Ontario
Founded in 1959
The University of Waterloo was founded in 1957 and is located in the tech hub of Waterloo, Ontario. Initially, the university focused on engineering and co-operative education programs, enrolling just 74 students in its first year. Today, the University of Waterloo has grown into one of Canada's top universities, with over 41,000 students enrolled in the fall of 2019. Its engineering school has developed into the best in Canada and ranks among the top 50 globally, showing rapid and stable growth.
Unlike other research universities, the University of Waterloo is most well-known for its emphasis on co-operative education, where students gain practical work experience alongside their studies. Waterloo's co-op programs make up 31% of Canada's total co-op offerings. The university is also recognized for its "innovation," having held the top spot as the most innovative university in Canada according to Maclean’s magazine for 28 consecutive years.
Waterloo is known for its open academic culture and strong encouragement of entrepreneurship. In 2008, the university launched the Velocity program to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with dedicated student residences, co-working spaces, workshops, and funding competitions. Over the years, the Velocity program has helped create over 300 startups, raised $130 million in funding, and generated over 2,600 jobs. In 2019, the program evolved into Concept, an initiative designed to support students more proactively in turning their ideas into reality, further showcasing the university's unique approach to developing talent.