Into the future...

What will the university of the future look like?

A few things are clear: In the rapidly changing landscape of the 21st century, universities will succeed by finding new and innovative ways to deliver learning; by integrating diversity deeply within the university’s culture; and by developing new strategies to collaborate with private and public sector partners to realize our mission. Successful universities will serve both local and global communities.

Having just celebrated McGill’s 190th anniversary, I am reminded of how even the most far-reaching vision of the future is built on the foundations of the past. Established through the singular act of vision that was James McGill’s founding bequest, McGill has continued to take bold steps to positively shape our collective tomorrow. We have cultivated research and scholarly collaborations with outstanding people and institutions here at home and around the world. We are contributing to the resolution of major local and global problems, and we have secured McGill’s position as a sought-after destination for the world’s finest international students and professors.

Just this year, I received recommendations from my Principal’s Task Force on Diversity, Excellence and Community Engagement. These addressed McGill’s best practices to embrace and encourage people with diverse backgrounds, viewpoints and ideas to come together to advance knowledge and service in the best interests of healthy society and proposed new approaches that are under consideration.

It is also clear that at the heart of McGill’s progress lies the talent and commitment of our people, and the generosity of our community. As it has been for nearly 200 years, McGill’s bold embrace of the future is dependent on the support of alumni, friends and community members who understand the needs of our students and faculty and who support them in building stronger, more educated and more prosperous societies.

In this issue of Making Hıstory, we shine a spotlight on the power of philanthropy to shape our future. From improving global health, to enriching debate on human rights and international justice, from encouraging young entrepreneurs to supporting science outreach, from improving cancer care delivery to finding a cure for cancer, our generous donors are making sure that McGill’s next two centuries will be as extraordinary as its first two.

On behalf of the entire McGill community, I thank you for contributing so importantly to McGill’s future, and the future of civil society.

—Professor Heather Munroe-Blum, OC, OQ