A bilingual, research-intensive university in the heart of the nation’s capital offering the second-largest CO-OP program in Ontario: these are the distinctive characteristics that uOttawa highlighted in its 2017-2020 Strategic Mandate Agreement (SMA), which was recently approved by the provincial government.
Since 2014, Ontario’s public universities have been required to sign three-year agreements with the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development. In addition to spelling out the attributes that differentiate one university from another, the documents set measurable goals and outline the university’s commitment to taking a given direction in future.
The University of Ottawa’s second such agreement mentions the rapid growth of its student population in recent years, reaching 41,800 today. Further increases have been curtailed for now to focus on improving the university-readiness of incoming students, enhancing their experience on campus and supporting them through to graduation. The proportion of international students is expected to rise to 15% from the current 12% by 2020.
What sets uOttawa apart
Here’s a brief snapshot of uOttawa’s distinguishing features and its future direction in four key areas:
Bilingualism: Given that uOttawa is the world’s largest English-French university, it will draw on this unique characteristic to expand its global reach and foster flourishing partnerships, notably within la Francophonie. Official designation under the French Language Services Act of Ontario acknowledges uOttawa’s fundamental commitment to preserving French language and culture. Students can complete almost all undergraduate programs in the official language of their choice. The University aspires to expand this unique advantage by offering even more courses in French, particularly in STEM fields.
Research intensity: The University of Ottawa provides hands-on training to the innovators of tomorrow and myriad opportunities for students to take part in research across the sciences and humanities. The state-of-the-art STEM building, opening in 2018, will provide exciting spaces where students can study, socialize and collaborate as they develop modern research and entrepreneurial skills. The building will house open-concept super labs, 3D printing Makerspaces and new locations for the Start-up Garage and Entrepreneurship Hub.
Co-operative education: As a bilingual university in Canada’s capital, uOttawa is well positioned to help students take advantage of employment-based learning. Launched 35 years ago, the successful CO-OP program is now offered in 75 programs across seven faculties, and organizes more than 3,100 domestic and international placements annually. The program will be maintained at this level as it continues to seek out fresh opportunities to provide real-world experiences that help students transition to careers in a changing economy.
Anchored in the nation’s capital: As Ontario’s largest university outside Toronto, uOttawa offers unparalleled opportunities in the heart of a G7 capital. Proximity to national institutions, embassies and the country’s fastest-growing high-tech sector offers students unique experiential learning and job opportunities, while uOttawa’s own economic impact on the region has been valued at about $7 billion annually. The University will leverage its location to develop innovative programs in health, public and international affairs, and science and technology. These will cross traditional faculty lines to produce the highly skilled workers Ontario requires to meet future needs.
Strategic mandate agreements also give universities an opportunity to identify specific funding challenges. The University of Ottawa noted the considerable costs involved in providing bilingual programs and services, maintaining several heritage buildings, and upgrading facilities to keep pace with changing teaching and learning practices.
Read uOttawa’s Strategic Mandate Agreement (PDF 1.25 MB) (2017-2020)