In April 2021, the Government of Saskatchewan in partnership with post-secondary institutions in the province signed a multi-year funding investment MOU that provided funding certainty to the sector over the next four years. Through the government's $31 million investment in USask, we have the opportunity to accelerate our recovery from the impact of the global pandemic, focus on and strengthen our contributions to the province, and accelerate the university’s financial sustainability.

Executive Sponsor and Provost and Vice-President Airini initiated a call to all deans, executive directors and senior leadership for project concept proposals. Project concepts were submitted from colleges, schools, and vice-president portfolios that identified strategic projects where USask could potentially invest the multi-year funding.

Project concept were developed and evaluated based on its alignment with the six areas outlined in the province's multi-year funding agreement. Once a project concept was approved for consideration of funding, it was then reviewed from a feasibility standpoint. This included clarifying the intended outcomes of each project, identifying metrics to measure the outcomes, and confirming the timelines, milestones, risks and barriers and resources required. Another key element was to determine the return on investment for each project.

The USask President's Executive Committee (PEC) approved 17 projects in Round I and the decisions were communicated to the project leads. 

Project leads assembled steering or selection committees (project dependent) and began work on fulfilling the goals, terms, and implementation plans for each project.

Project submissions for Round II were accepted, reviewed, and operational assessments were completed.

USask announces that it will advance its micro-credential pilot initiative early in 2022 to create more opportunities for flexible access to lifelong learning that will enable learners to develop competencies required by evolving industries and communities.

This announcement was part of the Micro-credentials Initiative under the Horizons Project.

Recommendations were made to PEC for review and approval of Round II projects, and the decisions were communicated to the project leads.

Project leads assembled steering or selection committees (project dependent) and began work on fulfilling the goals, terms, and implementation plans for each project.

USask ties for 58th place in the 2022 Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact overall rankings, which measures the success of more than 1,400 universities around the world in advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The University Rankings Initiative is one of 26 initiatives funded through the Government of Saskatchewan's $31 million investment in the Horizons Project.

The College of Arts and Science announces a renewed vision for fine and performing arts at USask. The new project will assess opportunities and needs related to organizational structure, infrastructure, community partnerships, research, scholarly, and artistic work, and is part of the College of Arts and Sciences Amalgamation Initiative. 

USask moves up in Maclean’s magazine’s annual rankings of Canadian universities for 2023.

USask also achieves its best-ever subject ranking in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject, with education garnering a spot in the 151-175 category, moving up four tiers from a ranking of 301-400 one year ago.

USask is among the top tier of all universities in tackling the world’s biggest environmental, social, and governance challenges, according to the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings: Sustainability.

The University Rankings initiative is one of 26 initiatives funded through the Government of Saskatchewan's $31 million investment in the Horizons Project.

--

USask announces the launch of the Living Skies Post-Doctoral Fellows Initiative to enhance interdisciplinary research activity. Living Skies is one of 26 initiatives funded through the Government of Saskatchewan's $31 million investment in the Horizons Project.

The University of Saskatchewan community, provincial and municipal leaders, and members of the province’s business community came together on February 16 to celebrate the grand opening of a new startup incubator named Opus.

Opus is one of 26 initiatives funded through the Government of Saskatchewan's $31 million investment in the Horizons Project.

On March 21, 2023, the University of Saskatchewan hosted a campus-wide symposium to showcase projects funded by a $31-million government grant. The symposium included an overview of the initiatives and funding, presentations by specific project leaders and a panel discussion on internal change projects.

On Tuesday, April 18, more than 500 USask community members, alumni and friends gathered to celebrate the launch of the Be What the World Needs campaign, one of the largest initiatives in University of Saskatchewan history. 

The Be What the World Needs launch event was part of strategic, campaign-specific programming coordinated through the Comprehensive Campaign Accelerator Initiative. 

• Watch the Campaign Launch Event

USask announced that it has earned a top-100 worldwide rank in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact rankings, with top-20 rankings in two key areas. 

This announcement is part of the University Rankings Initiative. 

Funding for the Horizons Project concludes.