website.