The
J.W. McConnell Family Foundation has funded 14 colleges and universities across Canada, including OCAD University and Ryerson University in Toronto, to create zones of social innovation and social entrepreneurship zones where students can work with business, community and public sector partners to address social and environmental challenges. Called
RECODE, the program will also host “national challenges” to build collaborative and creative approaches to a range of national issues. If it all goes according to plan, students could be solving big problems while they develop skills that will serve them well after graduation.
“Our idea with RECODE is helping students with the challenges they face when they graduate into a difficult job market for young people and looking at the role of social innovation in meeting those challenges,” says Brigid Shea, director of communications at Montreal-based J.W. McConnell Family Foundation.
OCAD, Ryerson and the other winning schools were chosen this spring based on their requests for proposals (RFP) pitching how existing and proposed programs would help meet RECODE’s goals.
“We are pleased to be recognized for our work in building social innovation in Canada,” said Wendy Cukier, vice-president of research and innovation at Ryerson, in a news release. “This will greatly contribute to ‘mainstreaming’ innovation across every faculty, providing thought leadership and evidence-based action, building the innovation ecosystem and developing the changemakers of tomorrow.”
The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation’s mission is to engage Canadians in building a more innovative, inclusive, sustainable and resilient society.
Writer: Paul Gallant
Source: Brigid Shea