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About Us

Achieve Your Possible

Yorkville University’s commitment to relevant, achievable, and quality education isn’t just a response to recent trends—it’s a principle we’ve embodied for decades.

Since 2004, we’ve innovated numerous first-of-their-kind programs; helping expand Canada’s educational landscape, while delivering against the goals of our students.

Our highly accredited programs are not only more accessible compared to traditional universities, but the flexibility through which we deliver these programs ensures that education enhances lives, instead of interrupting them.

With Yorkville University, education isn’t just about acquiring knowledge—it’s about integrating learning into the realities of real life. We’re here to empower learners to make the changes they seek; ensuring that every student can achieve their possible.

Meet Our President and Vice Chancellor

Julia Christensen Hughes, PhD

President and Vice Chancellor, Yorkville University
Contact: Office of the President

Yorkville University’s Julia Christensen Hughes, PhD, is a globally recognized academic innovator who is passionate about the transformational power of post-secondary education to change lives and improve society. As President and Vice Chancellor of Canada’s largest private university, she has led the creation of Yorkville’s Signature Learning Outcomes, a university-wide commitment to develop the next generation of ethical, highly skilled and socially conscious business leaders, psychotherapists, educators, and creative storytellers and designers.

Under Christensen Hughes’ visionary leadership, Yorkville – which boasts campuses in Vancouver, BC, Toronto, ON, and Fredericton, NB – has become a hub for innovative approaches to relationship-rich, accessible education, with distinctive capabilities in: the creation of an exceptional student experience; high-demand, career-relevant programs; leading student recruitment practices; and high-quality faculty with a commitment to student engagement.

Before joining Yorkville in 2022, Christensen Hughes enjoyed a long and distinguished career in public higher education, where she held a number of leadership roles. She served as President of the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) from 2004 to 2007, while also directing the University of Guelph’s Teaching Support Services, providing leadership for the University’s commitment to “student-centred learning”. Following those achievements, she went on to serve as founding dean of the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics, establishing its unique vision of “being and developing leaders for a sustainable world”. Under her guidance, Lang’s MBA was ranked in the top ten in the world, by Corporate Knights.

A passionate advocate for innovation and integrity in student learning, Christensen Hughes has received many awards and accolades for her service, including being named Professor Emerita and receiving the John Bell Award for Outstanding Teaching in University Education from the University of Guelph. She also received the Sheffield Award from the Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education, for research judged to be “most excellent” in the Canadian Journal of Higher Education. This award recognized her groundbreaking pan-Canadian study on academic integrity, which was featured on the cover of MacLean’s magazine and earned her regular interviews with the press, including with Michael Enright on CBC Radio. Recognizing her global advocacy for reforming business school education, Christensen Hughes was also invited to New York City to address the United Nations General Assembly on the need for business schools to embrace the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Christensen Hughes earned both her MBA and PhD from the Schulich School of Business at York University; her dissertation was on the topic of organizational empowerment.

Her published work includes the co-edited books Academic Integrity in Canada: An Enduring and Essential Challenge (2022); Taking Stock 2.0: Transforming Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2022); Taking Stock: Research on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2010); and Curriculum Development in Higher Education: Faculty-Driven Processes and Practices (2007). Her most recent journal articles have focused on the need to better align university rankings and faculty research with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

 

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Yorkville University Advantage

Yorkville University programs are aimed at helping you achieve your personal and professional goals. Online or in class, across Canada, Yorkville University’s programs are flexible, fast paced and above all, lead to transformation through education.

Flexibility

Flexible Learning

Course scheduling and online course options allow you to make time for part-time work and other life priorities while completing your program. 

Accelerated Programs 

Graduate faster with our year-round study option. We also provide optimum credit transfers based on your previous learning.

Year-Round Start Dates 

 Start your program as soon as you are ready with various start dates throughout the year.

Resources & Support

Student Assistance

Our program advisors assist you every step of the way in your academic journey, from finding the right program to graduation, and beyond.  

Student Success Centre  

Get 24/7 online support, access to writing and math labs, and links to tutoring and one-on-one support.  

Career Services  

We assist you in creating impactful resumes, cover letters and portfolios, prepare you for interviews, and help find work opportunities that match your ambition.

Enhanced Learning

Small Class Sizes

Get personalized attention and learn through active participation, with a typical online class size of 20 students and on-campus class size of 24 to 40 students. 

Networking

Build lifelong relationships with students and professors as part of teamwork, discussions and assignments.

Experienced Faculty

Benefit from the knowledge of experienced faculty who use their expertise to help you achieve your own career goals.

