Team Reflection: Empathy and Understanding with Students Who Are Also Parents 

Team photo of the Experiences of Students Who Are Also Parents Design Research team. 5 people standing on a staircase.

This past year, an Innovation Hub Design Research team worked on a project focused on the experiences of students who are also parents. In this blog, team members reflect on the importance of empathy in listening deeply to student parent stories and understanding their needs. The team shares some of their reflections from the work, what they learned, and their hopes for how the university can continue to become family friendly.  

Written by the Innovation Hub’s Experiences of Students Who Are Also Parents Design Research Team

The Innovation Hub is Hiring a Full Time Project Assistant

we are hiring a project assistant

Are you interested in design thinking, qualitative research, leadership, and project management? Do you wish to create change and improve the campus student experience at U of T? The Innovation Hub is hiring a full time Project Assistant to support everything we do! We are seeking a high-capacity person with superior tech skills who wants to join our vibrant team!

Supporting all teams at the Innovation Hub is also a big commitment – but with it comes a great reward. Our past employees have gone on to have successful careers in a variety of industries. You will absolutely build confidence in this role! Our work is fast paced and involves managing tight and often competing deadlines and coordinating with various stakeholders and partners. The Project Assistant role is an incredible opportunity for you to advance your skillsets, learn through design thinking, and discover something new! 

Embracing Disability Pride Month: Celebrating History and Community

Headshot of Ness Maloney
Headshot of Maribeth Tabanera

July is Disability Pride Month! In this article, Innovation Hub team members Maribeth and Ness share reflections on what Disability Pride Month means to them personally and for our broader community. This article features discussion about the Toronto Disability Pride March, and features a conversation with Spencer West, one of the organizers of the march. 

Written by Maribeth Manalaysay Tabanera, Blog Writer and Content Writer, Master of Education in Social Justice Education and Ness Maloney, Design Researcher, Engagement & Belonging – Students with Disabilities, PhD candidate, Socio-Cultural Anthropology

Team Reflections: Commuter Student Spaces Project — It’s the small things that make a big difference 

Over the past year, the Innovation Hub worked in partnership with Spaces & Experiences to understand the needs of commuter students to support the design of future spaces intended to support them. In this blog, the Innovation Hub’s design research team reflects upon learnings from working on the year-long commuter spaces project, emphasizing that many students’ needs can be met in relatively simple ways.   

Written by the Commuter Student Spaces team

Working at the Innovation Hub – 2024-25

Working at the Innovation Hub banner

Are you curious about what we do at the Innovation Hub? Are you interested in working during the Fall-Winter 2024-25 Work Study term?  

On July 15, 2024 from 12pm-1pm, we’ll be hosting a special event via Zoom, sharing all about the Innovation Hub: who we are, what we do, and why we do it!    

Honouring National Indigenous Peoples Day: Reflections & Land Acknowledgements 

Headshot of Ruth

The history of National Indigenous People’s Day mirrors the norms of ongoing Indigenous advocacy in Canada. In this blog, Ruth reflects on the meaning of this important day, and explores the original intention behind the federal holiday, and shares her learnings about the importance of land acknowledgements. Ruth suggests best practices to foster engagement with Indigenous people all year round. 

Written by Ruth Rodrigues, Qualitative Data Archivist Team Lead, Master of Education in Social Justice Education

The Innovation Hub is Hiring Leaders for Fall-Winter 2024-25 

We're Hiring Student Leaders banner

Are you interested in design thinking, qualitative research, leadership, and project management? Do you wish to create change and improve the campus student experience at U of T? The Innovation Hub is hiring leaders to support the growth and development of many campus initiatives and you can play an integral role in them! We are seeking innovative, insightful, determined leaders to join our wonderful team! 

Leading a team at the Innovation Hub is also a big commitment – but with it comes a great reward. Our past Team Leads have gone on to have successful careers in a variety of industries. We encourage our space of learning, and we really want you to feel comfortable in a space of failure and iteration. Our work is fast paced and involves managing tight and often competing deadlines and coordinating with various stakeholders and partners. This is an incredible opportunity for you to advance your skillsets, learn through design thinking, and discover something new! 

#DisplayYourPride 2024: Celebrating Pride at the Innovation Hub

June is Pride Month! From attending a U of T pride event to hosting our own, here is how we’re celebrating and honouring Pride month and reflecting how we can continue fostering inclusivity and diversity on campus throughout and beyond June.  

Written by Ajeetha Vithiyananthan, Blog Writer, Bachelor of Science, Psychology specialist and Sociology minor & Ruth Rodrigues, Qualitative Data Archivist Team Lead, Master of Education, Social Justice Education 

Meet the Summer 2024 Team!

The Innovation Hub welcomes a wonderful group of students into the team each term. We are starting our new academic term with a team of 40 students and Team Leads. Let’s meet them! 

Written by Ajeetha Vithiyananthan, Blog Editor & Digital Content Writer, Honours Bachelor of Science, Psychology specialist & Sociology minor 

Team Reflections: Where Qualitative Research Can Take You

QDA Team sitting by couches

The Qualitative Data Archivist Team supports Innovation Hub projects using qualitative research skills, with each team member taking away something different from their experience. The 2023-2024 team reflects on how their dynamic workload fosters collaboration and how this can also lead to personal growth. 

Written by the Innovation Hub Qualitative Data Archivist Team