As Queen’s University approaches its 200th anniversary in 2041, we face a range of circumstances such as limited funding, changing expectations of postsecondary education, a growing focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs, and global conflicts. Interestingly, these same circumstances were present during Queen’s 100th anniversary in 1941.
At that time, Queen’s responded by planning for the future, which led to many features we now consider essential parts of the institution including the addition of programs, building better facilities, and prioritizing research.
Today, Queen’s must embark on a similar journey to adapt and thrive as it enters its third century. We invite the whole Queen’s community to be contribute to this planning process.
Creating a vision for Queen’s Bicentennial means advancing our priorities while staying true to our values and adapting to changing circumstances. To do this, we must build on the university’s Mission, Vision, and Values (established in 2021) and the Strategic Framework.
Plans like the Global Engagement Strategy, the Strategic Research Plan, and the Community Engagement Framework will also guide us.
Input from university leaders gathered during the summer of 2024 also adds important insights for shaping our future vision. By focusing on these priorities, Queen’s can adapt and thrive, ensuring a bright future for its students, staff and faculty, and community.
Recognizing trends
While we cannot predict every change that will occur by 2041, some trends are clear and need attention as we develop our Bicentennial Vision:
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Decreasing government funding: Ontario’s funding for universities is only 57% of the Canadian average per student. It is unlikely this will improve anytime soon.
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Frozen tuition fees: Domestic tuition was cut by 10% in 2019 and has stayed frozen. Public opinion still views tuition as high, making fee increases unlikely.
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Limits on international students: New federal caps on study permits are causing major financial losses for universities, with Ontario schools alone losing up to $600 million annually by 2025-26. The reputation of Canadian higher education is also suffering.
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Growing non-academic needs: Students need more support for mental health, addictions, and other challenges, but funding has not increased to meet these demands.
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Demand for work-integrated learning: Students want practical experience to help them stand out in the job market.
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Shift toward STEM programs: More students are enrolling in STEM fields, planning for careers with strong job prospects. Queen’s is currently heavily weighted towards non-STEM fields when compared to our Canadian peer institutions.
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Barriers to education: Marginalized communities still face obstacles to accessing higher education. Queen’s must continue its efforts to eliminate these barriers and support students, faculty, and staff from under-represented groups.
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Focus on mission-driven research: Research that solves real-world problems, like achieving net-zero emissions, is becoming increasingly important.
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Pressure to improve rankings: National and global university rankings heavily emphasize research, making it essential for Queen’s to maintain its competitive edge.
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Technological advancements: Technology is transforming how universities teach, support students, and conduct research, requiring constant adaptation.
Identifying the critical elements
To succeed, Queen’s Bicentennial Vision must be grounded in the following critical elements, which form the basis of the Strategic Framework:
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Strengthen academic quality: Queen’s will maintain its reputation as a top research university, offering a wide range of programs. All tenure-track professors will teach and conduct research.
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Expand global reach: Queen’s will attract talent from around the world, provide flexible learning options for all ages, and use technology to enhance education.
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Build strong partnerships: Queen’s will work closely with governments, industries, communities, and other institutions to address big societal challenges and create positive change
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Commit to equity and inclusion: Queen’s will continue breaking down barriers, supporting diversity, and promoting justice and global citizenship.
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Modernize campus infrastructure: Queen’s will invest in state-of-the-art facilities to attract top researchers and students while providing a safe, inspiring environment.
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Transform teaching: Queen’s will prepare educators with the skills they need to create engaging, transformative learning experiences, ensuring students are active participants in their education.
Addressing interconnected areas
Considering the trends and principles listed above, one can expect the Bicentennial Vision to address the following interconnected areas:
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Core values:
Staying committed to removing barriers, advancing academics and research, and engaging responsibly with society. -
The primacy of research:
How can it be strengthened as a defining attribute of the Queen’s experience and profile overall, including undergraduate learning. -
Size and shape:
Deciding how many students will attend Queen’s and how enrolments will be distributed across fields. -
Improving rankings:
Strengthening research and global connections to boost Queen’s reputation.
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Strengthening arts, social sciences, and humanities:
Convening colleagues to consider positive options and reimagining the relationship between STEM and other disciplines. -
Serving students:
Giving students the skills they will need for the future, including flexible learning options and embracing new technologies. -
Financial sustainability:
Reducing reliance on government funding by exploring opportunities for continuing and professional education programs, research funding, and philanthropy. -
Infrastructure:
Building the spaces and technology needed to support Queen’s third century.
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