Vice-President, Advancement
Dalhousie University

Dalhousie University is one of Canada’s leading research-intensive universities, with a commitment to offering an exceptional academic and campus experience from year one. Dalhousie welcome 21,000 students from across the country and around the world to Canada’s spectacular East Coast, with campuses in the oceanside city of Halifax and an Agricultural Campus in the town of Truro.
 

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Built to help bright minds excel

Dalhousie fosters excellence by cultivating student curiosity and growth through innovative educational and extracurricular experiences delivered by talented faculty and dedicated staff. Dalhousie supports the pursuit of interests and passions, welcoming the diversity that creates a spirited and engaged campus full of possibility. With 4,000+ courses in more than 200 degree programs, the 13 Faculties offer a wealth of choice with one of the lowest student-faculty ratios in Canada. More Nova Scotians study at Dalhousie than at any other university, but the mix of wide-ranging opportunities in a supportive learning environment attracts even more students from across the country and around the world. This unique mix of students — 60 per cent from outside of Nova Scotia, with more than 20 per cent international — makes for a diverse, rewarding academic environment.
 

RESEARCH IMPACT
A world of change begins at dalhousie

Their groundbreaking research, rooted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, has earned Dalhousie a reputation as a national and regional powerhouse and a global player. Dal is determined to make positive change locally, nationally and globally, pushing boundaries to increase their impact on the world. Thought leaders come to Dalhousie to make discoveries that will contribute to a better future for all. Dalhousie has established itself as a world leader in ocean research, with expertise spanning nearly all Faculties and disciplines. Other areas of international renown include health research, clean tech and food security.

Learn more about Dalhousie's Signature Research Clusters.

The university hosts 56 Canada Research Chairs and nearly 5,000 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Dalhousie is proud to rank in the top 200 universities in the world in the Times Higher Education Global Impact Rankings as they support world-leading researchers dedicated to driving their positive impact on society.
 

COMMUNITY CONNECTION
More than simply the space we share

Dalhousie is a gathering of diverse ideas, lived experiences and goals that are supported by relationships that begin on campus and extend locally, nationally and globally. This sense of community fuels growth, self-discovery, and innovation.

Their 6,000 faculty and staff foster a purpose-driven community that brings together the brightest minds from diverse backgrounds and perspectives and enables them to push the boundaries of knowledge. Their faculty and staff are the source of our success and the key drivers of their vision and mission. Dal aspires to be an accessible destination employer and the national leader in championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. They prioritize wellness and respect and strive to be people-focused and accountable at all levels of the institution. They are also rooted in the history and future of Nova Scotia. For 200 years, Dalhousie has succeeded because of community support. In turn, Dalhousie has an ongoing responsibility to engage, connect with and support the community. Public engagement and service is rooted deep in Dalhousie history, from professional and medical programs through to the civic mindedness of our faculty, staff and students.
 

GLOBAL REACH
Expanding outlook through collaboration

Dalhousie's global connections are built on cooperation and partnerships and support an international strategy that is interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, and oriented toward solving the world’s most important issues.

Dalhousie’s global reach includes 291 global partnerships with 213 partner institutions in 57 countries. Their researchers collaborate with colleagues in over 180 countries and currently participate in over 50 funded international research and international development initiatives. Their students are involved in 120 study abroad and exchange programs in 40+ countries. Over 4,700 international students from more than 115 countries choose to study here, and Dalhousie is ranked first in Canada for International Faculty ratio (QS 2023).
 

CAMPUSES

Dalhousie’s three Halifax campuses span the urban peninsula from the Northwest Arm to the city’s waterfront. The beautiful and historic Studley Campus, located in the heart of residential Halifax, is joined by Carleton campus (Faculties of Medicine, Health and Dentistry) and the downtown Sexton campus (Faculties of Engineering and Architecture & Planning), together offering an incredible breadth and depth of academic programming and a vibrant campus experience.

