Three Commitments for U of T’s Next Chapter

Beginning in October 2027, U of T will launch Blueprint for the Future, a comprehensive long-range strategic planning process developed with the full participation of the university community. That process will ask us to think boldly about what U of T can become and how we will build on our strengths to concentrate our energy where it matters most.

But some of the challenges facing our country and our world demand action now. As Canada’s flagship university, U of T is determined to meet the moment. That is why I have identified three presidential commitments that will guide our efforts in the near term: preparing future-ready graduates, advancing responsible adoption of artificial intelligence at scale, and mobilizing knowledge for social and economic impact.

These commitments are grounded in the university’s enduring values: academic freedom, inclusive excellence, truth and reconciliation, sustainability, civil discourse and the open exchange of ideas.  They also reflect the essential work of a great public university: to provide an outstanding education for the next generation of leaders in every field and to help drive social and economic prosperity.

A U of T education has always equipped graduates to think critically, adapt to change and lead with integrity. As work evolves and lifelong learning becomes increasingly important, we must continue to innovate – creating new degree pathways, expanding experiential learning and entrepreneurship, and strengthening partnerships that prepare students not just for their first job, but for lives of leadership and contribution.

We must also recognize both the promise and the responsibility of AI. U of T has helped shape the field from its earliest days. Now we have an opportunity to demonstrate how large, human-centred institutions can use AI in ways that are consistent with their values. By using our three campuses as a living lab, we can generate practical insights that benefit organizations well beyond our own.

Finally, great universities must not only create new knowledge but also apply that knowledge for the benefit of individuals and society as a whole. Whether informing public policy, improving health care or helping ideas become successful Canadian ventures, we can shorten the path from discovery to application.

These commitments are not a substitute for the broader conversation that Blueprint for the Future will invite across our university community. They reflect areas where U of T has both the responsibility and the opportunity to lead now.

For nearly 200 years, U of T has helped society navigate successive periods of profound change. That has always depended on the faculty, librarians, staff, students and alumni whose ideas, curiosity and commitment extend the university’s impact far beyond our campuses. By responding to this moment with purpose, we can continue to fulfill that mission with confidence as we begin our third century.