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College of Arts

Social Innovation certificate

QUICK FACTS

Credential:
Certificate

Duration:
Four semesters

How to apply

Start date:
January, May, September 

Location:
Abbotsford campus

Cost:
Fees and costs

FEATURES:

  • Can be completed alongside your main program
  • Program eligible for financial aid

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Social Innovation Certificate empowers you to become a changemaker—someone who takes informed, intentional action to create positive cultural, social, environmental, or economic change. You’ll gain the tools and mindset to tackle complex challenges using creative, inclusive, and practical approaches.

Through this program, you’ll learn how to think differently, work across disciplines, and take action in ways that reflect values like sustainability, decolonization, and social justice. Whether you’re aiming for a career in non-profits, business, education, or public service—or you simply want to make a difference—this certificate helps you lead with purpose.

What you'll learn:

  • Inclusive and transformative innovation frameworks
  • Practices for decolonization, Indigenization, and sustainability
  • Skills in systems thinking, collaboration, and futures building

Program highlights:

  • 4 Innovation (INNV) courses + 15 elective credits – Check out which electives you can take.
  • Apply your learning to your major or take it as a stand-alone certificate
  • Grounded in UFV’s Íyáqáwtxw – House of Transformation values and UFVs Changemaker Principles:
    • Inclusive Empowerment | Decolonization & Indigenization | Sustainable Futures | Reciprocity

CAREER EXPECTATIONS

You care about the world—and you want your career to reflect that. The Social Innovation Certificate helps you turn that passion into real opportunities.

Whether you're interested in social impact, non-profits, government, education, business, or leadership, this program gives you the tools to lead change from within.

More and more employers today are looking for people who can think critically and creatively, work across disciplines, and help organizations become more inclusive, sustainable, and future-focused.

This certificate pairs well with degrees in every area area (i.e. Arts, Business, Health or Science). You’ll build your systems-thinking abilities and strategic foresight skills that are in demand across every sector. Through hands-on projects and real-world applications, you'll learn how to turn big ideas into practical solutions—for the workplace, your community, or the world.

You’ll graduate with experience in collaboration, equity-focused innovation, solution focused problem solving, and values-based leadership—skills that prepare you for emerging roles such as:

  • Social Innovation Strategist
  • Sustainability Consultant
  • International Development Officer
  • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Manager
  • Community Engagement Coordinator
  • Policy Advisor or Program Analyst
  • Social Entrepreneur or Non-Profit Founder
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Advisor
  • Researcher
  • Communications specialist
  • Business strategist
  • Team lead
  • Project coordinator
  • Talent development coordinator
  • Creative director
  • Ideation specialist
  • Workplace educator or Corporate trainer
  • Product or service designer
  • Program specialist
  • And more

Whether you're entering the workforce or growing in your current role, this program helps you lead change—with purpose and impact.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Open to both domestic and international students.

View the entrance requirements for the Social Innovation Certificate in the UFV Academic Calendar.

QUESTIONS?

If you're a current UFV student and want to add this certificate to your program, connect with an academic advisor.

If you're not yet a UFV student and want more information, submit the form below: