Mount Royal’s Ashoka Changemaker Campus designation renewed
Community of post-secondary institutions foster innovation
— Mount Royal University | Posted: October 25, 2023
Changemaking takes many forms at MRU, including at the Trico Changemakers Studio.
Ashoka Canada has renewed Mount Royal University’s Changemaker Campus designation for three years.The designation and its renewal recognizes MRU’s commitment to the values and ideas of changemaking.
Ashoka is a global network of social entrepreneurs and innovators dedicated to driving positive social change. They identify and support individuals with innovative ideas and the potential to make a lasting impact on society. Home to the Ashoka Fellowship and Ashoka U Changemaker Campuses, it is a global non-profit and network of national non-profits that envision a world where everyone is a changemaker.
Changemaker Campuses are part of a national and global community of post-secondary institutions that work collectively to break down barriers to institutional change and foster campus-wide cultures of social innovation and changemaking. Changemaker Campuses equip students across programs to be agents of change in their communities and in the world.
The four pillars of the designation are visionary leadership, innovation and excellence in changemaker education, institutional culture and operations, and field building and impact influence.
Changemaking at MRU involves working across disciplines and departments. Through teaching, learning, research, scholarship, physical spaces, mentorship and connections to one another, MRU has been inspired and empowered to create meaningful change in partnership with the community. The University’s commitment to changemaking is reflected in the recently unveiled 2023-2030 strategic plan, Opening Minds and Changing Lives.
Changemaker Campuses equip students across programs to be agents of change in their communities and in the world.
“MRU empowers students to become engaged citizens by equipping them with the skills, confidence, and networks to tackle complex social problems,” said Dr. Tim Rahilly, PhD, president and vice-chancellor of Mount Royal. “We are pleased to receive this renewal from Ashoka as we believe that everyone is a changemaker and has the potential to make meaningful contributions to a stronger community. This is expressed through MRU’s institutes and offices, as well as faculty and student initiatives and approaches to solving problems.”
The University’s original Ashoka designation resulted from an extensive selection process that included a 360-degree campus scan, a site visit and three 70-minute panel interviews. It marked the culmination of a broader MRU Changemaker Campus initiative that began in 2015 with the development of the Changemaker Campus Roadmap.