UTM and the Community: Past, Present and the Boundless Future

UTM and the Community: Past, Present and the Boundless
Future
H. Deep Saini
Vice-President, University of Toronto &
Principal, University of Toronto Mississauga
November 15, 2012
Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for your warm invitation to
address you at one of your monthly meetings.
I am delighted to take this occasion to share with you a little bit about U of T
Mississauga, its history, its future and its relationship to the wonderful
community that is Mississauga.
Both the City of Mississauga and our campus are relatively young – founded
fewer than 50 years ago – yet during that time we have come very far – each
having experienced exponential growth.
Mississauga has emerged as Canada’s sixth largest city and is home to more
than 50,000 businesses, including the headquarters of over 60 Fortune 500
companies.
Similarly, UTM (as we fondly call it) has grown significantly from Erindale
College, originally established with just 155 students, to today—a significant
campus of nearly 13,000 students.
The University of Toronto Mississauga has had a remarkable journey since its
founding in 1967. However, it is a journey that has been hidden behind the
tall trees that surround the campus. Being here today allows me to share our
story with you – from four decades of rapid growth to our bold vision for the
future.
And, along the way, I will introduce you to a few individuals that exemplify the
spirit and excellence of UTM.
After 45 years of phenomenal growth as part of U of T’s tri-campus research
and teaching powerhouse, we are now in a critical phase of our evolution.
We are taking a giant step forward as a global innovation leader – to show
the world that we are a campus where talent and ideas converge to drive
economic prosperity, knowledge creation and the betterment of society.
We have an exciting path ahead, but first, let me take you back to the
beginning of our journey.
1 In 1967, Erindale College was built on 225 acres of protected greenbelt,
thanks to the vision of then-provincial minister of education, the Honourable
William G. Davis.
Small but mighty, Erindale was a place where students could grow, flourish
and spread their wings.
And it still is today.
Even though our campus and student population have grown, we have
preserved our welcoming environment and strong connections to the
community.
Now, let us reflect for a moment on what has been built since 1967.
First and foremost, UTM does not stand alone. It is part of a larger and
venerable educational institution – the University of Toronto. U of T is
consistently ranked amongst world’s top 25 universities by various ranking
agencies. Moreover, it is one of only seven universities that achieve this
ranking across all the disciplinary areas. U of T is Canada’s largest and most
research-intensive university, with 82 000 students, 11 500 faculty, 11 000
staff and over half a million alumni living in 170 countries worldwide.
The University of Toronto Mississauga is a major part of this enterprise. It is
the second largest division at U of T and, in its own right, is comparable to
any mid-size university in Canada. One of the fastest growing campuses,
UTM has perhaps the most exciting prospects for growth. As I’ve already
mentioned, it has strong ties with the community, and it is also intimately
connected to local businesses and industry.
In terms of our own research activity, nearly $200 000 are invested every
week in new research on our campus. On a typical day, you could walk
around the campus and see close to 600 research projects underway, worth
$10 million in external grants.
We have over 42 000 alumni, and they include astronauts like Roberta
Bondar, Olympians like Clare Carver-Dias, award-winning actors and
writers—have you heard of a show called Little Mosque on the Prairie? The
show’s creator along, with its lead actor, are both UTM alumni; and the list
continues with successful entrepreneurs and leading figures in public service
– both here at home and abroad.
83 per cent of our alumni are settled in the GTA; nearly 11,000 of them are
living right here in Mississauga. They buy homes here. Their children go to
school here. They learn from our volunteer faculty who participate in the
activities of local institutions such as the Riverwood Conservancy and Dixie
2 Bloor Neighborhood Centre.
In fact, countless individuals from our faculty, staff and student body,
including myself, engage with the city through various community bodies and
organizations, such as: the Mississauga Board of Trade, the Economic
Development Advisory Council, United Way of Peel, the Healthy City
Stewardship Centre, Safe City Mississauga, Advantage Mississauga and the
Research Innovation Commercialization Centre, to name but a few. The
campus also hosts the Mississauga Run for the Cure, which attracts
thousands of participants annually. And a number of our faculty members are
involved in the Pathways to Education program, helping highly trained
immigrants find quality work here in their new home.
