UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS
The University of Manitoba strengthens engagement with retired academics

Last September, the University of Manitoba (UM) launched a new project to celebrate and strengthen the engagement of Emeriti and Senior Scholars.  

Known as the ESSENCE Project (the acronym stands for Emeriti and Senior Scholars Engaged in Navigating Continued Excellence), the initiative is led by the Office of the Vice-Provost (Academic Affairs) with support from the University of Manitoba Retirees Association and funded by the 2025-2026 Strategic Initiatives Support Fund. Through connection, mentorship and collaboration, it recognizes their legacy while creating new opportunities for shared growth and discovery.

The ESSENCE project grew out of a 2023 survey, when senior scholars and professors emeriti at the University of Manitoba were asked about their academic life after retirement. The inquiry sought to learn about their experiences as academics, framed within creating more age inclusiveness at the university. Specifically, it sought to discover what benefits retired academics gained individually and for the university; what challenges they faced; how connected they felt; what supports they received; how they attained the positions; and what they thought could be done to improve inclusion.

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