Transformative Learning

UBC is renowned for the excellence and breadth of its education and has a long-established track record in teaching and learning innovation. Flexible Learning is a university-wide effort to explore technology-enabled teaching innovation, and has so far impacted over 400 courses and 40,000 students. The Faculty of Medicine organizes undergraduate medical education across B.C. through face-to-face, online and experiential learning, while people from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside engage with faculty and students at the UBC Learning Exchange.

But changes in learner demographics and interests are reshaping the university. A rapidly diversifying economy, social context and job market requires a different kind of education — one with greater focus on transferable skills, such as critical thinking, collaboration and communication, and one that promotes and supports continuous learning. Universities are systemically addressing these demands, with the best efforts engaging students as co-creators of their education. Our work at UBC is focused on enhanced support for program redesign around competencies; the development of problem-solving experiences; technology-enabled learning; and continued growth in work-integrated education. Sustained progress requires leadership across the institution to model, inspire and celebrate excellence in teaching and mentorship.