Overview
The UBC’s Research Excellence Cluster in Vision or “Vision Cluster” is embarking on the development of a strategic plan to help set a cohesive direction and priorities for the next 5 years. We believe a strategic plan will help give us a competitive edge in future large-scale interdisciplinary grant applications including the NSERC CREATE, NFRF-Transformation, and CFREF. See more in the Launch of the Vision Cluster Strategic Planning Process announcement.
The Vision Cluster is seeking representatives to serve in the Strategic Plan Working Group for a term of approximately 7 months (from February 2024 to August 2024) to contribute to the planning, development, and implementation of a Vision Cluster Strategic Plan. The opportunity to join the Working Group will be one of several ways that members of the Vision Cluster will be able to participate in the strategic planning process.
Expectations
The Strategic Plan Working Group is expected to:
- Participate in monthly virtual 60-min meetings with other Vision Cluster Working Group members between February 2024 – August 2024;
- Communicate feedback via emails between meetings, if necessary;
- Participate in a mid-way check-in cohort meeting, facilitated by UBC Strategic and Decision Support; and
- Attend a one-day in-person retreat, which is to be planned by the Working Group.
Benefits of Joining as Volunteer
Working Group members will:
- Learn how a Strategic Plan can be created with inclusivity in mind;
- Gain valuable leadership skills;
- Gain experience working in an interdisciplinary team amongst members from various faculties and academic institutions;
- Gain decision-making and communication skills amongst a group of researchers from various career stages and education levels; and
- Be able to document this participation in your CV.
Benefits for Trainees
Trainee representatives in the Working Group will:
- Gain valuable experience working alongside faculty members;
- Share your vision for your training and career trajectory; and
- Share your ideas about how a Vision Cluster Trainee Committee can be formed and integrated into the overall mission and vision of the Vision Cluster.
Responsibilities
Working Group members are committed to make strategic decisions, engage members, and monitor progress towards goals by fulfilling the following responsibilities in an 8-month membership.
Members will:
- Provide advice, decision-making and leadership in plan development and implementation;
- Provide input on the elements of the Vision Cluster Strategic Plan in a consultative format (e.g., visioning, goal articulation, action development, outlining resourcing and operational plan, etc.);
- Participate in project activities (e.g., working group meetings, brainstorming/idea generation, pre/post meeting review and validation work); and
- Acts as a channel to respective teams for communication and engagement regarding the planning process and activities.
Process and Approach for Strategic Planning
Phase 1: Situation Assessment
- Conduct SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) assessment
Phase 2: Framework Development
- Develop strategic plan framework including mission, vision, values, and core areas
Phase 3: Strategy Development and Activation
- Establish goals, metrics, and action plans
Phase 4: Implementation & Sustainment
- Establish communication plan to launch the Vision Cluster Strategic Plan
- Officially launch the Vision Cluster Strategic Plan
Composition
The Strategic Plan Working Group will be composed of 8-10 members, including representation from:
- Various UBC units/departments across our governing faculties including the Faculties of Medicine, Arts, Science, and Applied Science;
- Vision Cluster Affiliate Members from other academic institutions in Canada and internationally;
- Different Vision Cluster research themes (i.e. Molecular, Cellular and Eye; Brain Imaging and Artificial Intelligence; Eye Tissue Substitutes; Ophthalmic Imaging for Eye and Brain Disease; Accessibility of Vision Care and the Multisensory Experience in Society);
- Various career stages, including medical students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, assistant professors, associate professors, and full professors;
- Foundational science to clinical research; and
- Persons from historically, persistently, or systemically marginalized (HPSM) groups.
To Participate
Those interested in joining the Strategic Plan Working Group may submit the following:
- Full name
If you do not have a profile page on the Vision Cluster’s People page, please also include:
- Position (MSc Student, PhD Candidate, Associate Professor, Postdoctoral Fellow, etc.)
- Unit/Department (Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, Psychology, Computer Science, etc.)
- Faculty (Medicine, Arts, Science, etc.)
- Institution (UBC, University of Alberta, University of Toronto, University of Melbourne, etc.)
Send materials to ruanne.lai@ubc.ca by February 7, 2024, 11:59pm PT.
Questions
Please contact Ruanne Lai (ruanne.lai@ubc.ca).