Multi-Faith Centre: Making Meaning at U of T
We worked with the Multi-Faith Centre (MFC) to understand students’ needs for spiritual support, across diverse religious identities and groups. Based on direct observations and group and individual interviews, we developed a model for how spirituality supports students, and how MFC can support students’ spirituality.
Fall/Winter 2018-2019
How can the MFC meet the spiritual needs of all students in their search for meaning, purpose, and identity in everyday life?
The Multi-Faith Centre (MFC) is a service provider under the Division of Student Life that aims to “[support] the spiritual well-being of everyone on campus and provide opportunities for people to learn from each other while exploring questions of meaning, purpose and identity”. 1 To better understand how their services are currently being used by students and identify opportunities for improvement, the Multi-Faith Centre partnered with the Innovation Hub to find answers.
KEY FINDINGS
Students are able to make meaning through participation in multiple, intersecting spheres of life
These spheres inform the key themes discussed in this report:
- Community and Belonging
- Finding Purpose and Understanding
- Pursuing Positive Emotional Experiences
- Barriers to Engagement
Each theme is divided into insights, which form the basis for design principles that should be considered when designing future programs, services, and spaces at the MFC.
