Media

OTTAWA, October 21, 2011  —  Surrounded by students and other members of the campus community, Allan Rock, president of the University of Ottawa, today introduced the institution’s new strategic plan, Destination 20/20, which will consolidate the University’s presence on the national and international scenes. Huguette Labelle, chancellor of the University, Alex Trebek, uOttawa alumnus and host of the popular game show Jeopardy!, and Michaëlle Jean, UNESCO special envoy for Haiti, also took part in the celebrations. Discover Destination 20/20

The launch of Destination 20/20 coincided with that of the Centre for Global and Community Engagement (CGCE), the first major initiative under the University’s new roadmap. A one-stop shop for information on volunteer opportunities in the region, across the country and around the world, the CGCE serves not only students, but the entire uOttawa community, including professors and administrative staff. It even provides support to those looking to launch their own local initiatives.

Over the coming months, the University will launch other large-scale projects and initiatives designed to re-assert its role as a leading institution in terms of the student experience, research, bilingualism and international outreach—specifically the four key objectives of Destination 20/20:

A rich, inspiring student experience
The University of Ottawa wants to prepare young people to find their place in the world, to enrich the student experience by sharing the knowledge and discoveries of its faculty, and to support its employees in their efforts to provide exceptional-quality services to its students. Still, achieving these goals isn’t enough: we want to exceed them. That’s why the University has, for instance, decided to double its funding for the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, which enables students to take part in research projects alongside our experts during their very first years on campus. A new mentoring program, an expansion for the central library and the addition of new meeting and study spaces are also part of the initiatives designed to provide our students with the best possible university experience.

A culture of discovery
We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities, and our goal is to rank among the top five by 2020. Our researchers are on the frontiers of virtually every field of human endeavour, making us regularly top of mind for both industry and government when they seek special expertise and fresh insight. We do our utmost to push back the boundaries of knowledge and to generate advances in emerging fields, for instance by creating leading facilities like the Centre for Advanced Photonics and Environmental Analysis and the Brain and Mind Research Institute.

The richness of bilingualism
Our campus lives, learns and plays in Canada’s two official languages. We offer outstanding programs in French, in English and in both languages. To build on this foundation and to strengthen our ties with Francophone communities, we will recruit more Francophone students and further our research efforts relating to the Francophonie.

Open to the world
Our standards for access to education, our exceptional quality of life and the value we place on multiculturalism and human rights have made Canada a beacon for hope among the nations of the world. We build on these Canadian values and contribute directly to growth and development not only across Canada, but around the world. In the coming years, with the help of a network of graduates spanning 150 countries, we want to attract more international students and professors while providing the members of our community with even more opportunities to learn and work abroad.