Indeed, our involvement with welcoming those who are new to our shores
does not end there. You may be surprised to learn that 20 per cent of our
incoming students this year are international, representing over 125 countries.
And, of course, our domestic student- and staff population is equally diverse,
representing the many ethnic backgrounds of the metropolitan Toronto
region.
But, it’s not just our people who are diverse. Our campus is continuously
changing and this is visible through our physical landscape. To accommodate
our significant growth spurts, UTM has invested nearly $700 million in eight
new buildings over the last 10 years—each of them winners of prestigious
architectural awards for their inspiring designs.
Through this prized infrastructure, we not only deliver on our goal to provide
dynamic and functional spaces for our community, but we also fulfill our
commitment to the environment through the achievement of LEED standards
in our buildings.
Speaking of buildings, one facility that has had significant impact on a number
of fronts is the Terrence Donnelly Health Sciences Complex—the structure
that houses the Mississauga Academy of Medicine. The introduction of a
medical academy has added an exciting dimension to our campus, providing
new opportunities for learning and community partnerships, including our very
close relationship with our Faculty of Medicine as well as the Credit Valley
Hospital and Trillium Health Centre.
The establishment of the Mississauga Academy of Medicine means that new
physicians are being trained right here, who will improve the quality of life in
our city, now and in the future.
Urged on by what they see happening here, our supporters are making
investments at levels that we have never seen before. For instance, Carlo
3 Fidani and the employees of Orlando Corporation gave $10 million in support
of the Academy—a historic and very generous gift. And this landmark
contribution was then matched by Terrence Donnelly with a $12 million gift,
which, as you will have figured out by now, named our new building (the
Terrence Donnelly Health Sciences Complex).
These record levels of philanthropy signal that UTM is an institution of great
quality that has grown to be worthy of such investments. Its excellence in
teaching and rapidly expanding research base are of great value and
essential to Canada’s future.
UTM’s progress is not simply about beautiful buildings. With the help of
committed friends like Carlo, Terry and so many others, we are putting into
place the resources and opportunities that are necessary for our faculty and
students to tackle the complex issues facing our society.
With its culturally diverse population and hundreds of international
corporations, this region—with the City at its centre—is emerging as a leading
hub of Canada’s knowledge economy, ideally situated to drive wealth
creation, and a prosperous and healthy tomorrow.
We recognize that our world is in rapid flux and faces challenges that are
complex, unprecedented and transnational.
Today, knowledge, information, talent and capital move across continents, not
just countries, and there is unparalleled convergence, communication and, of
course, competition.
In such an environment, our young people will need to have more than the
knowledge of their own narrow disciplines to succeed.
On November 20, 2011, the University of Toronto launched Boundless, a $2
billion fundraising campaign, the largest in Canadian history.
Together with nearly 30 divisions that comprise the University of Toronto,
UTM is playing an integral role in this unprecedented campaign, as we strive
to prepare the global citizens who will meet the global challenges that affect
us all.
Our piece of the greater goal is a $60 million campaign for the University of
Toronto Mississauga. This initial endeavour is the catalyst that will allow us to
prepare global citizens enabling them to work across borders, boundaries and
disciplines. As UTM continues to thrive, we will look to extend our efforts that
will foster international fluency and leadership skills in our students, as well as
infuse cross-cultural understanding and global perspectives into our courses
and programs.
4 We will ensure access and opportunity for all students, and build learning
environments that nurture collaboration, creativity and innovation.
As our world becomes more interconnected, language, culture and
community-engagement are increasingly important.
We need to harness this diversity and create more opportunities for students
by expanding our offerings in the humanities and social sciences.
U of T Mississauga is doing exactly this with the creation of a new Centre for
South Asian Civilizations that will broaden the study of traditional subjects
(such as languages, history, religion and politics) and engage our local South
Asian diaspora, thus helping to advance Canada’s strategic interests in our
changing world.
