Wednesday, June 24, 2026

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• Waterloo community thanks President Vivek Goel for his leadership
• Waterloo rises in 2027 QS World University Ranking
• An update on Ring Road's rainbow crosswalks
• June's CareNext Collective focused on when AI joins the workforce

Waterloo community thanks President Vivek Goel for his leadership

This is an excerpt of an article that was originally published on Waterloo News.

As President Vivek Goel concludes his term, the University of Waterloo community recognizes a presidency defined by vision, collaboration, integrity and a deep commitment community.  

From his appointment in 2021 to today, President Vivek Goel’s tenure reflects a period of steady progress and clear purpose at the University of Waterloo, setting the foundation for Waterloo’s next century. He united the community behind a bold vision for the future and advanced lasting progress in innovation, sustainability, and reconciliation. 

“Whatever we have accomplished during my time as president belongs to this community,” Goel noted in a message to the campus community. “My role has been to listen, learn from you, and help move forward the many ideas that come from members of our community. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside you.” 

A defining aspect of Goel’s leadership has been his commitment to advancing equity, inclusion and reconciliation—work that members of the community say has helped strengthen the University in lasting ways. 

“In Inuit culture, leadership is reflected in how a person brings people together, how they build relationships, and how they help to create conditions for others to thrive,” said Jean Becker, former Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Relations. “Your leadership here at Waterloo has reflected those values.” 

Becker emphasized that reconciliation is an ongoing journey requiring “courage, humility, and a willingness to listen,” and recognized the meaningful progress made during Goel’s presidency. 

“Under your leadership, the University of Waterloo has significantly advanced the journey to reconciliation,” she said, noting his support for initiatives that strengthen understanding, equity and belonging, and create opportunities for Indigenous voices to be heard. 

“Leadership shows up when things don’t go according to plan,” said Mike Becks, former Director, Waterloo Special Constable Service reflecting on moments of uncertainty faced by the University. “Vivek demonstrated true leadership in situations that nobody could have anticipated,” grounding decisions in a genuine sense of care for the campus community. 

That sense of humility and steadiness was echoed by student senator Jordan Bowman, who described Goel as “a model of sound and future-focused leadership,” noting his ability to remain thoughtful, measured and focused on the long term. 

Jacinda Reitsma, Vice-President, Administration and Finance, reflected on the steady leadership Goel brought during periods of uncertainty. 

“You have provided the calm and steady hand we needed to continue to move forward with clarity and—maybe even more importantly—with confidence,” she said. “You've shaped Waterloo in ways that will benefit faculty, staff and students for years to come.”

Read the full story on Waterloo News

Waterloo’s accomplishments over the past five years belong to this entire community. My role has been to listen, learn from you, and help move forward the many ideas that come from members of our community. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside you. 

These have not been easy years. We have faced a global pandemic and a period of significant change and uncertainty in the world around us. What has always stood out to me is how this community comes together to meet those challenges. We have held true to our core principles of academic freedom, free inquiry and integrity, and we continue to focus on the important work we do by living our values of thinking differently, acting with purpose, and working together. 

I leave this role with a deep sense of gratitude and a great deal of confidence in Waterloo’s future. I know this community will continue to come together, to support one another, and to take on the big challenges ahead. 

I am also happy to share that I’m not going very far. I will be continuing as a faculty member at the University of Waterloo, with appointments in the School of Pharmacy and the School of Public Health Sciences. I look forward to staying connected and contributing to work in health, technology, and society in the years ahead. 

Thank you for all that you do for Waterloo. It has truly been an honour.

Waterloo rises in 2027 QS World University Ranking

This article was originally published on Waterloo News.

The University of Waterloo is ranked 113th in the world in this year’s QS World University Rankings, jumping six spots from last year while holding its place as fifth in Canada.

The rankings assess more than 1,500 universities across 106 countries and compare key indicators including academic reputation, research activity and graduate outcomes. Results are based on datapoints from 16.4 million academic papers and the views of more than 151,000 academics and 100,000 employers.

