Page 6 - RRU Strategic Direction January 2012

“I rmly believe that the purpose of a university is to gather smart minds to explore this world together. I encourage each of us in a classroom to be co-learners and assign myself as a facilitator for knowledge exchange. The classroom should not be limited to a room in a building. I lead my co-learners to a garden, an event and even a foreign city to experience intercultural communication with our mother nature, our community and other people
in this global village.”
Zhenyi Li
Professor, School of Communication and Culture
Long before that modern history, this was a place of gathering for the people of Coast Salish heritage. It was called
Teechamitsa–a place devoted to creating a common good through the growing and gathering of herbs and medicine.
A place to re ect on change, community needs and aspirations.
We are working to honour this traditional gathering place by strengthening our relations with neighbouring First Nations. Our goal is to partner with First Nations and indigenous communities throughout the world and create opportunities to connect our faculty and students with our aboriginal alumni as a way to strengthen our community of learning.
Our learning community is also made stronger by the connection we have to place–to the beautiful national historic site that is home to the Dunsmuir estate and Hatley Castle. The site’s period gardens opening out to the Salish Sea inspire learning and a deep-seated connection between natural
and human heritage.
Learning at Royal Roads University is enriched by our strong commitment to the land and to preserving nature. Situated on 565 acres that include old-growth forests, world-class gardens, a migratory bird sanctuary and stunning views of mountains meeting the ocean, Royal Roads is truly a place where powerful learning experiences are often just a walk in the woods away.
Because the future is always on our doorstep, Royal Roads University continues to chart its own course by building out from a rmly established foundation of success.
The drivers of change are many and have combined in a pressing call to action for the university sector. Shifts in demographics, new partnerships, changing research agendas and the internationalization of education are just a few of the many challenges pressing on our sector.
Our success is more certain because of the strength of our nancial model. Unlike many post-secondary institutions, Royal Roads University carries no operating debt.
We must continually respond to the demands of the market- place and the needs of our students. Our opportunities for growth are intrinsically tied to our nancial strength.
PAGE 6 Royal Roads University Strategic Direction