Last week, I had the privilege of presenting a draft of Inspire: the strategic plan of the University of British Columbia (UBC) to the UBC Vancouver Senate.

Later this week, I will present it to the UBC Okanagan Senate. It will go back to the Senates next month and, following that, to the Board of Governors.

The draft plan, which you can find here, is being reviewed and revised through ongoing dialogue.

The planning process over the last year has afforded us the opportunity to connect with one another, to share perspectives on what defines UBC, and to exchange ideas around our role in the world.

Inspire builds on the university’s previous strategic plan, Place and Promise, and focuses on three themes that we believe are critical to society today: collaboration, inclusion and innovation. Inspire describes the strong connections between these priorities and the pillars that continue to define what we do as a public university: People and Places, Research Excellence, Transformative Learning and Local and Global Engagement. It also emphasizes our enduring commitment to academic excellence, to our people, and particularly to Indigenous engagement, sustainability and wellbeing.

Inspire sets out our collective vision and purpose, and our objectives and strategies for the years ahead. It will guide our decisions, actions and interactions. Our people are the cornerstone of UBC, and the plan reflects our commitment to their wellbeing, development and success, without which we will not fulfil our collective potential as a university. We want to inspire the very best in our students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, and to draw the world’s attention to what is happening at UBC.

I am excited to present this draft of Inspire, and am confident that UBC will continue to play a pivotal role in helping inspire people, ideas and actions. This is our moment to harness the energies and strengths of this extraordinary institution to contribute to sustainable and positive change, both locally and globally. The title of our plan reflects our strongly held belief that we have, personally and collectively, the desire, capacity and responsibility to make this happen. This is our moment to Inspire.

I am proud of the way our community has come together to create the direction and spirit so evident in Inspire. To all of you – students, faculty, staff, alumni and university partners – who contributed their perspectives and passion to this effort, I offer my deepest thanks.

I invite your thoughts on the draft plan. Please send your comments to info.strategicplan@ubc.ca by January 31.

In closing, I’d like to wish you all the best for the Lunar New Year. Whether you prefer Gong Hay Fat Choy, Gong Xi Fa Cai, Sae-hae bok mani badeusayo, Chúc mừng năm mới, Kotoshi mo yoroshiku o-negai-shimas or Happy New Year, I wish you a prosperous and healthy Year of the Dog!