Undergraduate/ Credit-Based Programming
The Institute has been actively involved in creating and supporting credit-based changemaking programs on campus. We have invested in social innovation education and infrastructure at MRU, taking a leadership role locally, provincially, and nationally. Although “social innovation” has many definitions, it is essentially learning how to tackle social problems in more effective ways.
Minor in Social Innovation (open to all MRU students)
Available to any student in any degree program on campus, the 6-course Social Innovation Minor is designed to provide graduates with a clear practice to lead, design, and execute high impact, transformative change in our communities. Note that many of the courses in the Social Innovation Minor are also GNED designated.
For more details click here.
Concentration in Social Innovation (open to BBA students only)
Available to students undertaking a General Management Bachelor of Business Administration, the Concentration in Social Innovation is designed to provide graduates with a clear practice to lead, design, and execute high impact, transformative change in our communities, in tandem with management expertise. This “BBA for Good” is an ideal path, for example, for those wishing to start or manage social enterprises or non-profit organizations.
For more details click here.
Additionally, the final project can serve as a submission for Map the System with no extra requirements.
Key Skills Developed:
- Systems Analysis: Learn to analyze complex systems and understand interdependencies within them.
- Critical Thinking: Develop the ability to assess situations, identify underlying patterns, and evaluate potential consequences.
- Problem Solving: Gain skills in addressing complex challenges through holistic approaches and innovative solutions.
- Collaboration: Enhance teamwork abilities by working effectively with diverse groups to address multifaceted issues.
- Strategic Thinking: Foster the ability to think long-term and consider broader implications when designing solutions.
- Communication: Improve skills in articulating systems insights and presenting findings clearly to various audiences.
- Adaptability: Cultivate flexibility in thinking and approach, essential for navigating dynamic environments.
Design thinking emphasizes empathy, definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing, focusing on innovative solutions that prioritize user needs and community impact.
Key Skills Developed:
- Creative Problem Solving: Enhance your ability to approach challenges innovatively.
- Collaboration Skills: Foster teamwork essential for interdisciplinary projects.
- Empathy-Driven Innovation: Design solutions that resonate with users and communities.
- Adaptability: Learn techniques to navigate an evolving landscape.
- If you are a curious, solution-oriented second or third-year student seeking to enhance your career and drive meaningful change, consider enrolling in this course.
For inquiries about prerequisites or course suitability, reach out to Fiona Robinson at firobinson@mtroyal.ca.
Community Learning and Sharing
We are also passionate about supporting community service learning (CSL). CSL is different from traditional volunteer work in that its focus is not only on providing a service but also on learning. The focus of CSL is different from co-ops, internships or practica, with an emphasis on providing concrete service to community agencies while developing student skills, self-awareness, professional capabilities, and sense of commitment to society.
humanly
Humanly is a capstone project for students enrolled in MRU's Information Design program. Humanly features a collection of evolving understandings of global challenges that are also laced locally in Calgary and the surrounding area. The problems are visualized based on extensive research including fieldwork, interviews with subject matter experts and literature review. Students synthesizer their insights from this research into new frameworks, highlighting the structures and mental models that form the systems they were investigating. Humanly culminates in a public exhibit on campus every December.
Vivacity
Vivacity was launched in 2016 as an inter-institutional collaboration between seven post-secondary institutions and Calgary Economic Development. Run as a co-curricular adjunct to the Civil INnovation course at MRU (SINV 4401), Vivacity engages in interdisciplinary teams of students in the re-imagining, design and activation of underutilized and vacant spaces in the city. The course is run annually, by Dr. Catherine Pearl, in partnership with Calgary Arts Development. It is a hugely popular choice among students, with a significant profile among downtown planners, artists, developers, politicians, and civic activists.
Continuing Education/ Non Credit-based Programming
The Institute works with the Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension to develop and deliver the following programs for new and experienced community practitioners. Click here to learn more about our social innovation continuing education programs.