WIL Authorship Collaborative — Call for proposals

Faculty with student

Shape the future of work – apply to be a member of the WIL Authorship Collaborative

Faculty, staff members and graduate researchers are invited to submit proposals to co-develop online, interdisciplinary learning materials that explore the intersection of the University’s current strategic focus—Global Futures—and the future of work. Selected contributors will join a cross-campus authorship group to collaboratively create modular content for use in the Centre for Work-Integrated Learning’s courses and programming.

The Centre for Work-integrated learning (WIL) curriculum strategy is an innovative approach designed to prepare students for future-facing challenges across disciplines and industries. This strategy is rooted in Waterloo’s commitment to Co-operative and Experiential Education’s (CEE) Future Ready Talent Framework (FRTF) and incorporates thematic areas such as the University’s current Global Futures focus. Together, these frameworks are guiding the development of digital learning assets that help students build critical workplace competencies while exploring key themes at the intersection of work and global challenges. These assets are being used by the Centre for WIL to create new undergraduate WIL courses (including PD courses), graduate WIL courses and other Co-operative and Experiential Education programming.

What is WIL Authorship Collaborative?

The WIL Authorship Collaborative at Waterloo is a cross-disciplinary group of faculty, staff and graduate students who partner with the Centre for WIL curriculum team to co-design digital learning assets. This collaboration allows the collective expertise of our campus community to shape the Centre for WIL’s future-focused curriculum while sharing their knowledge with thousands of students across campus. 

Staff and faculty are encouraged to join if their work, teaching or research connects with the current selected Global Futures theme.  Graduate students are eligible to participate provided their faculty supervisor is advising the project. The objectives of the Authorship Collaborative are to:

  • Integrate expertise from across campus to create relevant student-facing content aligned with thematic priorities, with the current focus on the University’s Global Futures.
  • Enhance students' skills and competencies as defined by the University of Waterloo’s Future Ready Talent Framework (FRTF).
  • Equip students with real-world perspectives and experiences to address humanity's most pressing challenges and thrive in a rapidly changing world of work.

In joining, faculty, staff and graduate researchers will work as a cross-disciplinary team where shared research interests and diverse perspectives may also spark future opportunities for collaboration. See WIL global futures curriculum development for more benefits to participating.

Students and Faculty working together at a table

Become an Authorship Collaborative member

A call for proposals tied to a specific Global Futures theme will be issued 1-2 times per year, inviting new members of the campus community to contribute their expertise to the co-creation of interdisciplinary, future-focused learning materials.

Who should apply
  • Faculty members from any discipline whose research or teaching intersects with the selected Global Futures theme and the evolving world of work.
  • Graduate students or postdoctoral fellows whose research aligns with the selected theme and who will have support from the faculty member overseeing their research.
  • Staff members whose area of work intersects with the selected Global Futures theme and the evolving world of work.
  • Those looking to expand their instructional portfolio through interdisciplinary, future-focused content development.

Time commitment and participation expectations

The co-development process runs for 4–6 consecutive months after the announcement of selected proposals. During this time, Authorship Collaborative members will work closely with the Centre for WIL curriculum team to contribute disciplinary expertise and co-develop content.

  • Time commitment: Participants should expect to dedicate approximately 3–5 hours per month for meetings, content curation, review and feedback.
  • Meeting format: All meetings will be held virtually, with hybrid options available when applicable to support flexible participation.
  • Flexibility: While the schedule will be structured, we aim to accommodate varying teaching schedules and workloads. Key milestones and check-in points will be shared in advance.

Participants will be expected to:

  • Attend and engage in collaborative planning and co-design meetings
  • Share relevant materials and research that can inform curriculum development
  • Provide feedback on draft content
  • Complete a final review and approval process

The curriculum team at the Centre for WIL plays a knowledge mobilization role by working alongside the Authorship Collaborative members to translate their expert insights and materials into student-facing content.

