OUR PRIORITIES
Innovative learning
The future is more uncertain than ever. At York, we are making sure our students are learning how to live and work in a world when change is the only constant. Our diverse community of students, staff and faculty allows us to tackle new challenges, while enriching our programs and enhancing student learning with a rich diversity of thought. And our teaching methods use innovative new ways to impart knowledge to students, setting them up to succeed in a dynamic world.
York University is continually improving its academic offerings with credentials and programs that match new market needs and workplace realities. Highlights of the 2019-20 academic year include establishing Canada’s first-ever dedicated School of Global Health; a new Centre of Excellence in Health Management and Leadership; and a new master’s degree in Management in Artificial Intelligence.
244
degree options offered
178
programs
6%
increase in tenure stream faculty and librarians since 2018
9,884
students benefited from experiential learning in 2019
York broke ground in March on its first dedicated home for its School of Continuing Studies (SCS). The building will help the school meet the high and growing demand for its English language and professional certificate programs. The School is part of our commitment to preparing students of all ages and stages in their career to pursue their career ambitions and fully realize their potential in a rapidly changing economy.
Currently, students attend classes at various locations throughout the campus and staff are spread across four buildings. The new facility is designed to accommodate the school’s students and staff in one location, creating the conditions for creative collaboration and allowing this diverse community to come together for the first time. The opening is scheduled for the Fall of 2021.
In July, York University received approval to create its Markham Campus. The campus will offer students experiential education opportunities in innovative programs with a focus on digital technologies and entrepreneurship in areas such as business and entrepreneurship, data analytics, new media and communications. It will also act as a research and innovation hub, supporting Markham’s burgeoning community of high-tech firms. The new campus builds on several years of activity in Markham, including our successful YSpace incubator and courses at IBM Canada’s headquarters, delivered through our Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. In 2019 alone, YSpace fostered 31 ventures, raised $5.8 million in funds, and its supported ventures generated $3.1 million in revenue. The new 10-story, $275.5-million building will be completed by Fall 2023.
The g21 project incubator, created on our Glendon campus, offers students the opportunity to run their own research and innovation projects to address health and well-being, sustainable cities, peace and justice, or any of the other 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Students are chosen for their passion, aspiration and commitment, and work on their own interdisciplinary and innovative projects that address one (or more) of the SDGs. g21 provides support and resources, including mentorship and facilities such as classrooms and labs.
The Lassonde Educational Innovation Studio (LEIS), an initiative of the Lassonde School of Engineering, launched in spring 2020. The Studio’s mandate is to bring together partners to create cutting edge education in engineering and science, and to help design innovative educational methods with a focus on the use of new technology. The timing of the launch, which coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and move to remote learning, allowed the new studio to provide much-needed advice and support to faculty who had to move classes quickly online.
