¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥'s Community Engagement Framework was developed through consultation with the community and represents the principled approach Queen’s takes when collaborating with community, industry, and government partners. The framework develops upon Queen’s shared vision for developing and sustaining collaborations with partners through five guiding principles and three strategic priority areas. Additionally, the framework outlines the infrastructure needed to put ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ community engagement goals into motion, including development of teaching and learning and research activities for faculty, staff, and students at Queen’s.
Priority areas
Community engagement at Queen’s focuses on three priority areas: Partnerships, Teaching and Learning, and Research. All community engagement initiatives are guided by our principles and support one or more of these priority areas.
Architecture and Systems | Connections
Community engagement cultivates diverse partnerships to address partner-identified concerns and opportunities with local, regional, and global SDGs. These collaborative activities may include community-based learning and training, research projects, service learning, outreach, evaluation, and knowledge exchange.
Curricular Learning | Co-curricular Learning
Community engagement places students at the centre of their own education, offering practical ways to learn their professional competencies and skills. This can look like course-based or capstone projects for credit, and co-curricular collaborations with partners.
Inquiry and Design | Knowledge Mobilization
Queen’s community engagement strives to grow and transform initiatives in a direction which realizes the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and enhances Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility (I-EDIAA) for everyone.
Growth and transformation
Queen’s community engagement strengthens communities, expands learning, and promotes research. These initiatives foster capacity building, evaluate outcomes for improvement, and adapt to create stronger, more meaningful collaborations.
Capacity building refers to the process of enhancing abilities, skills, and resources to achieve shared goal(s). Some examples include: training, workshops, seminars, and resources.
Evaluation in community engagement systematically assesses the impact of collaborations, identifying strengths and areas for improvement. It fosters ongoing adaptation and provides evidence of activities from diverse perspectives, including communities, students, and researchers.
Adaptation reflects the ability of both the university and partners to adjust their strategies, goals, and practices in response to the changing circumstances, evidence, needs and insights.
Infrastructure
Leadership | Capacity-Building | Programs | Awards and Recognition | Policies | Dedicated Staff Roles | Evaluation | Funding
Infrastructure at Queen’s provides the spaces and systems that support strategic community engagement, enabling participation, partnerships, and contributions to the university’s missions of service, teaching, and research. Ongoing evaluation and adaptation ensure growth and transformation.
In the media
Mar 11, 2026
Queen’s Relay for Life ready to fundraise for cancer research
The annual overnight event continues a two-decade, student-led tradition of raising awareness and funds.
Mar 11, 2026
Multi-Year Accessibility Plan ready for input
The 2026-2031 plan features six priorities, including accessible physical environments and improvements to teaching, learning, and the academic experience.
Mar 08, 2026
Women at Queen’s are driving change
Stories from the past year highlight the leadership, research, and impact of women across the Queen’s community.