Vancouver Island University now has a blueprint it will utilize for guidance and planning through 2026.
According to a press release, VIU has released a new five-year strategic plan for 2021-26 focusing on three major areas: people, place and potential. The plan commits to welcoming a larger and more diverse student population; increasing inclusivity and becoming a healthier place for study and work; establishing itself as a regional centre for expertise and research; building stronger partnerships with First Nations; developing into leader in learning for future generations and building on “life-enriching and career-building experiences.”
Consultation with stakeholders, including students, alumni and employees, occurred during 2020 and the plan evolved with feedback from more than 2,000 people on what makes the post-secondary institution unique, the press release said. VIU will continue to dedicate its energy on personal connection with learners and re-dedicate its “relationship to this place and its cultural, social, economic and environmental roots,” it said.
The document will help the university chart its course as it moves into the future, Deborah Saucier, VIU president and vice-chancellor, said in the press release.
“The strategic plan will guide our decision making, ensuring strong stewardship of our resources,” she said. “Building on our strengths, VIU envisions a unique educational experience that is more accessible, more inclusive and more deeply rooted in community.”
Consultation included online engagement, e-mail, surveys and Zoom conferencing, said the press release.
To see the strategic plan, go to www.viu.ca/strategicplanning.