Collaborations for Change 2023 Conference Summary
Collaborations for Change is excited to release the summary report from the 2023 conference. Hosted by the Best Practices Network and the University of Calgary Campus Mental Health Strategy, the 1.5-day virtual event brought together students, practitioners, student life professionals, faculty, and researchers from across Canada to exchange knowledge and emerging and promising practices to enhance the mental health and wellbeing of
post-secondary students.
Over 294 conference attendees participated in a variety of activities including an opening keynote session by Dr. Chika Stacey Oriuwa, formal presentations, an Indigenous Elders panel, an Indigenous Counsellor panel, a student panel, poster sessions, mindfulness breaks, and networking opportunities. There were 30 presentations across five streams: (a) Collaborations and Partnerships; (b) Impact; (c) Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility (EDIA); (d) Decolonization and Indigenization; and (e) Systemic Approaches.
The conference summary outlines participation and reach, an evaluation of the conference, and conclusions and recommendations. The summary also highlights key themes that emerged from the presentation content, including co-designing research studies and initiatives with students as partners, utilizing peer-support as an impactful service model, and centering the experiences of equity-deserving students.
Learn more about the 2023 conference:
English Conference Summary: C4C Summary 2023_ENG (PDF)
French Conference Summary: C4C Summary 2023_FR (PDF)
The Collaborations for Change Conference is an event hosted in partnership between the Best Practices Network in Higher Education and the University of Calgary’s Campus Mental Health Strategy with support from the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS). The Conference aims to bridge research and practice on post-secondary student mental health through engaging campus staff, clinicians, researchers, and students.