UCalgary's Learning Approach and Ecosystem
Supporting meaningful learning and career journeys across UCalgary
Future Ready
Ahead of Tomorrow positions professional development as a key enabler of institutional excellence, cultural renewal and individual growth. It calls for investment in professional development to unlock our collective and individual potential and make it simpler and faster to bring ideas to fruition. The Professional Development Roadmap brings that vision to life. The Roadmap sets-out our near, medium and long term priorities and our commitments to professional development. It aligns with our Ahead of Tomorrow aspiration to be the leading U15 institution in professional development investment by 2030. Through it we seek a shift toward shared responsibility for learning, more consistent support for development, and a workplace where growth is a core part of the career experience. It also articulates how we will enable these ambitions through investment in technology, systems and data, clear roles and responsibilities and leadership support.
Strategies
Focal Area Strategies
People Plan (PDF)
Our Approach
At UCalgary, professional development is grounded in the belief that learning is continuous, varied and embedded in the everyday experience of work. Learning and professional development is not something that can be delivered only through formal training and courses. Rather, it is something that occurs through ongoing application and consolidation of skills and knowledge through real experiences. Our continuous learning model reflects this philosophy. It shows the different learning opportunities available to our people throughout their career and guides the design and delivery of our professional development offer.
Our Priority Initiatives
Career Growth and Mobility
We support career growth and movement by setting a clear career philosophy, offering flexible journeys and staffing options, strengthening succession and talent planning, and embedding professional development in everyday performance conversations.
High‑Quality PD Experiences
We deliver engaging, trusted learning by clearly sharing our approach, expanding access to programs and supports, enabling mentoring and peer learning, and partnering with experts to provide well‑curated, high‑quality development experiences.
Core and Future‑Focused Skills
We build skills for today and the future by defining clear learning journeys, offering flagship programs at all career stages, and collaborating with partners to develop the capabilities needed for the university’s evolving priorities.
A Connected PD Ecosystem
We strengthen learning across the university by launching a PD Digital Hub, equipping leaders to champion development, improving PD data practices, and modernizing systems so learning is easier to access and progress is easier to track.
The Professional Development Ecosystem
The Learning Ecosystem at UCalgary brings together a rich network of programs, platforms, and curated development experiences that support the growth of every employee across the university community. Diverse perspectives, experiences, and knowledge are brought together in our ecosystem allowing the university to leverage the unique expertise of its academic and professional communities. Each team plays a role in designing, delivering, and promoting professional development. Together, we all reinforce learning and support continuous development across UCalgary.
Click, explore and learn – start discovering our ecosystem below.
Contact & Support
Our programs are managed by a range of faculties, departments, and external partners, each with their own dedicated team. Connecting directly with the right contact is the quickest way to get the help you need. For more specific support, see the resources below.