As we work on achieving financial sustainability, we know that there are many parts of our university that can benefit from review, innovation and reimagination. We’re known for innovation and thinking differently, so we’re using our strengths to imagine new ways of doing things.
We have considerable expertise on campus that we can leverage to create change. It’s with this expertise in mind that we are creating groups that can create change across our campus.
Academic innovation
The Office of the Provost is developing an Academic Innovation Working Group. At its core, this internal group will explore how we can deliver our academic programs more efficiently, leverage technology to enhance teaching and learning, and create new revenue streams through program development.
The Academic Innovation Working Group will build on work already underway in the Faculties and through the outcomes of other groups such as the Credentials Framework working group and initiatives across the university to develop alternative credentials. It will facilitate awareness, sharing, ideation and implementation of good ideas across unit boundaries.
A coordinating group is being assembled to help define the streams of activity and then to assemble the working group membership. Further information on this group’s activities will be shared soon.
Business process innovation
In parallel, we are establishing an Innovation Action Group under the leadership of Associate Vice-President, Innovation, Sanjeev Gill. This group is tasked with identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing process improvement opportunities across our administrative functions. The Innovation Action Group will coordinate closely with other ongoing optimization initiatives to ensure we approach change holistically.
Details of members of this group and how units can engage them when appointments to the group are complete.
Benchmarking
To further bolster our capacity for data-driven decision-making, Waterloo is joining UniForum, an international benchmarking initiative widely used by U15 peer institutions.
By comparing our data to similar institutions, we can identify opportunities for service improvements, operational efficiencies, and more informed resource allocation. Many leading universities have found UniForum particularly helpful in streamlining administrative processes, enhancing service delivery, and uncovering new ways of working.
Engaging with UniForum aligns well with our own goals of ensuring that Waterloo’s resources are used efficiently, enabling us to focus on our core missions of teaching, research, and community impact.