C A S E S T U D Y
H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N
University of Victoria
Faculty of Human and Social Development (HSD)
Faculty 5-Year Strategic Plan
HSD Faculty engaged Impact Plus to co-create its first-ever Faculty-level Strategic Plan. This engagement was during the pandemic lockdown.
The HSD Faculty comprised of 240+ faculty, sessional instructors and staff, as well as nearly 3,000 students who were working and studying remotely, respectively. The Faculty needed a strategy to effectively respond to pressing human and health challenges, amidst ongoing social and environmental concerns and pressures.
The desired outcome was a plan that:
Integrates HSD's academic, research, and Indigenous plans;
Reflects the collective strengths and unique contexts of its 7 academic units/Schools;
Positions HSD to be agile and thrive over the next 5 years.
O U R A P P R O A C H
Impact Plus designed a series of strategy co-creation workshops with Champions (reps) across all 7 schools. The workshops were highly collaborative to brainstorm and test the best ideas for HSD's vision and priorities.
We made space for real, honest conversations on what was working or not working; and how to improve. This helped to build trust and generate achievable goals.
We engaged multiple stakeholders through various methods:
240+ staff, faculty, and sessional instructors participated in School-level SWOT workshops, co-creation surveys with 600+ survey responses, co-design workshop with the leadership team, and Faculty-Council forum with live Q&A.
We brought in art-based engagement such as music and spoken word poetry to foster connection in a remote environment. We held listening-action dialogues with Indigenous community representatives to identify priorities that matter to the local communities.
A remote-friendly strategy development process
R E S U L T
Increased team collaboration with over 90% people alignment
The final strategic plan approved by Faculty Council in March 2022 with no revisions.
The final plan can be found here HSD strategic plan - University of Victoria (uvic.ca).
HSD's plan also contributes to enhancing its visibility, reputation, and impact both locally and globally.
The plan drives its new engagement and communications with its 22,000+ alumni network around the world.
Our consulting project with HSD won first place in the national IAP2 Canada Core Values Award for Creativity, Innovation, and Contribution to the field of public (stakeholder) engagement.
E N G A G E M E N T H I G H L I G H T S
600+ Survey
Responses
Across two strategy co-creation surveys
3,000+ Open-ended Comments
Across all students, staff, faculty and alumni
9.5 out of 10
Participant Rating
On overall satisfaction with the strategy session and outcomes
Read UVic HSD’s full Strategic Plan
“Thank you Precious and Amarachi! (and everyone else behind the scenes!)
It has been a pleasure and a joy to work with you over this past year!
We are very proud of the HSD Faculty Strategic Plan."
Dr. Helga H. Kristín Hallgrímsdóttir
Acting Deputy Provost and Professor
University of Victoria
"If you want to work with a dynamic and relational team to move your organization forward, to navigate the necessary conversations in today's world, engage Impact Plus."
Dr. Maureen Ryan
Associate Dean, Academic,
Faculty of Human and Social Development
University of Victoria