Each day, we open our phones and there’s something new to digest. It’s prompting people to ask how MacEwan is responding to these uncertain times and if we’ll need to shift gears.

I was recently at a seminar where each leader was asked, “What is your big rock – that one challenge that you need to overcome?” I said that we don’t have one rock. We’re dealing with a meteor shower.

The current state of the world has more uncertainty than we’ve experienced in recent memory.

First, there’s much more ambiguity and insecurity these days than people are used to. Layered on to that is our bold vision of Teaching Greatness with its desire for perpetual motion.

I understand, I get it; this uncertainty is very uncomfortable. Recently, I saw the Oscar-winning movie Conclave, and I was struck by an interesting quote: “Certainty is the enemy of tolerance.” It made me think: how can we use this period of uncertainty to be more tolerant of difference? And, how can we move with intention through this uncertainty? 

Because all that being said, when it comes to what we’re doing at MacEwan, I do feel like we’re in a relatively fortunate place.

Our plan for perpetual motion was based on the province’s projected growth, the demographics of our school systems, economic projections, and doing our share to meet the needs of Edmonton and Alberta.  Based on these and other factors, we created a solid strategic enrolment management plan which, at this time, I am recommending to the board that we continue to work toward as planned.

I truly believe that we’re in a place of strength because our plan responds to the priorities of the province, our key funder.

It’s a plan that has us building on our strengths – the things we do well. We’re meeting the needs of students. We’re responding to the needs of industry, employers and community.

We're also developing some contingencies around how we can continue to provide both a high-quality experience and grow in these uncertain economic times. We’re watching the road ahead, and we can adapt.

MacEwan’s perseverance and adaptability are in our DNA. I think back to the choice we made many years ago to consolidate our operations to our downtown campus with the aim of delivering an interdisciplinary, adaptable experience that was also effective and relevant. It was a bold decision that has served us well.

I want to see us continue to be bold, while holding close to the things that are essential to who we are. We believe in the power of education and our purpose. We know why we come to work every day. We can't solve everything that’s going on in the world, but we can – and do – empower people to contribute to finding those solutions.

I also see us embracing new ideas and methodologies, like artificial intelligence (AI), to chart new paths toward our goals. As we work through questions about how to engage more students and use our space differently with tighter budgets, AI is a tool that holds great potential.

When we are asked to imagine what universities will look like 10 years from now, some ask whether we will even need universities, wondering if AI will make them obsolete. My answer is yes – of course we will need universities.

University is a transformative time. It’s a relationship-based experience that is more than what happens in the classroom. It’s the sum of what you learn with and from others. It’s how you take that learning and apply it to your personal, professional and academic life. AI will never replace the relationships in our classrooms and the people who make a university experience challenging and inspiring – we know the value of human connection can’t be substituted.

I would argue that universities will be even more necessary: we have to think through how to use these tools for good to empower people.

What does that mean? It means using AI’s potential to enhance what we do. We have to be more accessible, so can we use AI to make ourselves more accessible to our students. We have to solve problems. How do we combine the power of AI with the strength of our humanity to better solve problems? I think there's a lot to look forward to, if you look at it through that lens.

In this time of uncertainty, sticking to what makes MacEwan unique is our path to success. We’re visionary, we’re intentional, we're relevant – and we’re ready to adapt, if necessary.

That’s how you make change.

Dr. Annette Trimbee
President and Vice-Chancellor