Strategic Research Plan

Laurier’s Research Strategy 2020-2025

In 2009, Wilfrid Laurier University began its transition from a primarily undergraduate institution to a research-intensive, comprehensive university. The last decade has been marked by tremendous growth in our research activities.

At Laurier, we understand “research” in its broadest sense to include all forms of scholarship and creative practices. Our research can be grouped into six themes:

• Environments and Sustainability
• Psychological and Social Determinants of Health and Well-Being
• Governance and Policy
• Indigeneity, Decolonization, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• Business, Technology and Innovation
• Society, Culture and Community

Looking ahead at our strategic research priorities over the next five years, Laurier will build on its existing strengths to deepen our expertise and broaden our influence. Laurier’s research strategy is comprised of four elements:

1. We will value and promote all forms of scholarship and creative practice, and our researchers will disseminate that new knowledge to our scholarly communities, research partners, policymakers and the general public, with the aims of advancing knowledge and benefiting society.
2. We will strive for research excellence in all that we do, across the full spectrum of scholarship, by supporting our undergraduate researchers, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research staff, faculty members, community partners and research collaborators who are engaged with us in the fulfillment of our research mission.
3. We are animated by our thriving community of enriching partnerships. We will facilitate mutually supportive relationships with alumni, other educational institutions, governments, Indigenous communities, industries and the not-for-profit sector.
4. We will contribute to future-readiness by connecting research, scholarship and creative activity with communities and across disciplines to address the most pressing local and global challenges.