Societal
<
Demographic transformations, increased migration, digitization and automation, shifting geopolitical relations and declining trust in democratic institutions are among the forces transforming society. While there is a deeper understanding of the global legacies of colonialism and social injustices, our social echo chambers contribute to polarization and disinformation, stifling constructive dialogue across different points of view and lived experience.
Across our academic, research and service activities we should consider the impacts on society. Within our campuses, which are mirrors of society, we can innovate and apply new models to ensure every member of our community belongs and thrives.
Health
<
Many physical and social determinants of health contribute to our well-being yet too many individuals and communities do not achieve the best possible health status. Those that are sick or injured navigate complex health systems that are unsustainable, under pressure from escalating costs, and facing shortages of health professionals and an aging population.
Waterloo is poised to take a unique leadership position in this space by focusing on our strengths at the intersections of health, society, technology and entrepreneurship and engaging partners to co-create solutions that advance population health and support the development of more sustainable community-based health systems.
Sustainable
<
The sustainability of our quality of life is intricately connected to our social, economic and environmental well-being. While the global climate emergency is the greatest threat to our collective future, we are also challenged in preserving biodiversity, ensuring clean water for all and producing enough food for a growing planet.
Waterloo is already a leader in sustainability research and education. We can build on this strength to help direct society towards a sustainable future. We can lead across our campuses by implementing innovative solutions to achieve and exceed our targets for sustainability.
Technological
<
Technology continues to accelerate at an exponential pace, bringing both benefits and new challenges. Emerging technologies are often adopted before the full impact on culture and human behaviour is understood.
We have seen that big data can be harnessed to help governments and organizations make informed decisions and address equity and equality concerns. But this has also led to a loss of privacy and inequitable distribution of wealth. Cybersecurity and gaps in data literacy are ongoing risks. The world is now demanding that innovators develop technology with greater responsibility and accountability.
As Waterloo continues to lead in technology and innovation in critical areas, we have an opportunity to shape technology to serve society, rather than letting technology shape us.
Although it is impossible to predict technological advances over the next 35 years, we can help shape future technologies for good. Instead of asking “what?” we will ask “what for?” We will integrate Waterloo’s strengths to advance technology that is responsible, sustainable and socially viable.
Economic
<
Technology is transforming the economy and the world of work with the rise of remote and hybrid workers, increased automation and artificial intelligence. New technology can increase efficiency and flexibility, but the workforce must keep up with new systems. Life-long learning will become increasingly important as individuals need to upskill, reskill and reimagine their careers in addition to benefits for personal growth and enlightenment.
At the same time, labour shortages, disruptions to supply chains, and geopolitical and digital threats have shown us the vulnerabilities and risks inherent in our economy. Canada faces serious challenges with productivity growth, and without a significant change in course we will not have the resources necessary to advance these futures and the challenges ahead.
We have the foundation to shape innovative ecosystems and develop talent to help create more equitable, resilient and future-proofed economies. Already a leader in work-integrated learning, we can expand our mandate to support learning-integrated work to help organizations and individuals keep pace with technology and the changing world of work. We can grow our business and entrepreneurial education strengths to include leadership in social entrepreneurship and innovation targeting the public good.
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.