One of our friends—local businessman Vasu Chanchlani—in recognizing the
importance of making global connections, personally committed $2 million to
help establish the Centre. And he continues to help seek out resources to
help ensure a bright future for the Centre.
Now, let me introduce you to Anya Rexha, an international student from
Albania and President of UTM’s Language Studies Academic Society. Anya
shared her thoughts with me on global fluency, she said: “I believe there is
more to learning a language than just the ability to speak it. There are always
cultures and traditions that accompany it. In this era of globalization, I believe
it is more important than ever to bridge the differences through
communication.”
Anya is a tireless advocate for the improvement of the student experience
and
a wonderful example of how extra-curricular experiences complement strong
academic programming.
The breadth of co-curricular programming offered makes stronger students,
and ultimately prepares them to be those well-rounded citizens and leaders I
referred to earlier.
To further enhance the student experience, UTM has created a suite of cocurricular programs that allow our students to excel as they transition from
high school into post-secondary studies.
These transitional programs include utmONE, rezONE, and genONE—with
each of these targeting a specific cohort of first-year students.
Through workshops and seminars led by students from upper years, first-year
5 students settle into their studies while also finding avenues for improvement,
increased engagement throughout the UTM community and expansion of
their social networks.
These and other initiatives are being developed to ensure that our graduates
each receive the best and most well-rounded education possible. That is why
we also encourage our students to study abroad. We want our students to
benefit from a plurality of settings and to broaden their worldview.
And, we want them to be our ambassadors—we know we could not ask for
finer representatives.
Another organization that is helping us increase global opportunities is the
Italian Canadian Savings and Credit Union, funding a travel award that will
help students study in Florence and immerse themselves in the Italian
language and culture. Similarly, a bequest made by Annie Smith has helped
Art and Art History students travel abroad to experience the works of the
great masters of painting and sculpture.
So, as I’ve mentioned, in a world that is increasingly connected, global
opportunities become a vital component to any education.
Through the Campaign for the University of Toronto Mississauga, we are also
building upon our great history of discovery.
Our campaign is making it possible for us to support new knowledge and
pioneering research that expand our understanding and find practical
applications in often unforeseen ways.
From this crucible of basic research, we accelerate our growth as an engine
of invention and innovation.
Breakthroughs come from fostering excellence. The best professors push
their fields in new directions and teach their students to do the same.
Exceptional universities require exceptional faculty who are committed to new
ways of thinking, teaching and researching. Take, for example, Professor
Patrick Gunning and his formidable team of 22 researchers and numerous
collaborators world-wide who are working on a treatment for aggressive
cancers.
Patrick’s current interests are focused on the design, synthesis and
development of small molecule therapies for the treatment of human cancers
such as leukemia, multiple myeloma, breast and brain cancer.
Patrick and his team are, quite literally, creating new molecules that could
change the way we treat cancer.
6 These therapies aim to prevent cancer cell development and inhibit tumor
growth through less toxic treatments, ultimately keeping patients healthier and
stronger.
The research that Patrick is leading is rare because it is challenging, timeconsuming and resource-intensive. Yet he and his team are delivering great
victories along the way, though their ultimate goal is still ahead of them. When
they reach it, their research will lead to significant changes in the way cancer
is treated around the world.
And in case you are wondering, yes, we are indeed looking for partners who
will help us bring additional resources to give this team every chance of
success.
Centres of excellence are created by bringing together researchers with a
common goal and allowing for greater collaboration. Earlier, I spoke to you
about the Terrence Donnelly Health Sciences Complex and I mentioned that
it houses the Mississauga Academy of Medicine. But, this structure is home
to other programs too. In fact, it provides a vital link between our researchers
and the health issues in our community. The Biomedical Communications
program and our Departments of Anthropology and Forensic Science are
disciplines focused on improving human health and development.
For instance, molecular anthropologist Esteban Parra and his team
investigate the link between genes, skin pigmentation and skin cancer, and
the susceptibility of certain populations to type-2 diabetes.
And students in the internationally renowned Masters of Biomedical
Communications Program practice the convergence of science and art.
