Focus on People Updates

New workplace learning ecosystem for faculty and staff

By Melissa Baluk on June 21, 2021

Today’s learning opportunities come in a variety of forms and styles, with something to suit every learner. At UBC, we encourage faculty and staff to further their professional and personal development by taking part in our learning opportunities.

Launched in spring 2020, the Workplace Learning Ecosystem (WPL) is a new central location for faculty and staff to browse, enroll, and track internal training, learning opportunities and programs including orientation, wellbeing, professional development and more.

Through WPL, faculty and staff can:

Discover new learning opportunities available at UBC, including browsing by topic
Register for workshops and courses offered by units across all campus locations
Learn in-person (as available), online, or using a blend of both
Track completed training records and any expiry dates

A year at a glance

In the first year of the WPL, there were 31,045 active users with 135,314 enrollments in learning opportunities with something for everyone. Those who recently joined UBC may be looking to enroll in the Welcome to UBC orientation or complete their mandatory training. Others may be interested in a particular topic area, such as wellbeing, and explore WPL for related offerings such as Mental Health First Aid or a self-guided course on wellbeing in the workplace.

Supporting learning needs

In response to community needs and interests, courses are continuously refreshed by learning providers. In the first year, 29 departments, programs and units were creating and delivering 762 courses and/or programs. All learning providers and administrators are invited to join a community of practice to share best practices in learning design and system use.

Earlier this year, the Workplace Learning team hosted the Tech Expo, a series dedicated to exploring technology enhancements compatible with WPL, such as Appointy and Articulate, and consider how others are using them. Recently, the community of practice was invited to participate in the Refreshments & Refinements series, a deconstructed conference event with community presentations held each morning for one week. Peer presenters shared how they align their courses to UBC strategic plans, frameworks and initiatives.

The Workplace Learning Ecosystem and its community of practice are one way that UBC is supporting faculty and staff to be creative and innovative and grow in their careers. Learn more about how we’re making UBC an inspiring place to work through Focus on People 2025.

Posted in Catalyst #2: I can grow my career, Focus on People Framework | Link | No Comments

A community of practice for change and transition supports people through change

By Melissa Baluk on June 21, 2021

From transformational systems changes to temporary remote work arrangements, our community has faced unprecedented shifts in workplace dynamics this past year. As part of the university’s investment in change management and transition resources, the UBC Change and Transition community of practice was established to support faculty and staff in navigating change effectively.

Supported by a team of staff in HR, this community of practice connects faculty and staff who have a passion for fostering wellbeing, resiliency and capacity for change.

“Our goal for the coming year is to continue to advance the discipline of Change Management at UBC by increasing change literacy and building capacity and resilience for change,” says Marianne Boyles, change management consultant within HR. “We are especially excited to be rolling out a brand new set of UBC change management resources and tools through the community of practice this coming fall”.

Since its inception in November 2019, the community of practice has grown to around 180 members with representation from 25 units across both campuses. Participants enrich and elevate their change and transition expertise by joining monthly sessions. Topics include:

Communicating for Engagement
Change by Design
Workforce Planning and Change
A Pechakucha event
An overview of the Influencer Model for Change

Responding to community needs

To provide change support during the pandemic, HR developed the Foundations of Change Series – three courses focused on guiding individuals, teams and leaders with navigating change and transition through the lens of wellbeing and mental health. The series was offered weekly from May through to November.

The Foundations of Changes series included:

Change Methodologies: Applying common change theories and models can proactively help to guide, structure and simplify the process for those leading and implementing change.
Change, Wellbeing and You: Looking at the different journeys an individual may take and the stages of transition they can encounter as they navigate change, through the lens of wellbeing and mental health.
Leading Change and Caring for Others: Sharing the different journeys a team may take as they navigate change, and how leaders can support and guide their teams through the lens of wellbeing and mental health.

Questions about the community of practice? Please email change.transition@ubc.ca

The Change and Transition community of practice is one way that UBC is supporting faculty and staff to navigate change effectively. Learn more about how we’re making UBC an inspiring place to work through Focus on People 2025.

