The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (Institut d'études pédagogiques de l'Ontario de l'Université de Toronto) (OISE) at the University of Toronto has, for more than a century, made significant contributions to transforming education in Canada and around the world. As Canada's only publicly funded all-graduate institute of teaching, learning and research in the field of education, OISE is recognized internationally as a leader in graduate education, initial and continuing teacher education, and research in education and human development. OISE is an integral part of the tri-campus University of Toronto—Canada's most comprehensive institution of higher learning; consistently ranked as the #1 educational institution in Canada, as well as among the top universities in the world. Our continued placement as one of the world's top educational institutions signifies our commitment to leave a lasting impact on the field.

With over 100,000 alumni worldwide and 285+ faculty researchers who are among the top educators in Canada and the world, OISE's international research spans the globe. Powered by more than $10 million in annual research funding, this ground-breaking work is informed by real-world experience and collaborations with schools, communities, school boards, the non-profit sector and governments internationally. With over 3,000 students in graduate degree and professional programs, approximately 6,500 continuing education registrants annually, four academic departments, 12 programs with multiple degrees and fields of study, and 18 research centres and institutes, OISE is among the University of Toronto's largest graduate divisions. 

OISE's distinguished faculty and researchers examine major issues in education, human development and professional practice with a view to their future impact on pedagogy, policy and society. Our faculty's transformative research reflects a commitment to fostering progress and deepening understanding of how communities contribute to advancing human knowledge and development. Committed to community-based and community-serving research, OISE maintains strong reciprocal partnerships with schools, communities, and organizations locally and globally. 

As educational spaces worldwide navigate rapidly changing contexts and evolving frameworks, OISE faculty and students lead critical work to harness new technologies, develop research informed practice, and establish policy and strategy around curriculum and assessment. They craft interventions to enhance well-being and engagement, and address issues of power, equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion while infusing anti-oppressive and decolonizing structures in teaching, learning and research. 

An intellectually rich and supportive environment, guided by the highest standards of scholarship and a commitment to equity, diversity and social justice, OISE strives to challenge existing paradigms, pose and respond to critical questions that inform change, and inspire transformative action among the thousands of educators, researchers, professionals, policy makers, and community leaders who make up OISE's global community. 

OISE offers both research and professional stream programs that prepare graduates for diverse careers across the education sector, including classroom teaching, psychology, educational leadership, policy development, research, community education, and educational technology. Our programs develop the next generation of educational leaders and world citizens equipped to adapt to evolving needs and emerging tools while addressing global challenges. OISE leads in research and teaching innovations that inform global conversations and transform education and human development. Our strong record of research makes important contributions to scholarship, practice, and informed public debate on educational issues through comprehensive knowledge mobilization efforts that translate research into actionable practice. This work informs public policy and our outstanding graduate programs. Our new Academic Plan 2025-2030 – Leading for the Future: A Vision for Transformative Education and Human Development sets the blueprint for the next chapter of OISE’s leadership in research and teaching innovations that inform global conversations and transform education and human development.

History

OISE has helped to transform education and human development in Ontario, throughout Canada and around the world. Our history dates back to 1906, when the Faculty of Education was established at the University of Toronto following a Royal Commission report arguing that the "Teaching of education is best performed where the theory and practice can be made to supplement each other." In 1965, the Ontario legislature established the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) to offer graduate programs, conduct research and engage in field development activities in education. OISE, in its current form, dates back to 1996, when the Faculty of Education and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education merged to form the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto. In 2014, OISE repositioned itself as an all-graduate faculty of education in line with the University of Toronto's role as Ontario's leading research-intensive university. 

Academic Departments

OISE has four academic departments offering twelve graduate programs with multiple degrees and fields of study. These programs are enriched by the varied and active research that is conducted throughout the Institute.

Applied Psychology and Human Development (APHD) - a department with programs focused on basic and applied research in the areas of counselling and clinical psychology, human development, special education and educational psychology relating to children, adolescents and adults. APHD boasts some of the finest, internationally known scholars in their fields who teach in the department’s five graduate programs:

• Child Study and Education (Teacher Education program);
• Counselling and Clinical Psychology;
• Counselling Psychology;
• Developmental Psychology and Education; and
• School and Clinical Child Psychology.

Curriculum, Teaching and Learning (CTL) – a vibrant and academically rigorous scholarly community that values diversity, excellence and collaboration, CTL is the largest of OISE’s department. Faculty are renowned scholars in the areas of curriculum theory, teaching and learning practices, and language and literacy education in formal and informal educational settings. CTL is home to three graduate programs: 

• Master of Teaching (Teacher Education program);
• Curriculum & Pedagogy; and
• Language and Literacies Education.

Leadership, Higher and Adult Education (LHAE) – a dynamic and inclusive academic community focused on educational leadership and administration, policy and change, adult education and community development. Faculty have multi-disciplinary teaching and research expertise in a wide range of fields including but not limited to equity and social justice, professional education and policy studies within the three main program areas: 

• Adult Education and Community Development;
• Higher Education; and
• Educational Leadership and Policy.

Social Justice Education (SJE) - a multi-interdisciplinary graduate department providing students with critical understandings of the social, historical, cultural, political, economic, and ethical contexts of education, broadly conceived. Based on diverse intellectual traditions of the humanities and social sciences, the department focuses on equity and social justice from perspectives including history, philosophy, sociology, and political science. Faculty and students engage with equity, racism studies, Black studies, Indigeneity and decolonization, intersectionality, disability studies, gender studies, and ethics through meaningful academic discourse responsive to national and global events. SJE offers research-stream and professional degrees in:

• Social Justice Education.

Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study

OISE is home to the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study (JICS), Canada’s most integrated and dynamic centre committed to children’s education and well-being. Established in 1925, JICS has tripartite mission bringing together: (1) graduate teacher education through the Master of Arts in Child Study and Education program; (2) exemplary educational practices for children in nursery to Grade 6 through its onsite award-winning Laboratory School; and (3) multidisciplinary research in child development at the endowed Dr. R.G.N. Laidlaw Research Centre. JICS is also home to innovative programs including Natural Curiosity and the Robertson Program, which support educators across Ontario and Canada in environmental education and inquiry-based teaching in mathematics and science. By connecting research, education and practice, JICS leads the way as Canada’s foremost teaching and learning environment, with an international reputation for leadership.