Community Partnerships and Social Change
At UCalgary we are committed to supporting mutually-beneficial and reciprocal partnerships with community. It is through these collaborations that our research and creative activity has social impact and contributes to positive social change.
Dr. Penny Pexman
Associate Vice-President (Research)
UCalgary community partnerships
UCalgary is proud to partner with community organizations, not-for-profits and other educational institutions. We build on existing relationships, actively seek out new partnerships and endeavor to enhance the university’s role in the community.
Research
UCalgary GreenSTEM: changing the sustainability game
The GreenSTEM program is a pan-Alberta pilot to provide funding and support for technology company creation and high-tech entrepreneurial development. These companies are exploring new ways to treat oilsands tailings, produce carbon nanofibers from carbon dioxide and methane, and converting carbon dioxide into marketable products.
Social innovation: creating positive change
Enabling faculties to mobilize their academic experience and transdisciplinary expertise into solutions for complex social problems. Social innovation as an idea generated through collaboration that renews existing structures and processes and has the potential to improve the quality of life by building capacity for academic social innovators.
Interdisciplinary working groups
By bringing together faculty members and graduate students from different disciplines, UCalgary encourages the exploration of common research interests that supports collaborative research projects within the community. In 2021-22 there were ten interdisciplinary working groups exploring new pathways for interdisciplinary partnerships to tackle topics from social justice to religion to food studies.
$2.6M Social Innovation Hub
Catalyzing UCalgary’s social innovation ecosystem by bringing together community stakeholders, researchers, and innovators to drive new solutions for our most complex societal challenges. The Social Innovation Hub is the next step toward building a collaborative ecosystem that drives a more inclusive, resilient and equitable Alberta.
Teaching, learning and student experience
Certificate in Pluralism and Global Citizenship
The series of courses embedded within this certificate introduces concepts, issues and advancing techniques associated with pluralism. It aims to develop values, habits and practices that foster responsible global citizenship. This certificate guides learners through a process that helps them know themselves, understand others, recognize global connections and practice responsible global citizenship.
Embedded certificate in entrepreneurial thinking
The embedded certificate in entrepreneurial thinking launched in fall 2021 and provides UCalgary undergraduate students with an entrepreneurial thinking toolkit and opportunities to solve social problems, create technology and build new businesses. Entrepreneurial thinking is a way of creating value for others, inspiring change, finding solutions and achieving goals.
Creative Destruction Lab — Rockies
The Creative Destruction Lab — Rockies (CDL-Rockies) is enabling innovators and ventures to commercialize science and technology-based breakthroughs by offering professional mentorship, guidance and advice. With three program streams: Prime, Energy and Ag, CDL-Rockies alumni companies have created more than 950 jobs, raised $570 million in capital; $308 million of which were raised by Alberta-based companies.
Campus and community impact
A more Indigenous-friendly business world
Business student Kiara Johnson, sets out to create a more diverse, inclusive and welcoming work environment for Indigenous peoples that want to belong in the business world. Johnson says that "a big part of what we’re missing within business is that connection to Indigenous knowledge and an understanding of what has and continues to happen to Indigenous peoples."
Student-led group enabling local solutions to global issues
UCalgary's Sustainable Development Goals Alliance collaborates with students, faculty, staff and the larger Calgary community to tackle global sustainability challenges. Through the Sustainability Leadership Innovation Program, student Dayna Wiebe, worked on a pilot project to have portable, solar-powered phone chargers. These are available for use at a self-serve kiosk in the Taylor Family Digital Library.
Religious Pluralism
Religious pluralism in action is rooted in a reciprocity of relationships. It utilizes a method that is rooted in speaking from one’s experiences (not as a representative from within a tradition) which fosters contextual and intersectional methods. Examining and dismantling Christian privilege and working towards reconciliation with Indigenous communities are two examples of how religious pluralism can effect social systems and structures.