Overarching themes
Across all strategic areas, the Digital Strategy will include overarching and integrated themes:
Shared values
Dalhousie’s digital environment will reflect and support our values of inclusiveness, equity, diversity, accessibility, seamlessness, integration, lifelong learning, transparency, sustainability, privacy, security, digital literacy, and community focus.
Integration
Well-integrated and well-supported systems and platforms will enable all users to thrive.
Shared data
Data is an institutional asset, which supports transparent and data-informed decision-making.
Communications and training
Improved communications on governance, systems availability, and training opportunities will increase cooperation and digital competency. 
User-focused
Keeping the user experience simple, accessible, and barrier-free is a guiding principle.
Innovation and creativity
Encourage a culture that supports innovation, creativity, experimentation, and risk-taking.
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Strategic pillars
The five pillars of the strategy closely align with Dal’s strategic plan, approved by the Board of Governor in June 2021. The Digital Strategy provides foundational digital supports to enable the achievement of the goals in the strategic plan.
Digitally supported, differentiated pedagogy, and exceptional student experiences
- Create an integrated, barrier-free digital research environment to stimulate and support innovation and achievement of research goals, and to enhance the researcher and student experience.
Digitally competent students, staff, and faculty
- Create an integrated, barrier-free digital research environment to stimulate and support innovation and achievement of research goals, and to enhance the researcher and student experience.
Seamless, enabling digital research environments
- Create an integrated, barrier-free digital research environment to stimulate and support innovation and achievement of research goals, and to enhance the researcher and student experience.
Digitally enhanced relationships and services
- Enhance flexibility, accessibility, and innovation in open and inclusive digital environments to enrich internal engagement and expand our service to diverse local and global communities; to develop breakthrough research and innovation, to drive sustainable, economic growth; and to contribute to cultural and social development.
Ethical, effective governance, sustainable, responsive, future-ready
The human element is the central governing factor in developing our digital infrastructure, to ensure that investments in technology are made in support of Dalhousie’s mission.
- Dal’s accessible and person-centered digital environment will foster a shared systems culture that protects privacy and security, and enables accessibility, while being supported by training and communications.
- We will implement approaches, processes, and functions that reinforce exceptional teaching, research, and student experiences, as well as effective and efficient administration, with integrated, flexible digital platforms, data, and applications.
Watch: A people-first approach to technology
The Digital Strategy was developed through an extensive consultation process with the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøcommunity and addresses a wide variety of gaps and priorities.