EDMONTON — Today, the University of Alberta launched its 10-year strategic plan, outlining a bold vision for the university. Growing the University of Alberta’s enrolment by more than 35 per cent to 60,000 students by 2030 and ranking among the top 50 research universities in the world is at the heart of an aspirational strategic plan to expand the global impact of the province’s flagship post-secondary institution over the next decade.
Shape: The University Strategic Plan 2023-2033 builds on the successes the university has achieved over its 115-year history and charts a course for action across the three pillars of its mission: education, research and community engagement.
To meet the challenges of a growing population and rising demand, the plan aims to expand enrolment by more than 35 per cent — from 44,000 students now to 50,000 by 2026 and 60,000 within the next 10 years.
In tandem with this planned growth, the strategy calls for continuing the university’s upward trajectory in global rankings, setting an ambitious goal of ranking among the top 50 research universities in the world and among the top three in Canada by 2033.
The plan identifies three priority research areas in which the university has proved to be a global leader: energy and environment, artificial intelligence, and health and well-being.
It also notes three areas in which the university is making major contributions with the potential for global impact within the next decade: Indigenous research, agriculture and food, and social transformations — all of which will also be guided by other institutional strategies.
The U of A’s reorganisation of its academic faculties into three colleges in 2021 — the first post-secondary model of its kind in Canada — will facilitate the collaboration, interdisciplinary teaching and research, and efficiency needed to advance research and teaching in these critical areas.
The full article can be accessed here. To learn more about Shape, please click here.
Please also find a link to the launch video here.
Media contact:
Debra Clark
U of A communications associate
debra.clark@ualberta.ca
QUOTES:
“The university’s strategic plan outlines a bold and determined vision that will propel the University of Alberta to greater heights than ever before.”
“With this plan as our guide, over the next decade we will shape futures by educating with purpose, shape ideas by being purposeful in our research, and shape trust by engaging meaningfully with our communities, our partners and our people.”
Bill Flanagan, president and vice-chancellor, University of Alberta
“People are our greatest strength and are at the very heart of what we do.”
“To make lasting, meaningful impacts on people’s lives, we must take intentional steps to support the people of our university and create a culture where everyone can achieve their full potential.”
“We have a commitment to build a university of tomorrow for students, educators, researchers, alumni and community partners, here in Alberta and around the world. This plan will get us there.”
Verna Yiu, provost and vice-president academic (interim), University of Alberta