Learning to identify & change system dynamics that create complex problems in the first place
At the Waterloo Institute for Social Innovation and Resilience (WISIR), we are committed to generating trans- and inter-disciplinary knowledge about social innovations and the social innovation process (the dynamics of learning, adaptation and resilience).
Our approach is to pursue collaborative research and projects that bridge University of Waterloo departments, involve researchers from around the world, and engage those beyond academia.
WISIR seeks to mobilize this knowledge through a range of new curriculum offerings and training opportunities - both within and outside of a university setting.
Origins
The Waterloo Institute for Social Innovation and Resilience (WISIR) is an outcome of the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and Social Innovation Generation (SiG) project at the University of Waterloo (SiG@Waterloo).
SiG is a national initiative focused on advancing understanding of and building the capacity for social innovation in Canada. The work has been carried out by a collaborative partnership of The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, University of Waterloo, the Mars Discovery District, and the Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN) Institute.
The project's ultimate goal is to support whole system change through changing broader economic, cultural and policy contexts in Canada to allow social innovations to flourish.
Purpose
Knowledge generation, dissemination and facilitation
WISIR is committed to generating inter-disciplinary knowledge about social innovations and the social innovation process in Canada and internationally - particularly the dynamics of learning, adaptation and innovation in the arena of sustainable development and in the mental health domain (identified as one of the most pressing challenges of engaging vulnerable populations).
To achieve this goal, WISIR pursues collaborative research projects that bridge uWaterloo faculties, engage researchers from different universities, and extend beyond the academic community.
WISIR mobilizes this knowledge through a range of curriculum offerings and training opportunities within and outside the university setting, including the Graduate Diploma in Social Innovation.