Formerly Ryerson University, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) has always offered degrees that lead to jobs, but the university’s innovative incubator zones now help students create them. The school boasts 10 zones, covering industries from biomedical engineering to social innovation and clean tech. The incubators have helped develop more than 3,500 start-ups, created over 4,000 jobs and raised more than $1 billion in funding. Meanwhile, the original business incubator, the DMZ, has supported both regional and international programs from Japan to South Africa and India.

TMU’s downtown location draws many commuter students, but the Student Learning Centre, the Mattamy Athletic Centre and countless cafés entice students to stay after class. Respite from the city bustle can be found at Lake Devo, a man-made pond that serves as an ice rink in winter, or on Gould Street, which has been closed to cars since 2010. The Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex features a green roof, simulated hospital settings for nursing students and a new student residence. In 2020, TMU launched a three-year law program that includes a semester-long professional placement.

“We are redefining the learning experience by exploring bold ideas and transforming them into opportunities,” says president Mohamed Lachemi. “Ryerson students get real-world experience and create the impact they want to see in the world.” Ryerson plans to announce a new name for the university this year. The legacy of current namesake Egerton Ryerson is linked to a discriminatory educational system and the design of Canada’s Indian residential school system.