Strategic Plan funding focuses on Indigenous, cross-campus initiatives

I am pleased to announce that 20 new pilot projects and change initiatives will be funded as part of the university’s commitment to implementing the strategic plan, UBC’s Next Century.

Each proposal was reviewed by the responsible vice-president and associated advisory councils from each core area of the strategic plan (People and Places, Research Excellence, Transformative Learning, Local and Global Engagement) as well as the Coordinating Committee and the Executive Team, and finally reviewed by myself. The proposals were specifically selected for their strong potential to significantly advance the plan’s four core areas. Funding for the projects and initiatives will be allocated for the 2018/19 fiscal year.

I am especially pleased to note that seven of the projects directly relate to UBC’s Indigenous engagement, including an Indigenous Engagement Training Program, an expansion of SAGE (Supporting Aboriginal Graduate Enhancement) and Building UBC’s Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action.

For example, the Faculty of Forestry’s National Indigenous Forestry School project proposes the creation of an entire educational program focused on the needs of those working for Indigenous communities, companies and organizations, titled the National Indigenous Forestry School, to be based at UBC’s Okanagan campus. The project’s aim is to explore and develop a National Indigenous Forestry School with Indigenous and other stakeholders at UBC Okanagan.

Here is the full list of projects, with links to fuller descriptions:

People and Places
UBC Science Early Career Invited Lecture Award
Enhancing Graduate Student Community
Implementation Phase 1: Conflict Engagement Framework
Postdoc Career In-Sites Project
Effective and Inclusive: UBC Okanagan Learning Spaces Enhancement