Changemaking efforts at UFV include work from various departments, research centres, faculties, and colleges. Guided by our four principles of changemaking, these projects seek to address diverse issues in equally diverse ways.
There is a variety of changemaking work continually taking place at UFV. While all changemaking work on campus is informed by these principles, each of the following projects is an example of how a particular principle can be amplified.
Inclusive Empowerment
Inclusive empowerment reflects UFV’s commitment to dismantling systemic barriers and creating equitable spaces where every student, regardless of their background, can thrive. By embracing empathy and ensuring that diverse perspectives are integral to problem-solving and innovation, UFV students are equipped to become changemakers who understand and value the richness that diversity brings. Students are encouraged to practice leadership that promotes trust and collaboration while advocating for equity in all spheres of life. This principle builds on engaging effectively with multiple literacies, contributing to personal growth and positive social impact.
This principle is embodied by our work towards creating a Social Innovation Certificate.
Decolonization and Indigenization
Decolonization at UFV involves actively challenging structures, processes, and norms that perpetuate colonial ideologies while integrating Indigenous ways of knowing and being into the curriculum. It seeks to honour Indigenous perspectives through actions that promote reconciliation and equitable representation. By valuing holistic education, UFV creates spaces where the whole person—mind, body, spirit, and community—can flourish. This principle calls for an ongoing commitment to justice and healing, acknowledging the historical impacts of colonization while paving the way for transformative learning that engages deeply with local Indigenous communities.
One example of this work in action is the efforts of the Indigenous Student Centre.
Sustainable Futures
Sustainable futures focus on creating systems that support both the environment and society. UFV’s approach to sustainability integrates the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring that the work done at the university contributes to the health of the planet and communities both locally and globally. Students are trained to think systemically, understanding the complex interrelationships between human actions and their impacts on the environment. By fostering a sense of stewardship, UFV ensures that changemaking efforts are grounded in ethical and responsible decision-making that prioritizes the well-being of all living systems.
Sustainable UFV leads this work with initiatives drawn from each of the SDGs.
Reciprocity
Reciprocity at UFV means that changemaking efforts are not transactional but deeply relational. This principle reflects the importance of developing respectful relationships, whether with community partners, Indigenous knowledge holders, or the natural world. It emphasizes the value of listening deeply and acting in ways that honour the contributions of others and co-creating solutions where diverse stakeholders participate in shaping outcomes that benefit the collective whole. In fostering collaborative partnerships built on trust, reciprocity encourages all members of UFV to give back to the communities and ecosystems from which they learn and benefit.
Changemaking looks a little different for everyone — learn more about what it could look like for you.