In Truro, located about an hour away in the “hub of Nova Scotia,” is Dal’s Agricultural Campus. Home to a working farm and almost 1,000 acres of research fields, gardens and greenhouses, the campus hosts their Faculty of Agriculture and is primed to tackle the smart farming research and innovation essential for a more sustainable future.

In health care, Dal's teaching reach extends across the Maritimes. In addition to a satellite campus for their School of Nursing in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick provides medical education at the University of New Brunswick’s Saint John campus and various teaching sites across the province of New Brunswick. And Dalhousie and Cape Breton University are excited to be collaborating on the development of a new joint medical campus for Cape Breton.

Strategic Plan:
Third Century Promise

Si’st Kasqimtlnaqnipunqekl Teli L’wi’tmasimk
Dalhousie University's Strategic Plan 2021-2026

Dalhousie’s Strategic Plan builds on their 200+ years of history as one of Canada’s leading institutions of higher learning, research, and innovation. Third Century Promise is a plan to accelerate Dalhousie on the path to global distinction while further deepening their commitment as a civic university dedicated to uplifting our communities.
 

STRATEGIC PILLARS

Exceptional student experience - Dalhousie will embark on a sustained campaign to be recognized as the best in Canada and among top ranked universities globally for a transformative learning and life experience, leading students to successful careers, professional designations, or advanced graduate degrees.

Inclusive excellence - Dalhousie will invest in developing a more welcoming, inclusive, and caring culture for all regardless of one’s background and circumstance, with an emphasis on wellness, accessibility, respect, and support for all members of our communities.

High-impact research - Building on their legacy of groundbreaking research and outstanding scholarship, they will continue to focus their efforts on growing world-leading research programs in areas of particular strength and invest in infrastructure that supports their researchers to achieve excellence.

Civic university with global impact - Dalhousie will establish a framework for intentional impact built upon shared priorities established with their governments and other partners.

A foundation for inclusion and distinction - Dalhousie will renew its physical, governance, financial, administrative, and digital infrastructure, and will review and update its multi-campus master plan to identify priorities related to critical infrastructure and facilities renewal.

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VISION

Dalhousie inspires our diverse community to serve Nova Scotia, Canada, and the world through innovative and impactful teaching and research, world-class scholarship, a passion for learning, and a deep sense of social responsibility.

MISSION

To lift the intellectual, social, and economic vitality of our local, national, and global communities through an institution-wide commitment to a world-class student experience, interdisciplinary collaboration, and mutual respect and inclusion in all aspects of our academic, research, and civic priorities.

VALUES

Academic freedom: They are committed to the principles of academic freedom in all areas of teaching and research, and remain dedicated to scholarly autonomy, intellectual integrity, and accountability. Through their teaching, research, and administration, they commit to discourse, dialogue, and language that is open, inclusive, and respectful.

Commitment to excellence in teaching, research and service: Academic programs that attract and retain a diverse mix of outstanding students, scholars, researchers, and staff are at the core of Dalhousie's mission. They are a research-intensive university grounded in a legacy of discovery, academic excellence, and community service that defines their approach to teaching and learning.

Equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility: Ongoing commitments to achieve inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) are integral to Dalhousie’s vision, mission, actions, culture, and how they interact with one another daily. These obligations extend to redressing historical and ongoing systemic inequalities among their communities.

Future-ready leaders: While affirming their commitment to a holistic approach to shape individuals with life-ready knowledge and skills, they will deliver on their learners’ interest in connecting their programs to rapidly evolving and emerging future career opportunities while making positive and impactful contributions to society.

Impactful community engagement: They are committed to being a strategic partner in promoting the economic development and social vitality of Nova Scotia and the Atlantic provinces through their actions, including creating and fostering growth opportunities through impactful and collaborative research, scholarship, and partnerships.

Social responsibility and sustainability: Through teaching, research, and service, they will expand understanding and adherence to the core principles of sustainability, advance knowledge about climate change, and help to catalyze evidence-based solutions.

Wellness, accessibility, respect and support: They will create work and learning environments grounded in respect and support, guided by a shared responsibility for equitable access and the well-being of their faculty, staff, and students.