Message from President Vivek Goel
Welcome. As President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waterloo, I am proud to welcome you to our innovative institution.
The best and brightest are drawn to the University of Waterloo for our renowned academic programs, our world-leading co-operative education and our teaching and research excellence.
Waterloo has long fostered a culture of curiosity, exploration, risk-taking, entrepreneurship, global stewardship and leadership. In 1957, innovation and entrepreneurship brought University of Waterloo into being, as a group of business leaders imagined a new university built to tackle some of the world’s most daunting challenges.
Today, with more than 42,000+ students attending annually, Waterloo is #1 in Canada for experiential learning and employer-student connections. We bring bold ideas and brilliant minds together — inspiring innovations with global impact today and in the future.
During this period of rapid societal, technological and environmental change, our focus over the next few years is to continue to build on our unconventional foundation. We will position Waterloo to develop talent for a complex future, advance research for global impact and strengthen Waterloo’s sustainable and diverse communities.
Whether you are already part of our University community or looking to learn more about our institution, I invite you to connect with us, read our strategic plan or visit one of our campuses.
Sincerely,
Vivek Goel, CM
President and Vice-Chancellor
News
On April 11, President Vivek Goel held a President's Forum to share the Waterloo at 100 vision.
The hybrid forum was an opportunity for staff and faculty to hear from President Goel how the Waterloo at 100 vision will help guide the University into an uncertain, yet promising future.
Hosted as part of the 2023 Staff Conference, the President answered a wide array of questions from both an in-person and online audience about the future of the University.
Research Security
May 11
Universities are currently in the national security spotlight, but recent coverage has forgotten the unique position that institutions are in when it comes to protecting Canada’s national interests.
Moving forward, universities need to be more deliberate about security precautions and they must continue to promote the principles of transparency, predictability, academic freedom, equity and the norms of open science.
Celebrating Asian heritage
May 1
Asian Heritage Month offers us the opportunity to pay special attention to the vital roles our community members of Asian heritage play in the success of our institution, while also recognizing the important work needed to eliminate anti-Asian racism, and all forms of racism, on our campuses. As we move into this important month, I urge everyone to celebrate the history, stories, and achievements of the Asian community, on our Asian Heritage Month web platform.
International Transgender Day of Visibility
March 31
On International Trans Day of Visibility, we recognize and celebrate Two-Spirit, Trans, Non-Binary, and Gender Non-Conforming people, who are integral and valued members of our campus community.
We celebrate trans students, faculty and staff and all they contribute. Today, we seek to add visibility to their voices, experiences and scholarship.
Waterloo welcomes an Eagle Staff
March 27
On March 27, the University of Waterloo community came together to welcome an Eagle Staff to our institution. An Eagle Staff is an important element of the Indigenous relationship to Earth and those that have protected it. By introducing the Eagle Staff, the University honours the responsibility to take on Indigenous perspectives in the ways we teach, govern and behave as an institution.
Earthquake in Türkiye and Syria
February 15
On behalf of the University of Waterloo, I want to express my condolences to our Turkish and Syrian community. I see the devastation, fear and grief caused by the recent earthquakes and I mourn with you.
It is the mission of this university to make the world a better place, and its times like these where I have full confidence that we will come together to support each other.
Celebrating Black History Month
February 1
The beginning of February marks the start of Black History Month 2023. The University of Waterloo is pleased to celebrate the diversity of people of African descent in Canada and their importance to the history and prosperity of this country.
We must work together to help end racial profiling, eradicate barriers to employment and advancement and dismantle policies and processes that perpetuate disparities during Black History Month, and beyond.