STAFF & STUDENTS: VOLUNTEER ON OUR DESIGN THINKING TEAM
Join us to learn design thinking and support an important project
ABOUT THE PROJECT
From Stories to Change
This project brings together staff, faculty, and students from across campus to listen deeply to student experiences. Through interviews, observations and feedback sessions we’ll collect rich qualitative data that reveals the why behind the university’s quantitative data. We’ll look at the stories, barriers and needs behind the numbers. We’re partnering with our colleagues who are looking at quantitative data to bring together different types of data and insights. We want to create a fuller picture of student experiences at U of T. In the spring of 2027, during the university’s bicentennial year, we’ll invite colleagues from across the university come together for a student experience data day for a professional development day to share what we’ve learned and engage with the data across all five domains.
WHY GET INVOLVED
We know that being part of a team of students, staff, and alumni working together in a design thinking model is a unique and special experience. At the end of the project, all team members will receive a Design Thinking Experience Program Certificate for work on the From Stories to Change project. For students, this experience also counts towards your Co-Curricular Record (CCR). Click on each card below to learn more about the benefits of volunteering on our team.
Learn Design Thinking
Build Human-Centred Skills
Expand Your Network
Be Part of a Project That Gives Back
Showcase Your Work
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Team members will be guided through the project via weekly workshops. Each phase of the project will be taught and then immediately applied in the work. Workshops include:
- Storytelling & Equity
- Empathy Interviewing
- Conducting Feedback Sessions
- Creating Immersive Experiences
- Empathy Mapping
- Affinity Mapping & Insights
- Personas
- Journey Maps
- Integrative Thinking & Tensions in the Data
- Impactful Presentations
You’ll also receive hands-on training and support during co-working sessions throughout the project.
WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR
Volunteering as a team member is a great opportunity for students, staff, and alumni from across the university’s three campuses who:
- Are curious: you want to understand student experiences more deeply
- Learn by doing: you want a hands-on professional development opportunity that goes beyond your day-to-day work or academics
- Want to connect: you want to make connections across the university
- Love to co-create: you believe in designing with rather than for students
- Want to contribute to change: You’re ready to work with a diverse team on a project that is designed to understand and ultimately improve student experiences
THE COMMITMENT
Full-Year Commitment
- Commitment is from October 2026 to the end of March 2027, with a break in December
- Option to participate in a professional development event in Spring 2027
Weekly Workshops & Co-Works
- Workshops take place on Thursdays from 11-1
- Group co-working sessions take place at times convenient to team members
In-Person Work at the Innovation Hub
- All sessions and co-works will take place at the Innovation Hub
Supervisor Approval (Staff Only)
- Staff participants will be asked to provide written approval from their immediate supervisor
PROJECT TIMELINE
In Fall 2026, team members will learn the basics of design thinking and the empathy-based data collection approaches, conduct feedback sessions, interviews, and immersive experiences with staff and students across the university. Then, in Winter 2027, we’ll move into data analysis. This means analysing data with, empathy maps, affinity mapping, and generating insights. Lastly, in Spring 2027, we'll co-create a final report and present it to university at large through a Student Experience Data Day.
APPLY TO VOLUNTEER
Apply to volunteer by completing a brief questionnaire, followed by an Ideathon: a combined session where you’ll learn more about the project & get a taste of design thinking work through a 90-minute experience.