QS describes the rankings as “an important tool for benchmarking academic excellence, helping guide students, scholars and institutions in their decision-making.”

Employer reputation, a long-standing strength for Waterloo, climbed 10 spots as the University continues to be well regarded by recruiters, particularly for producing graduates who can contribute early in their careers.

That reputation is closely tied to Waterloo’s co-operative education model. The University runs the largest co-op program of its kind, with students alternating between academic terms and paid work placements.

By graduation, many have accumulated up to two years of experience, often across multiple roles and organizations. Employers across sectors, including technology, finance, health and the public service, continue to recruit heavily from Waterloo for that reason.

While not directly used in the QS ranking methodology, the University’s extensive entrepreneurial ecosystem has established a strong track record of supporting student and researcher-led ventures through incubators and commercialization supports. That work has resulted in a steady flow of startups and strengthened links between campus research and the broader innovation economy.

In the academic reputation indicator, Waterloo improved by nine spots and now sits 200th in the world.

QS rankings also assess research impact and international engagement, where Waterloo performs well. This strong standing helps highlight the university’s strengths in areas such as quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and sustainability.

Much of this activity is organized through Waterloo’s Global Futures framework, which brings together researchers, industry and community partners to address complex challenges in health, society, sustainability, emerging technologies and economic resilience.

The QS 2027 rankings highlight wider pressures facing Canadian universities. As institutions around the world expand capacity and compete aggressively for talent and funding, holding or improving their position in global rankings has become more difficult.

Waterloo’s gradual upward movement in the rankings illustrates its ability to adapt to changing priorities across the sector and society while maintaining a focus on research, teaching and the student experience.

The University continues to be influenced by its founding principles of community collaboration and a desire to build an institution unlike any other. That foundation still influences Waterloo’s academic programming and research priorities alongside external collaborations and real-world need.

While rankings capture only part of an institution’s activity, this year’s QS results point to gains in important areas for Waterloo and a continued ability to hold its position as global competition intensifies.

An update on Ring Road's rainbow crosswalks

You may have noticed that the rainbow crosswalks on Ring Road have recently been repainted in a neutral colour. This work was completed as part of routine seasonal maintenance across campus, including the refresh of the Pride rainbow pathway in the Arts Quad outside of Dana Porter Library. When considering maintenance this year, taking costs for ongoing upkeep into consideration among other factors, the decision was made not to repaint the Ring Road rainbow crosswalks due to road repair needed to address potholes and future plans to re-pave Ring Road. To avoid the faded crosswalks looking neglected, they were painted over in a neutral colour.  

The University of Waterloo remains deeply committed to celebrating Pride and supporting our 2SLGBTQIA+ community, through visible spaces like the rainbow walkway in the Arts Quad, events like the Pride flag raising on June 1, the continued tradition of the Great Gaggle of rainbow geese installed across main campus, and a range of other events and initiatives taking place throughout the month. 

Learn more about Pride activities and find resources on the Pride 2026 web page. 

June's CareNext Collective focused on when AI joins the workforce

Each month, Manulife presents CareNext Collective, a virtual innovation forum hosted by the CareNext Coalition, aimed to deepen collaboration, strengthen partnerships and foster health care innovation in the region. Experts from the Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN), the University of Waterloo, and other collaborators come together to foster dialogue, share knowledge, and drive a shared culture of innovation. These important conversations support the acceleration and adoption of ideas that can transform healthcare within our local ecosystem and beyond.

On Thursday, June 25 at noon, the Collective will host their June event entitled, When AI Joins the Workforce: How organizations are redesigning work, teams, and decision-making. 

As AI systems become embedded into workflows, communication channels, and decision-making processes, organizations are rethinking roles, team structures, governance, and the relationship between humans and intelligent agents. Join Matt Fisher, VP Transformation, Delivery and Technology at Miovision,to explore what organizational AI readiness actually looks like in practice and what healthcare systems can learn from organizations already moving rapidly in this space. 

The session will consist of a conversation, audience participation via chat and a Q&A. Find out more and register for the event.