Highly talented students and faculty create astounding medical animations
and educational aids depicting research topics, human anatomy and medical
procedures. These materials are used for patient education, training of
medical professionals and communication of complex research topics to the
broader public.
Let me now tell you about another unique group of our supporters: the
Associates.
The Associates is a senior volunteer group established in the early 1970s
before UTM had produced very many (or any) alumni. Members of the
Associates are involved in the activities of UTM because they want to remain
engaged through intellectual experiences and settings—not unlike the
members of Probus gathered here today. They come together throughout the
year for organized outings and their famed Canadian Perspectives Lecture
Series (featuring renowned U of T faculty and other engaging speakers).
7 They also fund many co-curricular student activities that are highly valuable
but would otherwise not be possible without the resources they have brought
to them.
And, from time to time, individual members are moved to give in support of
programs where they feel they make a difference in the lives of our students.
A recent example is Rosemary and Al Sobanski, who stepped forward to fund
a student scholarship in support of life sciences and the pursuit of medicine at
UTM.
They, along with their fellow Associates and the rest of the UTM community
are dedicated to supporting discovery—whether it is through teaching,
research or novel, highly tailored programs such as those that prepare our
professional graduates to have a direct impact upon entering the workforce.
This brings me to tell you about an exciting new initiative at UTM: the
emergence of a new type of management education focused on innovation.
Study after study points to an “innovation gap” in Canada, particularly when
compared to other industrialized and emerging nations.
This gap puts our long-term prosperity at risk.
One way we are embracing this challenge is through a new Institute for
Management and Innovation.
This institute will see academe, government and industry converge to
produce leaders in highly specialized, industry-focused, and trans-disciplinary
programs that apply novel solutions to advance Canada’s competitiveness in
technology, health, environment and entrepreneurship.
To help drive regional prosperity, the Institute will build upon a tradition of
multi-disciplinary studies in management, accounting, biotechnology,
innovation strategy and sustainability.
These disciplines are represented in our professional graduate programs – all
of which specialize in particular industries.
For example, our Master of Biotechnology program is where science meets
business. This program educates graduates who are not only well versed in
biotechnology and bench science, but also in the management and business
skills required to drive innovation and bring new ideas to life.
The Master of Biotechnology program also connects students with industry
partners to provide work placements, further strengthening their professional
8 skills and allowing them to contribute to employers in tangible ways.
Through the continued hard work of its current faculty and future students,
graduates and partners, the Institute will generate new knowledge, build
competitive advantage for regional and national industry and lead in the
development of sustainability through innovation.
The Institute for Management and Innovation is the cornerstone of the
Campaign for the University of Toronto Mississauga. And needless to say, I
am quite excited about this particular project.
It will include new facilities that connect our students to the world, endowed
chairs, internationally recognized thought leaders, and the world’s best
students. And some of this early investment is underway.
Amgen Canada is another one of our partners that recognizes the important
role that management of innovation will play in our future prosperity, funding
UTM’s first Discovery Professorship that will focus on the Management of
Health Care Systems.
Let me wrap up now by saying that U of T Mississauga is at a turning point in
its evolution.
We are entering an era defined by transformative growth, social impact,
community engagement and boundless potential as a global innovation
leader.
We can lay claim to a culturally diverse student population, world-class
faculty, and alumni who are leaders around the world.
And we have one more powerful asset: an extraordinary set of community of
supporters.
In the spirit of our first 45 years and through the Campaign for the University
of Toronto Mississauga, we will continue to collaborate with our many
community partners to build a campus that is making a difference to this
community, to Canada and around the world.
We will continue to nurture our outstanding students, researchers and faculty
members.
And we will invest in the programs and infrastructure needed to foster the
innovations and innovators who are poised to tackle the pressing challenges
of our city, our region and our world.
I hope that I have shed some light on our short but remarkable history and our
9 thrilling future.
I invite you to learn more about UTM and the many ways in which you might
yourselves become involved.
If you do have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or Andrew
Stelmacovich or Macarena Sierra who are with me today. We would love to
hear from you.
Thank you.
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