Mission Statement

Yorkville University will provide access to rigorous and flexible professional curricula in areas that are personally and professionally rewarding for students and that contribute to the betterment of society. Rigorous means providing challenging academic content delivered by faculty members who are professionally engaged and current in their field of knowledge, possess the appropriate credentials available in their fields, and are committed to excellence in teaching, practice, and scholarship. Access includes but is not limited to providing academic programs to people who, for reasons of geographic remoteness, health and disability, and/or family, work, or community obligations, would otherwise not be able to avail themselves of the benefits that flow from higher education. Flexible means providing academic programs that allow individual students to participate through modalities consistent with their professional and personal realities. These characteristics are guided by our Core Values and Signature Learning Outcomes.

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Core Values

Our Core Values serve as our guiding principles, shaping every aspect of our university by reflecting who we are and aspire to be. Developed collaboratively, they are the foundation of our identity, driving us to pursue excellence, foster inclusivity, and create a lasting impact.

Fuel Learning Potential

  • We ensure that the student experience is at the centre of what we do
  • We foster an environment that builds confidence, enhances strengths and talents, and inspires achievement

Own Our Impact

  • We commit to integrity, honesty, and ethical conduct
  • We consider the immediate and lasting impact of our actions on learners, our communities, and the environment
  • We reflect and seek feedback to improve and transform

Build Inclusive Communities

  • We ensure that all individuals are valued, respected, and included
  • We expect everyone to contribute their best efforts by supporting, uplifting, motivating, and collaborating with one another
  • We achieve and celebrate success together

Embrace Purposeful Curiosity

  • We ask questions, explore different perspectives, and seize opportunities to drive creativity, innovation, and growth
  • We embrace challenges and setbacks as opportunities for learning

Signature Learning Outcomes

Adaptable, skilled and career-ready. Our Signature Learning Outcomes cultivate the skills, mindsets, and confidence needed to launch fulfilling, impactful careers.

Government Approvals

Yorkville University is dedicated to delivering personal and professional growth through flexible higher education for the betterment of students, families and communities in British Columbia.

Yorkville University offers the Bachelor of Business Administration programs under the written consent of the Minister of Advanced Education after having undergone a quality assessment process and been found to meet the criteria established by the Minister.

The term “university” is used under the written consent of the Minister of Advanced Education after having undergone a quality assessment process and been found to meet the criteria established by the Minister.

The Province of British Columbia has approved Yorkville University to offer the following programs:

Bachelor of Business Administration

  • General (Without Specialization)
  • Specialization in Accounting
  • Specialization in Project Management
  • Specialization in Supply Chain Management
  • Specialization in Energy Management

Associate of Arts

 

 

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Yorkville University is dedicated to facilitating the betterment of students, families and communities, in Ontario, the rest of Canada, and around the world. The University aims to provide its students with the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, through its rigorous yet flexible higher education programs.

Yorkville University has been granted consent by the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development to offer the following program:

Bachelor of Business Administration

  • Specialization in Project Management

Bachelor of Creative Arts

Bachelor of Interior Design

The institution has been granted a consent by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) to offer the BBA for a 7-year term starting 04/06/2017 and the BID for a 5-year term starting 04/06/2017 (consent extended until 8/31/2023) and the BCA for a 7-year term starting 12/17/2020.

 

 

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Yorkville University is dedicated to the personal and professional growth of working adults in New Brunswick, across Canada and throughout the world, through rigorous academic preparation. In New Brunswick, all programs are delivered online, allowing students to balance work or family commitments with their academic schedule.

The Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, granted designation status for Yorkville University to operate as a program granting institution authorized to offer the following programs from New Brunswick:

Doctor of Counselling and Psychotherapy

Master of Education in Educational Leadership

  • Specialization in Leadership in Learning
  • Specialization in Educational Administration

Master of Education in Adult Education

Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology

Graduate Certificate in Education (GCE): Leadership in Social Justice

Graduate Certificate in Education (GCE): Teaching and Learning

 

 

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Professional Designations

Employers value graduates who are members of relevant professional associations and who demonstrate a commitment to upgrading their professional skills. Yorkville University graduates fulfill some of the prerequisites to apply to become a Chartered Professional Accountant, Professional Project Manager, K-12 Principal or Registered Psychotherapist, amongst other career-enhancing possibilities.

Additionally, some Yorkville University programs are also recognized or accredited by industry associations and allow graduates to apply for professional membership.

Board of Governors

The role of Yorkville University’s Board of Governors is to provide guidance, feedback, and periodic advice with respect to operations, planning, student services, faculty and program development, and external relations.

Senior Leadership

Academic Leadership

Locations

Vancouver, British Columbia

Yorkville University’s west coast campus is in New Westminster. Located on the banks of the Fraser River, New Westminster is at the centre of the Greater Vancouver region and part of the Metro Vancouver Regional District. It’s a global destination with strong cultural connections to the Asia-Pacific region.

Toronto, Ontario

Yorkville University’s central campus is located in Toronto, a vibrant, multicultural, global hub for business and design with a renowned quality of life.

Fredericton, New Brunswick

Yorkville University was founded in Fredericton, New Brunswick in 2004. Today the city hosts most of our online programs.

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