Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Office of Research launches fall inclusive learning series

A message from the Office of the Vice-President, Research and International.

The Inclusive Research Team in the OVPRI is excited to continue supporting the learning journey for researchers on ways to embed equitable and inclusive practices in their research programs.

We are kicking off Fall 2024 with our established core offerings. All sessions will be virtual, and the season’s offerings can be found on the Inclusive Research Resource Hub.

September

Overview and Introduction: Inclusive Research Resource (Introductory session)

Tuesday, September 24, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The Inclusive Research Team is dedicated to intentionally supporting faculty to build equitable and inclusive research practices for rigorous research. This presentation is focused on providing you with an introduction to the resources and supports provided by the Inclusive Research Team within the Office of the Vice President Research and Research and International, including how to navigate the Inclusive Research Resource Hub and how we support embedding EDI in grant applications.

Please register here to receive the Zoom link to participate.

October

Inclusive Research Tools: Identifying and Addressing Barriers

Monday, October 28, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

A question that often comes to the Inclusive Research team from researchers is “what are the top three things I can do to embed EDI my work?” This session will help researchers identify ways to understand potential barriers that may exist in their research program, project and/or teams and will provide ideas for concrete and tangible actions to meaningfully address them.

Please register to receive the Zoom link to participate.

November

The Foundation: Building Inclusive Teams

Thursday, November 14, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Research shows that building inclusive research teams promotes research excellence. This presentation will take researchers through the necessary steps to identify EDI barriers on their teams, make a plan to address the barriers, and to review the outcomes of the actions they have taken and plan for the future.

Please register to receive the Zoom link to participate.

The Decolonial “R’s” of Research: Principled Approaches to Engaging Indigenous Communities

Friday, November 29, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

This presentation will cover highlights of deceptively simple concepts theorized by Indigenous scholars for community-engaged research projects—known as the “Decolonial “R’s” of Research”—and together, we will consider their expansive meanings and implications in a typical university-based research project lifecycle. 

Please register to receive the Zoom link to participate.

December

What is GBA+ Anyway? An Introduction

Monday, December 9, 2024, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) is an important tool for embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in every stage of research from design to sharing results and other outputs. But what is it, and how is it done? This presentation will go over the basics of GBA+ including examples that highlight its usefulness, steps researchers can take, and questions they can ask themselves to start the GBA+ analysis of their research.

Please register to receive the Zoom link to participate.

WatSPEED designated as an Authorized Training Partner through the Project Management Institute

A message from WatSPEED. This article was originally published on the WatSPEED website.

WatSPEED, the University of Waterloo’s professional, executive, and corporate education arm, is proud to announce its recent designation as an Authorized Training Partner (ATP) through the Project Management Institute (PMI). This designation ensures that WatSPEED’s courses are aligned with the latest global standards and best practices in project management, providing learners with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in their careers.

“We are thrilled to be recognized as an Authorized Training Partner by PMI,” says Sanjeev Gill, associate vice-president, Innovation and executive director, WatSPEED. “This partnership with PMI will enhance our ability to deliver impactful learning experiences that drive career advancement and organizational success.”

WatSPEED’s project management certificate program is designed to cater to the diverse needs of professionals at various stages of their careers. Courses in WatSPEED’s Project Management Certificate include topics such as change enablement, managing stakeholder expectations, advanced project monitoring and control, agile project delivery, and more.

Digital Transformation, WatSPEED’s popular eight-week course, is also pre-approved for Professional Development Units (PDUs). The course addresses the impact that technology is having on our workforce and helps participants discover new technologies and develop a plan for their integration into the workplace." 

For more information about WatSPEED’s project management programs and other professional development opportunities, please visit watspeed.uwaterloo.ca. For a full list of upcoming programs, visit our course listing and schedule. 

Now you see it: Optometry clinic temporarily moving

The School of Optometry & Vision Science’s clinic is moving to an interim location during construction of the Waterloo Eye Institute.

A message from the School of Optometry & Vision Science.

Now that ground has been broken on the Waterloo Eye Institute and construction is about to start in earnest, the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science will be moving its Waterloo campus clinic and all its specialty services to a nearby interim location.

During the two-year construction process, all clinical services will be moved to 419 Phillip St., Waterloo. The interim clinic is a 10-minute walk or three-minute drive from the current location and is expected to open to the public on October 21, 2024.

The Waterloo Eye Institute is a $53 million initiative to build Canada’s premier optometric centre that will push the boundaries of eye and vision care, optometric education and vision research. A once-in-a-generation project, it will create 68,000 square feet of new and renovated space.

“While this is a temporary home for us, everything will be business as usual – if not better,” said Dr. Andre Stanberry, the clinic director. “We will continue to provide leading-edge care using state-of-the-art equipment, including some brand-new equipment. We’ll be honouring previously booked appointments as well as inviting new patients to try us out.”

Just as the current location does, the interim location of the clinic will provide comprehensive eye exams and eyewear to patients of all ages and abilities.

The interim location will still provide a range of specialized services, including ocular disease care, myopia control for children, vision therapy for people with brain injuries, sports vision services to enhance visual performance, and visual rehabilitation and technological services for people with low vision.

During typical appointments, patients will continue to be seen by both a highly trained upper-year optometry student and a licensed optometrist.

If you have an appointment before October 21, please go to the current location at 200 Columbia St. W., Waterloo. If you have an appointment on or after October 21, please go to 419 Phillip St., Waterloo. Your appointment time will be the same.

The downtown Kitchener location, the Health Sciences Optometry Clinic, will continue normal operations, providing comprehensive eye exams and optical dispensing to the public.

At both locations, University of Waterloo students and employees are eligible for discounts on eye exams and eyewear.

The renovated and expanded Waterloo Eye Institute is expected to reopen at the current location in fall 2026. For more information, see uwaterloo.ca/waterloo-eye-institute.

The campaign to build the Waterloo Eye Institute continues, with $28 million raised out of a $35 million fundraising goal. To learn more or to help give the gift of sight, visit our Seeing Beyond 20/20 campaign site.