About

The Future of Work Institute is a trans-disciplinary initiative involving researchers from all six Waterloo Faculties (Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Health, Environment, and Arts), Co-op and Experiential Learning (CEE), Work-Integrated Learning (WIL), Greenhouse Social Impact Incubator, and the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business.

Mission 1: Develop Interdisciplinary Research Capacity for the Future of Work

Interdisciplinary researchers from Waterloo will collaborate to co-create programs across the four key pillars of the FoW Institute: Technology Design, focused on building human-centered AI that supports collaboration and organizational needs; Social Infrastructure and Well-Being, exploring strategies for fostering connection, resilience, and cognitive health in hybrid work environments; Equity and Ethics, critically examining how technological and societal shifts impact employment and exacerbate inequities; and Pedagogical Innovations, advancing teaching and learning research to prepare students for rapidly evolving work contexts.

Mission 2: Experiment with New Ways of Learning and Teaching

FoW Institute will create a range of education initiatives to re-imagine learning through interdisciplinary, experiential, and inclusive approaches. Example programs include a capstone course connecting students with community partners, novel co-op and work-integrated learning models that emphasize problem identification and social infrastructure, and flexible AI literacy programs for non-STEM students, faculty, staff, and the broader community. Diversity-focused initiatives will expand training to include social ventures and small businesses, broaden the scope of pathways beyond traditional venture-backed models, and empower women and racialized minorities to pursue entrepreneurial endeavours. 

Mission 3: Translate Research and Pedagogical Innovations into Community Impact

An advisory board of community partners (e.g., city officials, nonprofits, companies) will co-design projects with the FoW Institute to create impact in the KW region related to AI literacy, employment and entrepreneurship. The Institute will also engage the TRuST network to develop social responsibility directions of this institute and hold conversations about the future of work with the general public. By centering a computer science worldview that is ethically grounded and socially engaged, we aim to shape a technological future that is not only innovative but also inclusive, just, and deeply human.