Future Universities Begin with Imagination | Cheryl Green, Ian Rolston & Jennifer Murphy | TEDxOCADU

Challenges in Higher Education - The Canadian university sector has experienced over 5,000 job cuts since the introduction of international student caps in January 2024 [3] - Ontario universities are projected to lose 100,000 student spots, potentially leading to unmet workforce needs and increased competition for remaining seats [4] - The University of Waterloo announced a $94 million operational deficit, signaling a growing financial crisis in higher education [5] Impact of University Failure - Failure of universities could lead to failures in essential services like healthcare, due to underfunding and disconnection from communities [8][10][11] - Underfunding higher education endangers healthcare and healing systems [11] - The current university system is described as a "house of cards," vulnerable to collapse due to disconnected leadership, chronic underfunding, and lack of public trust [13][14] Proposed Solutions and Reimagining Higher Education - The report advocates for co-creation, involving students, faculty, and community groups in designing curriculums and research [19][20] - Governance in higher education needs reimagining to include inclusion, imagination, and innovation in decision-making [28] - The report suggests creating a "foresight council" with community members to anticipate and shape change, rather than just reacting to crises [29] - Universities should build "third spaces" for collaboration between community members, faculty, and students to foster civic engagement [33] - Tenure systems should be re-evaluated to ensure they promote equity, innovation, and sustainability [17][18]