Energizing Our Academic and Research Mission
Strategic Direction 2
Laurentian will build its reputation and credibility for intellectual curiosity through a focus on competitive advantage, unique bilingual and tricultural degree construction, and a commitment to long-term faculty development.
This strategic direction was inspired by the following insights from the consultation and research process:
- Laurentian’s areas of teaching, academic programming, and research are strengthened by the creativity of its faculty, staff and students who challenge and push the boundaries to advance knowledge and understanding.
- Laurentian has key partnerships, relationships, infrastructure, and acknowledged excellence in areas of Northern impact that can be leveraged to continue to grow Laurentian’s impactful contributions to the communities that it serves.
- The Laurentian University community and its partners recognize the differentiation that its Bilingual and Tricultural Mandate has in building learning and research that develops uniquely talented graduates and faculty.
Strategic Goals and Initiatives
To advance Connection, Innovation, and Impact in its academic and research capabilities, Laurentian will:
Invest in Faculty Career Development and Success
- Prioritize Faculty Development: Develop and implement a comprehensive professional development policy and program to support Laurentian faculty success at all stages of careers development.
Expand Academic and Research Excellence in Areas of Northern Impact
- Northern Excellence (Mining and Critical Minerals, Health and Social Well-being, and the Environment): Through the Academic and Strategic Research plans, build a network of internal and external partnerships to enhance and expand in-demand and sustainable undergraduate and graduate programs and research and training initiatives.
Enhance Francophone and Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) Program Offerings and Partnerships
- Indigenous Studies: Expand Indigenous studies, programming, and research that recognizes and responds to the dynamic political, economic, and social contexts and contributions of Indigenous communities and peoples.
- Francophone Education Leadership: Work with local and provincial post-secondary institutions, and local, regional, and provincial stakeholders, to develop a shared roadmap to create and expand seamless learning pathways for students to pursue francophone academic and research programs.
Integrate Interdisciplinarity and Tricultural Learning into Degree Programs
- Triculturally Differentiated Graduates: Integrate the tricultural mandate into the learning expectations and outcomes of all existing Laurentian micro-credential, undergraduate and graduate program offerings (in-person and online).
- Interdisciplinarity at the Core: Enhance opportunities for interdisciplinary, experiential, and land-based learning on campus, with industry, and with local communities and Indigenous Peoples.
Related Goals within Academic Plan
- Goal 6 Deliver Relevant and Engaging Programs
- Goal 7 Advanced, Well-Rounded Graduates with Core Academic Competencies
- Goal 8 Promote Interdisciplinary Learning
- Goal 9 Establish an FNIM (Indigenous) knowledge-sharing hub
- Goal 10 Expand and Enhance FNIM (Indigenous) Programming
- Goal 11 Expand and Enhance Francophone, FNIM (Indigenous), and Bilingual Programs and Learning Opportunities
Related Goals within Strategic Research Plan
- Goal 6 Create Clear Research Pathways
- Goal 7 Build Capacity for Research
- Goal 8 Engage Students in Research Experiences
2025 Key Performance Indicators
Laurentian University opens new Language Learning Centre
Laurentian was proud to announce the official opening of its new Language Learning Centre (LLC), located in the Alphonse Raymond building.
Designed to support the university’s bilingual and tricultural learning environment, the LLC is a dedicated hub for improving French and English language skills.
Designed to support the university’s bilingual and tricultural learning environment, the LLC is a dedicated hub for improving French and English language skills.
Funding for Institute for Northern Housing Innovation
Laurentian was proud to announce funding that will support the recently established Institute for Northern Housing Innovation, a bold new initiative dedicated to addressing Northern Ontario’s housing and climate challenges through sustainable, affordable, and inclusive solutions.
LU inspires inspires the next generation of innovators
Laurentian University’s Goodman School of Mines celebrated the success of its “Electrifying the Future” (ETF) program, a series of hands-on workshops that have been igniting elementary and secondary students’ interest in electric vehicles, mining, and battery science.
2025 Strategic Goals Progress
Invest in Faculty Career Development and Success
| Strategic Initiatives | KPI | 2025 (baseline) |
|---|---|---|
| Prioritize Faculty Development: Develop and implement a comprehensive professional development policy and program to support Laurentian faculty success at all stages of careers development. | Faculty participation in available professional development opportunities | Phased in for later implementation |
Expand Academic and Research Excellence in Areas of Northern Impact
| Strategic Initiatives | KPI | 2025 (baseline) |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Excellence (Mining and Critical Minerals, Health and Social Well-being, and the Environment): Through the Academic and Strategic Research plans, build a network of internal and external partnerships to enhance and expand in-demand and sustainable undergraduate and graduate programs and research and training initiatives. | Student enrolment in focus area programs | 53.94% |
| Total sponsored research | $32,130,333 |
Enhance Francophone and Indigenous Program Offerings and Partnerships
| Strategic Initiatives | KPI | 2025 (baseline) |
|---|---|---|
| Indigenous Studies: Expand Indigenous studies, programming, and research that recognizes and responds to the dynamic political, economic, and social contexts and contributions of Indigenous communities and peoples. | Student enrolment in Indigenous programs | 429 |
| Student enrolment in courses with Indigenous content | 2,012 | |
| Francophone Education Leadership: Work with local and provincial post-secondary institutions, and local, regional, and provincial stakeholders, to develop a shared roadmap to create and expand seamless learning pathways for students to pursue francophone academic and research programs. | Student enrolment in programs offered in French | 2,249 |
| Number of francophone pathways with post- secondary partners | 20 |
Integrate Inter-disciplinarity and Tricultural Learning into Degree Programs
| Strategic Initiatives | KPI | 2025 (baseline) |
|---|---|---|
| Triculturally Differentiated Graduates: Integrate the tricultural mandate into the learning expectations and outcomes of all existing Laurentian micro-credential, undergraduate and graduate program offerings (in-person and online). | Student enrolment in courses with Indigenous content | 2,012 |
| Student enrolment in courses offered in French | 14,982 | |
| Interdisciplinarity at the Core: Enhance opportunities for interdisciplinary, experiential, and land-based learning on campus, with industry, and with local communities and Indigenous Peoples. | Students graduating with an experiential learning and/or work-integrated learning experience | 69.97% |