Workshop

Life Design Workshops and Programming

Life Design workshops and events give students the tools that they need to imagine and plan for their personal and professional futures. Programming is offered as a series of ongoing workshops and events, and is free and available for students throughout the academic year.

Create an action plan for your future

Life Design programs are available as pre-registered workshop sessions and are available to all UCalgary students. In these sessions, students use design tools to understand and re-frame unhelpful thinking, set future goals and create solutions for short and long-term challenges that they’re facing.


Designing your UCalgary: First Year Seminar

Will you be in your first year this fall? Looking to connect with other new students, learn about campus resources, and get support building an amazing first year? 

Over four sessions, you and a community of other first year students will be introduced to design thinking, a mindset and series of tools that will help you to think about what a successful university experience looks like to you. This program will help you think about your personal, academic, and career goals, the skills required to achieve them, and connect with other first year students in the process. Participation is completely free and includes a meal at every session.

Please note, this program is University of Calgary students in their first year in Fall 2024.

  • Dates & Time: Four Mondays in the Fall: Sept. 23, 12-1:30 PM, Oct. 7, 12-1:30 PM, Oct. 21, 12-1:30 PM, Nov. 4, 12-1:30 PM 
  • Location: Life Design Hub (MacEwan Student Centre 171)

Designing Your UCalgary Coaching Program

Unlock your potential with the Design your UCalgary Coaching Program.

Be part of a close-knit coaching group including a campus staff Coach who will provide guidance on goal setting and pathways to achieving your personal, professional and academic goals. Group coaching is an innovative approach to help participants get motivated, supported, and connected as you work on your goals, or explore how to have a fulfilling experience in university and beyond. Join a group of students interested in exploring topics like:

  • the value of university,
  • how to plan academics,
  • envision a future career, and
  • address tough problems.

Based on Stanford University’s popular “Designing your Life” courses — this program is designed to help students understand how to get the most out of university experience.

This is a Quality Money project, brought to you by your Students’ Union. Apply for the Fall coaching cohort!

FAQs

Group coaching is where like-minded students interested in exploring how design thinking can help with achieving academic, professional and personal goals are grouped together. They are assigned a dedicated staff member who coaches the group through engaging design thinking learning and activities. Group coaching is flexible, supportive and helps connect people throughout the campus community.

Through lively discussions, engaging activities and targeted guidance, Life Design Coaching helps:

  • Clarify a path forward: Explore personal interests and align university experience with goals
  • Overcome obstacles: Learn to navigate challenges and effectively make difficult decisions moving through the university experience
  • Cultivate connections: Find motivation and support from like-minded peers and a supportive coach
  • How design thinking can help with personal, academic and career planning
  • Exploring interests and co-curriculars
  • Goal setting and problem solving
  • Managing time and energy
  • Networking and connecting with campus resources to help meet goals

The dates for the Winter 2024 coaching cohort are as follows:

  • Networking Lunch - October 8, 2024, 2-3:30 PM
  • Coaching Group Meeting #1  - October 22, 2024, 2-3 PM 
  • 1:1 coaching meeting: Scheduled with your coach 
  • Program Wrap-up & Celebration - November 19, 2024, 2-3 PM