Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Research
Research on Disability Inclusion in Primary Education
Drs Monique Somma and John Freer from Western University, in collaboration with local partners, conducted a study with Niagara Catholic District School Board students. This research aimed to promote positive attitudes towards disability and inclusivity in primary students. Teachers and students learned about disability and diversity and participated in sledge hockey with ParaSport athletes. The research findings were presented at conferences and featured in the ParaSport Magazine.
Undergraduate Summer Research Internships
The Undergraduate Summer Research Internships program offers undergraduate students hands-on research experiences under faculty mentorship. The program enhances students’ technical, professional, and research skills, supporting their academic and career development. Faculty mentors benefit from engagement and assistance with their research projects. The program includes professional development opportunities and culminates in a virtual exhibition event where students share their research with the broader community.
Canadian Research Centre on Inclusive Education
Western University collaborates with the Canadian Research Centre on Inclusive Education. This partnership focuses on improving educational practices and outcomes for all students, particularly the most vulnerable. The research covers inclusive education, policy, programming, training, and implementation. It brings together researchers, educators, parents, and advocates in support of the education of students with a disability, or other underrepresented learning groups.
Western Research Scholars Academy
The Western Research Scholars Academy is a new mentorship network for Western researchers, co-designed with them to provide support through connections with international academic leaders, professional development, and research resources. Aligned with Western’s strategic plans, the academy aims to:
- Create mentorship and networking opportunities, prioritizing researchers from equity-deserving groups
- Build interdisciplinary and international connections among top researchers
- Support and deepen equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization (EDI-D) in research
- Provide additional resources to facilitate researchers' future success
- Elevate the profiles and research programs of Western scholars
- Formalize a mentorship process connecting Western researchers with one another
Teaching
Breaking Down Barriers in Education
The Faculty of Education launched OpenEdu, an online hub for open educational resources. This initiative is designed to break down barriers to accessing educational programs and materials. OpenEdu offers a diverse array of resources addressing pressing issues in education and beyond. Resources focus on connecting to program and course learning outcomes to shape teaching strategies, assessment methods, and course content.
Centre for Teaching and Learning
The CTL is the university’s teaching hub, supporting our educational mission through orientation, training, mentorship, research, and innovation for instructors at Western. Nationally and internationally recognized, the Centre offers programs for teaching assistants and international graduate students, as well as extended teaching certificate programs; and is the home of The Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.
Western Continuing Studies
Western Continuing Studies provides opportunities for everyone to keep learning at Western. From recent graduates, job seekers, and corporate clients, there is an array of choices for lifelong learning from a variety of programs, courses, and professional certificates.
The Online Teacher
The Transition to online teaching with confidence program equips educators with key online teaching skills through courses like Differentiation and Equity, Creating Supportive Online Environments, and Online Engagement and Classroom Management. The program connects educators with expert Ontario teachers to refine their online teaching methods.
Inclusive Education Research Award
The Inclusive Education Research Award, sponsored by Foundation Western and managed by the Canadian Research Centre on Inclusive Education, offers three $750 awards annually to Western's Faculty of Education graduate students. Recipients are researching inclusivity in education for their thesis or dissertation.
Outreach
Education Experts Gather at Western for International ACAC
Western University hosted the International Association for College Admission Counseling (International ACAC) meeting, welcoming 1,457 education counsellors and admission officers from over 85 countries. The event featured:
- Over 80 workshops
- 3 fairs
- Various social activities, including a fun run, golf tournament, and stargazing
The attendees comprised:
- 706 university and college admissions professionals
- 608 high school counselors
- 143 representatives of international education organizations
The conference opened with a keynote address by author and poet Matthew Dawkins, BA’23, and a performance by Western cheerleaders. The theme, “Welcome Home,” celebrated Western as the only institution to host the conference twice, with the first being in 2019. Florentine Strzelczyk, Western’s provost and vice-president (academic), emphasized the event's role in enhancing global perspectives in education. The conference aimed to improve support for students transitioning to higher education through collaborative learning and networking among international education professionals.
Indigenous Student STEM Access Program
The Indigenous Student STEM Access Program at Western provides an inclusive pathway for Indigenous students—First Nation (status and non-status), Métis, and Inuit—to pursue degrees in Engineering or Science. This one-year program bridges high school and university, offering prerequisite courses and personalized support through academic advisors and success teams. Entrance scholarships are available to enhance accessibility, ensuring a smooth transition and academic success.
Mini-University Introduces Indigenous Youth to Campus Life at Western
The Wampum Learning Lodge (WLL) hosted 30 Indigenous youth, aged 11 to 13, for Western’s Mini-University program. Participants engaged in coding, visual arts, and cultural teachings, experiencing university life through sessions with professors, students, and Indigenous mentors. Overseen by the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and the Indigenous Student Centre (ISC), the camp blends academic and cultural experiences, with residence stays enhancing the five-day program. Activities included "robot bowling," teachings from Elder Mike Hopkins Sr., and visits to McIntosh Gallery and the Cronyn Observatory. The program aims to inspire youth to envision a future at Western.
Let’s Chat… about Inclusive Education
Let’s Chat… about Inclusive Education is a webcast series produced by Inclusive Education Canada (IEC). Hosted by Gordon L. Porter, Director of IEC, with co-hosts Diane Richler, Chair of the Catalyst for Inclusive Education Initiative, Inclusion International, and Jacqueline Specht, Professor of Education and Director of the Canadian Research Centre on Inclusive Education at Western University, the series features researchers, educators, parents, and advocates. The webcast provides diverse perspectives on the challenges, progress, and issues related to inclusive education in Canada. Supported by Western University and funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, all episodes are free and publicly available online.
Community Engagement Club Breaks Educational Barriers for Youth
The Community Engagement Club at Ivey Business School expands access to business education for underserved youth in London. Using the case method to teach core business concepts, Ivey students take on the role of instructors in monthly sessions designed for interactive and practical learning. These sessions are organized to accommodate flexible scheduling and ensure effective educational outcomes. It serves as a model for community-based education, broadening access to those outside the traditional business school demographic and enhancing the teaching skills of Honours Business Administration (HBA) instructors through focused training workshops.
Operations
Western Libraries and Open Access
With more than 12 million items—both in print and online—Western Libraries houses one of the largest collections in North America. The removal of borrowing fees for individuals and organizations expands access to resources, supporting research and learning across the broader community, regardless of affiliation or background. Guests can access most library services for research, professional development, advocacy, policy work, grant writing, and more.
McIntosh Gallery
Founded in 1942, McIntosh Gallery at Wetern University is a public art gallery that promotes visual arts education. It engages with artists, academics, and the community through innovative exhibitions and educational programs. Supported by various arts councils and Western University, the gallery provides enriching visual culture experiences, offering free educational opportunities for all.
Writing Support Centre
The Writing Support Centre is available year-round to assist with university-level writing. It offers free one-to-one appointments, writing seminars, resources, and presentation help with a writing advisor. Services are available in-person at two campus locations or online. The Writing Support Centre supports all members of Western’s community, including undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, and faculty. Assistance is provided for any academic or professional writing, at any stage of the writing process, in any genre, across disciplines. Additionally, the Centre offers free online modules publicly accessible to introduce university-level writing.
