Welcome to the Office of the President
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
Featured news
Thrive Month
October 15, 2021
Thrive Month focused on building a culture of wellbeing and normalizing mental health struggles for Waterloo students and employees. President Goel shares a message to the University community to kick off Thrive Month.
President's Forum
October 6, 2021
On October 6, President Vivek Goel held a forum to share his perspectives and opportunities for the University. This forum was the first of what will be a series of three sessions that will explore themes from the University’s strategic plan. The president was joined by a panel of Waterloo senior leaders to explore the future of work and how the University develops talent for a complex future.
National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
September 30, 2021
President Goel and Jean Becker, Senior Director, Indigenous Initiatives and Interim AVP, Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion reflect on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Keep the umbrella handy to weather the next storm
September 15, 2021
Once the pandemic clouds clear, it’s inevitable that public research budgets will come under scrutiny. But cutting research budgets is tantamount to throwing away your umbrella when the rain stops.
Our experience with COVID- 19 has demonstrated that we not only need to be prepared for events like global pandemics, but we also need to be able to mount flexible responses that can quickly adapt to new challenges. As I write in the The Hill Times, that involves investing in research capacity that can be mobilized for this type of adaptive response.
Read the full article on The Hill Times (for subscribers)
Fall 2021 Convocation will be delivered virtually
September 8, 2021
"We have decided that convocations this fall will take place in a live, virtual format."
President Goel welcomes students to fall term 2021
September 7, 2021
"Hello everyone! Welcome to the fall term at the University of Waterloo. All of us have been working extremely hard to give you the best possible experience given the ongoing public health restrictions. I understand the impact on you of learning in a pandemic environment whether you were with us at waterloo or at high school."
Young people need to return to classrooms and labs
August 30, 2021
"We cannot ask post-secondary students to sacrifice their learning again. This pandemic has forced us to reconcile with the reality that we are all connected; what is good for our neighbour is good for us."
Universities have a once-in-a-century chance to reset. What should they look like post-COVID?
July 2, 2021
(For Globe subscribers) "As the world reopens, against a backdrop of accelerated change and exacerbated inequities, universities should grasp this once-in-a-century chance to reset."