Posted in Catalyst #3: I am shaping the future of research, teaching and work, Focus on People Framework | Link | No Comments

IBPOC Connections: building community, increasing representation at UBC

By Melissa Baluk on June 21, 2021

IBPOC Connections seeks to increase representation and cultivate belonging among staff and faculty who self-identify as Indigenous, Black, and/or People of Colour (IBPOC).

Through luncheons, speaker series, and book and coffee clubs, IBPOC staff and faculty are invited to come together and celebrate their multiple and intersecting identities as well as speak candidly about the challenges they face at UBC. The goal of IBPOC Connections is two-fold: to build community and to leverage existing networks to push for systemic change.

“IBPOC Connections isn’t about building something anew,” said Dr. Maryam Nabavi, a staff and faculty strategist with the UBC Equity & Inclusion Office who has been leading and championing the initiative since 2019. “Partnership is the bedrock of how we do our work.”

Read this feature story on the Equity and Inclusion Office website to hear from people in our community about some of the work being done, including from:

Dr. Maryam Nabavi, a staff and faculty strategist with the UBC Equity & Inclusion Office
Dr. Handel Kashope Wright, Professor and Senior Advisor to the President on Anti-racism and Inclusive Excellence
Dr. Sheryl Lightfoot, Senior Advisor to the President on Indigenous Affairs
Dr. Sara-Jane Finlay, associate vice-president for equity and inclusion
Valentina Ruiz-Leotaud, a communications officer with the Sea Around Us initiative

IBPOC Connections seeks to enhance the experiences and outcomes of staff and faculty through capacity building, leadership development, recruitment and retention, and mentorship. Learn more about how we’re making UBC an inspiring place to work through Focus on People 2025.

Posted in Catalyst #2: I can grow my career, Focus on People Framework | Link | No Comments

Dimensions pilot at UBC: Equity, diversity and inclusion in our research community

By Melissa Baluk on June 21, 2021

Endorsing the Government of Canada’s Dimensions: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Canada charter, UBC is one of 17 Canadian post-secondary institutions participating in a pilot project to help transform and drive change to enable more EDI in research in Canada.

The two-year pilot seeks to identify and eliminate systemic obstacles and inequities faced by, but not limited to, women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities/racialized groups, and members of LGBTQ2+ communities in research.

Dimensions is about creating transformational change in UBC’s research culture by adopting sound EDI-informed analyses, policies and practices that improve the university’s ability to attract and retain qualified researchers and other staff and students, strengthen research outputs, and increase overall excellence in research. It is anticipated that one of the outcomes of the UBC pilot project is the development of more formalized resources and services that will help enable researchers to integrate EDI practices into their work.

Learn more about the UBC Dimensions pilot, and access relevant documents and EDI in research resources, on the UBC Research website.

Participating in the Dimension pilot is one way that UBC is embedding equity, diversity and inclusion principles in our workplace. Learn more about how we’re making UBC an inspiring place to work through Focus on People 2025.

Posted in Catalyst #3: I am shaping the future of research, teaching and work, Focus on People Framework | Link | No Comments

Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence at UBC

By Melissa Baluk on June 21, 2021

Equity, diversity and inclusion are necessary conditions for attracting and retaining the best and brightest students, faculty and staff from around the world. This requires that we create inclusive environments free from racism in which to work, learn and live.

Working toward change

In June 2020, President Ono reaffirmed our institutional commitment to inclusion and called for the acceleration and intensification of our efforts to build a more inclusive campus.

We must all enhance our efforts to:

This is a call to action for all community members to confront hatred, oppression, violence and injustice and to support and elevate those who are traditionally, systemically and historically marginalized.

Visit the Anti-Racism at UBC website to learn about UBC’s efforts and accountability.

Anti-racism and inclusive excellence is one way we model our words through action, live UBC’s values, and hold each other accountable for inclusive and impactful leadership. Learn more about how we’re making UBC an inspiring place to work through Focus on People 2025.