About our
Underpinning our approach and who we are as a community and a university, our purpose, pledge and principles will guide our decision-making in the coming decades.
- Our purpose gives us a sense of identity. It describes our direction, what we want to be known for and the impact we want to have.
- Our pledge is a non-negotiable commitment to supporting and honouring Indigenous rights. It is fundamental to what we stand for and a critical starting place for any work that upholds equity and justice.
- Our principles reflect our identity and character, guiding how we function as an organization.
Priorities that
Students, teaching and research are our foundation. Like all universities, at our core we are an institution defined by our commitment to education, discovery and the development and mobilization of knowledge, and to providing a supportive working and learning environment for our students, staff and faculty. Our areas of study and our strengths in research in scholarly activity are vast and all contribute to a better world.
But what makes UVic different?
Our community told us about the strengths and priorities that make UVic distinct—and was clear about what should guide us toward building a better tomorrow.
UVic is distinct because we prioritize:
- Indigenous perspectives. We want to be a community that is open to learning, prioritizes being in right relationship with and respecting the rights of all people and things, and deconstructs systemic barriers to the full participation of First Peoples in the university’s life and work.
- People, places and the planet. From the campus to the global community, we support people’s wellness and ability to thrive, and are addressing sustainability, climate action and the systemic barriers affecting equity, diversity and inclusion in multiple ways.
- Change and transformation. Through a culture of trust, curiosity and flexibility, we will continuously re-imagine what we do, how we do it and why—being courageous and open to change helps us transform our communities and the world.
- Partnerships and collaboration. We support collaboration among faculties, disciplines and divisions; between academic and administrative units; between the campus and our community; and between UVic and our international partners, alumni, research institutions, industry and governments.
These strategic priorities are what make us Distinctly UVic.