MRU joins group committed to ‘social innovation’

School receives nod for its leadership

Mount Royal University has been named to an elite group of educational institutions, deemed to be leading the way in social innovation and fostering change.

On Monday, the Calgary postsecondary school joined the 40-strong group of universities designated as Changemaker Campuses by Ashoka U, part of a global network of social entrepreneurs and changemakers that operate “in socially and environmentally conscious ways to address local and global challenges.”

Among the components used to determine eligibility in the exclusive group is a commitment to understanding Indigenous cultures along with programming that addresses the needs and issues of Aboriginal communities.

MRU president David Docherty said the designation is a nod to the work the school has done in becoming immersed in the community.

“We are honoured to be awarded this designation because it recognizes our history, which is built upon a strong connection to the community,” he said. “It also reflects our continued dedication to reconciliation through Indigenous education.”

Other universities who share the designation with Mount Royal are Brown, Cornell and Duke in the U.S., while the only other Canadian institutions in the group are Ryerson and Wilfrid Laurier.

To achieve the designation, Mount Royal underwent an extensive selection process that included a campus scan, site visit and panel review. The school launched its own Changemaker Campus initiative in 2015.

Marina Kim, co-founder and executive director of Ashoka U, said Mount Royal has made reconciliation a key plank in its educational experience.

“Mount Royal University demonstrates strong leadership for social innovation, including its impressive course offerings and extracurricular programming,” she said.

Part of Mount Royal's Changemaker initiative was to develop an “increased understanding of Indigenous cultures and histories (that) leads to relevant and responsive programming to address the needs, issues and interests of Indigenous communities.”