Members will be acknowledged as co-creators of the content, with the produced digital learning assets featured in several Centre for WIL courses and/or programs. The Centre for WIL will have exclusive and unrestricted right to use and modify the digital learning assets developed as necessary to meet the needs of the Centre for WIL courses and/or programs that integrate the developed assets. As per policy 73, authorship members will retain the copyright for the intellectual property contributed.  

Submission process

How to submit a proposal

To apply, submit a brief written proposal (600 words or less) using our WIL Authorship proposal template. Your proposal should outline your topic, its relevance to the current Global Futures theme and its alignment with workplace competencies. When complete, submit the proposal using our online form. 

Proposals should seek to address:

  1. Applicant qualification: A brief description of your background and expertise related to the chosen Global Futures theme. If graduate or post-doctoral student(s) participate, please outline their backgrounds and areas of research as well.
  2. Global Future overview: An outline of your proposed Global Futures topic with emphasis on elements that make it relevant in an interdisciplinary context. Why is this an important topic for a broad audience? Why is this an important topic for our students to learn about, given current realities?
  3. Alignment with workplace competencies: An outline of how your proposed topic aligns with one or more of the Future-Ready Talent Framework (FRTF) workplace-relevant competencies and is aligned with the chosen Global Futures theme for the current call for proposal.
  4. Future of work perspectives: An explanation of how the proposed topic(s)/areas of expertise or research align with the future of work. How will learning about this topic prepare our students to be leaders in their fields?

Formatting Guidelines:

  • Submit your proposal as a Word or PDF file
  • Use plain language
  • Keep total length to 600 words or less (excluding applicant information, section headings and references)
  • Use 11 pt font with standard 1-inch margins

Not sure where to start?

If you’d like support or have questions before submitting, we’re happy to help. Book a short consultation or Q&A session with our team by emailing centreforwil@uwaterloo.ca.

Evaluation criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Relevance: The proposal’s alignment with the Global Futures theme and demonstration of meaningful connections to workplace preparedness.
  • Impact and innovation: The ability for the proposed content to bring a future-focused lens and cutting-edge research to the collaborative.
  • Interdisciplinary reach: The proposed topic is applicable across a broad student audience, diverse disciplines and workplace contexts.

Fall 2026 call for proposals (CFP)

Theme: Societal futures and the world of work

Societal change is reshaping how work is organized, experienced and understood, as well as how organizations relate to the communities around them. Questions of trust, transparency, responsibility and social impact are increasingly central to workplace decision-making, particularly in contexts shaped by evolving needs for cross-disciplinary communication and information literacy in an AI-enabled world.

This theme invites campus experts to explore how research focused on societal futures topics can inform socially responsible workplace practices. Proposals may examine issues such as persuasion, consensus building and communicating across disciplines, responsible information and data use or critical and ethical perspectives on how knowledge is created, shared and translated, including Indigenous ways of knowing and being in a Canadian context.

Courses and programs developed through this pilot will consider how workplaces can build cultures of responsibility and trust and make decisions that contribute positively to their workforce and community of influence. Proposals are not expected to address all areas outlined in this call; submitters are encouraged to focus on one or more themes that align with their expertise and interests. For example, this could include proposals seeking to address:

  • Critical Thinking: Examine societal trends and evaluate implications for socially responsible workplace practices, communities and civic life.
  • Intercultural Effectiveness: Navigate diverse social and cultural contexts with empathy, respect and cultural awareness, including when engaging Indigenous communities.
  • Communication: Engage across contexts, disciplines, roles and generations, using communication strategies that build trust and consensus among stakeholders.
  • Information & Data Literacy: Interpret, evaluate and responsibly use information and data to support workplace decision-making and assess how information quality can build, or undermine, trust.

Key dates 

  • CFP release date: May 25, 2026
  • Submission due date: June 29, 2026
  • Evaluation period: June 30 to July 17, 2026
  • Announcement of selected proposals: July 20 to 24, 2026
  • Orientation and planning meeting: Between August 3 to August 28, 2026
  • Co-development process begins: September 2026

Submit your proposal

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Submit your proposal by downloading and completing the proposal template.