Memorial’s three frameworks in teaching and learning, research and public engagement, reflect a true desire to distinguish Memorial as a top public university in Canada and beyond, and to ensure that we build on and pursue global excellence in our areas of strength. They demonstrate the deep understanding of the university’s importance to the province and Memorial’s responsibility to fulfill its special obligation to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Reinforcing the frameworks are the other essential parts of our institutional roadmap, including present and future infrastructure plans, an enrolment plan, and strategies for advancing university education and scholarly work across a broad range of disciplines and activities.

The process of planning at Memorial University is comprehensive and continuous. Staying true to our values and guided by our frameworks, we carry out and fulfill our mission to achieve our vision.

Planning Frameworks

Teaching and Learning

Memorial University’s first-ever comprehensive Teaching and Learning Framework was developed in spring 2011. The creation of the framework was the foundation upon which the university has been steadily growing the teaching and learning community through projects, programs and initiatives that benefit students and educators at all levels and help further develop a community committed to excellence in teaching and learning. The Teaching and Learning Framework Strategic Plan 2014-2017 outlined recommendations, work completed to date, and priorities and actions for the next three years. The Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic) has initiated a review to assess the outcomes of the Teaching and Learning Framework and pave the way for a new framework. A review committee has been established and mandated with completing the review and making recommendations for next steps.

Research

From its earliest days, Memorial University has encouraged research activity by its faculty. From modest beginnings in the 1950s, research has grown steadily — to approximately $100 million dollars in 2015/16. Memorial has a vibrant culture of creativity and innovation that is reflected in the research activities of our scholars and researchers. It is also a recognized national and international leader for its rich record of engagement with community partners and research collaborators, in Newfoundland and Labrador and around the world. As Memorial grows into an increasingly research-focused institution, it is necessary to think about how best to support researchers, engage with the wider community and continue to build a culture of research excellence.

To that end, Memorial’s Research Strategy Framework, which was adopted in 2011, sets the vision, mission and guiding principles for research focusing on pursuing, supporting and celebrating excellence in all forms of research. Major research developments have been documented in annual reports to the community. The framework identified 10 strategic research themes. In 2017 Memorial will implement a broad review of the research activities undertaken in the thematic areas since 2011.

Public Engagement

The university’s first-ever Public Engagement Framework was adopted in September 2012 and is being implemented with the support of the Office of Public Engagement. Memorial has always been a publicly engaged university—it’s integral to why the university was created and continues to be woven into every aspect of our work—a public university serving the public good. The Public Engagement Framework was developed to outline the core public engagement vision, values and goals of Memorial and provide a guiding document to focus efforts and measure success in achieving those objectives.

See the latest activity report on its implementation at http://www.mun.ca/publicengagement/memorial/OPE_Activity_Report_2013-15-web.pdf.

Operational Plans

In addition to the teaching and learning, research and public engagement frameworks, there are other institutional-wide operational plans and initiatives covering a myriad of specific and general areas of interest. As with all university planning, these are developed through consultation with a broad spectrum of interests both inside the university and external to the institution. Some of these plans include:

Enrolment Plan 2020 

Enrolment Plan 2020 will guide Memorial University towards the achievement of enrolment targets while focusing on the quality of the student experience. The plan outlines the transformational enrolment opportunities offered by an on-going global increase in post-secondary participation rates, especially at the graduate level, and a thriving academic environment at Memorial.

Strategic Internationalization Plan 2020 

The Internationalization Plan sets the stage for a wide range of ambitious international and intercultural initiatives. They are designed to be synergistic and mutually supportive, grounded firmly in a cultural and geographic context, and provide strategic leadership for achieving outcomes that will have a transformative impact on internationalization of Memorial and its graduates, as well as the future reputation of the university.

Strategic Research Intensity Plan 2014-2020 

The Strategic Research Intensity Plan 2014-2020 (SRIP) builds on the university's Research Strategy Framework to support the university's vision to be one of the most distinguished public universities in Canada and beyond. SRIP’s themes are aligned with the direction set by the Research Strategy Framework and reflect a synergistic and integrated approach for strengthening all aspects of research at Memorial, including scholarship and creative activities, as well as the translation of knowledge into products, practices and policies, and other forms of community engagement. Research Report 2014-16 captures the university’s diverse research activities over a two-year period during which Memorial focused on intensifying its strategic research efforts.

Technology Transfer and Commercialization Strategy

Memorial carries out research to educate highly qualified people, to create and disseminate knowledge to advance the understanding of academic disciplines, and to better society through the application of the knowledge created. When suitable knowledge transfer mechanisms are established, research outcomes can also contribute to enhanced social and economic benefit. To this end, this strategy aims to assist creators of intellectual property in their efforts to bring such property to the market.

Multi-Year Infrastructure Plan 2017-2023

The strategic importance of construction and maintenance of physical assets is reflected in Memorial's ability to pursue cutting-edge technologies and ingenuity. However, the university faces a growing deferred maintenance backlog, aging facilities that no longer meet the needs of contemporary educational or research programs, and increasing needs for capital expansion required to compete for students, faculty and research dollars.This multi-year planning document allows for effective and prioritized capital project management for both new and current infrastructure.

Strategic Plans

Vision 20/20 - Grenfell Campus

Vision 20/20, Grenfell Campus' five-year strategic plan, is helping Grenfell focus and enhance their efforts in the university's three frameworks in teaching and learning, research and public engagement. Under six themes, the campus has set specific goals for its near future.

Vision 2020 - Marine Institute

Vision 2020 presents an ambitious image of the Marine Institute of the future. It outlines the mission and values of the institute and summarizes the strategic plan of Memorial University, all of which provide a context for the institute-wide priorities and the strategic initiatives to be undertaken. Through the plan, MI will continue to meet the need for marine-related education, training and research of Newfoundland and Labrador and beyond.