As Dean and Vice-Provost of UBC’s Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, I am delighted to welcome you to our website and invite you to explore the wealth of information that we have made available. Whether you are already a part of the UBC community, are considering joining us or are a member of the public interested in discovering what we are all about, this website has been created for you with the express purpose of serving as a reliable source for graduate and postdoctoral education information at the university.
The role of the Faculty is to promote and support excellence and innovation in the graduate and postdoctoral enterprise across the campus. Among other responsibilities, we seek to ensure a transparent, consistent and equitable administration of graduate programs and awards, evaluation and quality assurance of graduate programs, advocacy for graduate and postdoctoral needs within the larger academic community, assistance with individual student and postdoctoral problems, and the provision of outstanding opportunities for professional development of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty in their role as supervisors. Given the constant flux of the 21st century, we also provide leadership in envisioning change and supporting the graduate and postdoctoral community to evolve in response to these needs.
In our most recent strategic plan, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies made commitments to, among other goals, (1) enhancing graduate supervision, (2) enriching the learning and experience of graduate students and postdocs, (3) promoting graduate student and postdoc wellbeing, (4) advancing Indigenous inclusion, (5) reimagining graduate and postdoctoral education, and (6) strengthening student and postdoctoral funding.
UBC is one of the top 40 research-intensive universities in the world and a recognized leader in research and scholarship at the graduate and postdoctoral level across an enormous range of both disciplinary and interdisciplinary fields, with nearly 900 postdoctoral fellows and over 10,000 graduate students on the UBC-Vancouver campus. In 2018-19, UBC earned more than 669 million in research funding, with record number of 9,544 projects supported. UBC also ranks among the top ten universities in North America in the creation of spin-off companies, with the creation 213 spin-off companies. It is no wonder then, that we attract students and faculty who are among the most outstanding scholars in the world. International media consistently rank Vancouver as one of the world’s most livable cities. We enjoy Canada’s mildest climate and a natural environment of forested mountains on the wild and beautiful coastline of the Pacific Ocean.
If you are already here, or are committed to joining us, you are warmly welcomed, and I encourage you to explore the many opportunities for engagement with this diverse community. I would particularly invite you to explore the ground-breaking Public Scholars Initiative that supports PhD students to undertake collaborative research for the public good, and of the many professional development opportunities offered by Graduate Pathways for Success (GPS) and Postdoctoral Fellows Office (PDFO), all examples of UBC’s commitment to supporting and encouraging academic success, work-life balance, and the development of competencies and outlooks to prepare graduates for their professions and for their role in advancing a civil society. For those who are considering coming, take some time to explore the information on our website and other websites at UBC, and visit our campus if possible. Please consider joining us in creating the rich intellectual and cultural life that we as the UBC community enjoy so fully.
Dr. Susan Porter
Dean and Vice-Provost, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies