The societal impact focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and fostering lifelong learning opportunities.

Lakehead University places a strong emphasis on quality education and lifelong learning.  Through innovative teaching approaches, equitable access and research excellence, Lakehead University fosters a diverse and inclusive educational environment.

Research and Innovation

Teaching Commons

Lakehead University’s Teaching Commons promotes quality teaching and strengthens teaching and educational leadership capacity in support of student learning. It advances evidence-informed, innovative, and inclusive teaching practices through professional development, curriculum support, and initiatives that enhance teaching and learning across the university.

Centre of Education and Research on Positive Youth Development

The Centre of Education and Research on Positive Youth Development (CERPYD) advances research, training, and community partnerships that promote positive youth development and educational success. CERPYD enhances learning opportunities by supporting evidence-informed practices that foster youth well-being, engagement, and inclusive educational outcomes.

Commitment to Research Integrity

Our Research Integrity Policy reflects Lakehead University’s commitment to fostering research and scholarly practices grounded in honesty, transparency, fairness, respect, accountability, and ethical conduct. It guides researchers in upholding these values throughout all stages of the research process.

Teaching and Student Life

Lakehead University is committed to fostering an educational environment grounded in fairness, inclusion, and equitable access, reflecting the principles of the Human Rights Policy and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives, which work to remove barriers, promote respect and belonging, and ensure all members of the university community have the opportunity to succeed.

Continuing Education at Lakehead

The Office of Community Engaged Lifelong Learning (CELL) and Third Age Learning Lakehead (TALL) offer a variety of programs, courses and workshops in a variety of areas to meet the needs of Lakehead’s surrounding communities. TALL has delivered more than 100 public lectures since its establishment, addressing topics including climate change, misinformation, aging in place, music and artificial intelligence. The program provides educational opportunities and social connection for community members beyond Lakehead's enrolled student population.

Humanities 101 is a community-based outreach program that ensures community members who love learning have access to a university-level educational experience despite financial or social barriers.

Learning Among Indigenous Communities

Lakehead University’s Niijii Indigenous Mentorship Program provides educational programming and mentorship for Indigenous youth across Northwestern Ontario. The program connects university students with Indigenous high school students through science, culture-based activities, and positive learning experiences that encourage pathways to post-secondary education.

Community Impact

Expanding Access to STEM Education

The Let's Talk Science program connects educators and young learners to deliver a variety of science, technology, engineering and mathematics experiences at no cost.  Let’s Talk Science actively cultivates curiosity and engagement in STEM subjects within local schools and throughout the broader community.

Superior Science is a student-run, non-profit program that sparks children's interests in science, engineering and technology through fun, hands-on activities. Based at Lakehead University, Superior Science's philosophy is learning through hands-on, interactive experiences. Since 1999, this program has continued its goal of promoting awareness of science by offering a variety of outreach programs throughout Northwestern Ontario. In 2024-2025, Superior Science reported reaching more than 5,000 youth annually through summer camps, school workshops, community outreach and Indigenous community outreach. Programming included all-girls STEM programming and barrier-free coding and technology programming, supporting access to STEM education for diverse groups of young learners.

Public Resources for Lifelong Learning

Lakehead University provides access to educational resources and learning opportunities that extend beyond the campus community. Through its libraries, public lectures, outreach programs, and online resources, Lakehead supports lifelong learning by enabling community members to engage with knowledge, research, and educational materials.

As part of Lakehead's 60th anniversary activities, the University hosted the President's Public Lecture Series, providing free educational opportunities to the wider community through lectures featuring university researchers and thought leaders. The lectures are held at the Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses, livestreamed, and made available online for on-demand viewing, allowing individuals who are not enrolled at Lakehead to access academic knowledge and engage with current issues.

Lakehead University’s libraries are open to community members and visitors, providing access to library collections and on-campus resources. These services support lifelong learning, independent research, and access to academic information for individuals beyond the university’s student population, helping extend educational resources and learning opportunities to the wider community.

Free Online Educational Resources for High School Students

Lakehead University offers Lakehead Lessons, a collection of free online educational resources designed to support high school students in their learning. These resources provide access to subject-specific content and learning materials beyond the university’s enrolled student population, helping students explore academic topics, strengthen their knowledge, and prepare for post-secondary education.

Administration and Operations

Equitable Access to Lifelong Learning

Lakehead University's lifelong-learning and community education activities were supported by institutional commitments to equity, inclusion, accessibility and the removal of barriers to participation. Lakehead's Human Rights Policy and EDI initiatives establish principles of equitable access and inclusion for members of the university community. These principles support the delivery of community education and lifelong-learning activities through programs such as Third Age Learning Lakehead, the Office of Community Engaged Lifelong Learning and public educational outreach.