Higher Education

BC EduJam 2025: Reimagining and Rethinking Education in British Columbia

LaSalle College Vancouver, in collaboration with University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) Business and Economics Faculty, hosted BC’s first-ever Service Design Jam for Education. This three-day workshop, driven by the #DoingNotTalking initiative, brought together educators and industry leaders to rethink the future of education.
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We were proud to be part of BC’s first-ever Service Design Jam for education, a groundbreaking initiative in collaboration with University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) Faculty of Business and Economics. Over three days, educators, administrators, employers, and professionals came together with one shared mission: to rethink and reimagine education.

By leveraging design thinking methodologies, participants tackled challenges from multiple perspectives, ensuring that students remained at the core of every discussion. From hands-on activities to thought-provoking discussions, BC EduJam highlighted the power of creativity, innovation, and collaboration in shaping the future of education.

Some of the key themes that emerged throughout the workshop included:

Centralizing Information & Strengthening Communication: How can we create clear communication channels and ensure information is effectively shared across the institution?

Bridging the Gap Between Traditional and Independent Learning: How can we better support students who are accustomed to traditional education as they transition to more self-directed and independent learning models?

The event was hosted at LaSalle College Vancouver, with a parallel session at UNBC in Prince George, ensuring a broad institutional reach. Led by Jamie Kemp, Chief Academic Officer, and Corrie Heringa, Academic Director, along with Pamela Spokes, who facilitated the workshop at UNBC, teams collaborated to design practical solutions, develop prototypes, and craft strategies aimed at improving the learning experience.

As Jamie Kemp highlighted:

"BC EduJam was a powerful collaboration between LaSalle College Vancouver and UNBC's School of Business. It blended creativity, service design, and design thinking in a fun environment so that we could build the skills we need to tackle the challenges facing higher education. Innovation isn't just a goal for us, it’s a culture that thrives at every level. This event reminded us of the importance of breaking out of departmental and disciplinary silos when looking for solutions and putting students at the heart of everything we do."

These initiatives serve as a powerful reminder of how education acts as a catalyst for growth and innovation in the future of learning. By fostering communication, collaboration, and forward-thinking approaches, BC EduJam demonstrated that when institutions unite, they don't just generate ideas, they take meaningful action. It wasn't just about discussing change; it was about driving it forward.