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OCAD University

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uuid000r454

Namestring
OCAD University
Legal namestring
OCAD University
Websiteurl
ocad.ca
Company typeenum
Private
Founded yearint
1876
Descriptiontext

OCAD University is a public post-secondary institution headquartered at 100 McCaul Street in downtown Toronto, Canada, founded in 1876 as the Ontario School of Art and granted university status in 2002. It operates under Ontario provincial legislation as a publicly funded but institutionally autonomous university focused exclusively on art, design, and digital media education, organized across the Faculty of Art, Faculty of Design, and Faculty of Arts & Science.

The institution delivers undergraduate degrees, graduate programs (including Contemporary Art Design and New Media Art Histories, Digital Futures, Inclusive Design, Design for Health, and Strategic Foresight and Innovation), and continuing-studies certificates. Its technology stack centers on the myOCADU student information portal (extended to iOS and Android mobile applications in 2026), the OCAD U LiVE on-demand streaming platform and production house, the Open Research Repository for academic outputs, and dedicated research platforms for the Inclusive Design Research Institute, Cultural Policy Hub, and Global Centre for Climate Action. Distribution includes on-campus delivery at the Toronto campus, international exchange and study-abroad channels (Global Experience Project and partner institutions), and a self-serve continuing-studies portal.

OCAD University's revenue model is built on tuition fees (which vary by program and by domestic versus international student status), supplementary student fees including a laptop program fee, provincial government operating grants, and ancillary income from the OCAD U CO futures-design consulting service, Onsite Gallery programming, and research grants routed through its research subsidiaries. Primary customer segments are undergraduate and graduate students, with secondary segments including international, Indigenous, and continuing-education learners.

Short descriptiontext

Founded 1876 in Toronto, OCAD University is Canada's publicly funded art and design university. It delivers undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs in art, design, digital media, and strategic innovation, supported by in-house research centres, a streaming platform, and industry partnerships.

Operating statusenum
Operating
Ownership categoryenum
akta.pro rankint
HeadquartersToronto, Canada
HQ citystring
Toronto
HQ countrystring
Canada
HQ regionstring
North America
Markets served

Serves global market

Offices1 record

Each record includes

City, Country, Type, Description, Source

Keyword5 values
art and design education, undergraduate degree programs, graduate research programs, continuing professional education, creative arts university
Industry5 codes
1Design Colleges (Graphic, Industrial, UX/UI, Interior)
CodeEDAHAJABPrimaryYes
2University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs
CodeEDAAAEAAPrimaryNo
3Online Nonprofit Universities
CodeEDAHALAKPrimaryNo
4Open Courseware & Course Modules (OCW)
CodeEDAGAJABPrimaryNo
5Open Educational Resources (OER) & Open Access Academic Publishing
CodeMPAJABAGPrimaryNo
NAICS code3 codes
  • Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools6113
  • Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools61131
  • Fine Arts Schools61161
SIC code1 code
  • Services-Educational Services8200
Product category
Higher Education / Art and Design
Marketing channels6 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Stage, Description, Source

Distribution channels4 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Scope, Target buyer, Description, Source

Cost components5 values
Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
GTM typeB2C
B2C
Offering typeServices
Services
Core offering1 text field

OCAD University is a publicly funded post-secondary institution that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs across art, design, digital media, and strategic innovation. It operates as Canada's dedicated art and design university, awarding degrees through faculties of Art, Design, and Arts & Science, while supplementing core teaching with research institutes, career services, public galleries, and a futures-design consulting practice.

Differentiator
Functional benefit
Problem solved
Quantifiable outcome1 value
  • Convocation 2026 celebrates more than 1,000 graduands
Product overview1 text field

OCAD University is Canada's top art and design university offering a multi-tiered portfolio of educational programs and institutional services. The core educational offerings include undergraduate and graduate degree programs across art, design, and digital media disciplines, organized under the Faculty of Art, Faculty of Design, and Faculty of Arts & Science. Supporting student success, the university operates the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists and Designers (CEAD) for career services, myOCADU as the student portal, and OCAD U LiVE as a media production and streaming platform. Research initiatives are supported through the Open Research Repository, Inclusive Design Research Institute (IDRI), Global Centre for Climate Action (GCCA), and Cultural Policy Hub. The institution also operates professional galleries including Onsite Gallery and maintains OCAD U CO as a consulting offshoot for futures design services.

Product and service1 record
1Undergraduate Degree Programs
CategoryEducational Programs
Partnership6 partners
1Gwangju Biennale
Strategic tierFlagshipTypeStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnounced on2026-01-01
Description

OCAD University represents Canada at Gwangju Biennale 2026, one of the world's most important contemporary art exhibitions. Presenting a Kanien'kehá:ka-led exhibition at the Canada Pavilion.

2Global Experience Project Partners
Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

International exchange and mobility partnerships facilitating student and faculty exchanges between OCAD U and partner institutions globally. Includes GEP 2017, GEP 2018, and GEP 2023/24 cohorts.

3Exchange Partners
Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

International partner institutions for student and faculty exchange programs. Listed under Mobility/Exchange section of the university.

4Faculty of Design Industry Partners
Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Industry partnerships within the Faculty of Design providing students with experiential learning opportunities, design projects, and career connections.

5Study Abroad Partners
Strategic tierMinorTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

International study abroad partnerships enabling students to spend terms at partner institutions globally.

6IArts Residency
Strategic tierMinorTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Academic partnership for artist residencies providing students with immersive creative experiences.

Recent move6 records

Each record includes

Date, Type, Title, Description, Source

Expansion highlight5 records

Each record includes

Type, Description

Market position
Strengths4 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Competitive moat5 records

Each record includes

Type, Details

Key risks5 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Key highlights6 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Customer concentration

Classification, Details

Segment5 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Primary, Description, Pain point addressed, Use case, Source

Ideal customer profile6 records

Each record includes

Profile, Firmographic size, Sales motion, Sales cycle length, Buying structure, Purchase trigger, Buyer persona, Geography, Industry vertical, Primary use case, Description, Pain points, Evidence proof points, Target buyer

Technology focused
No
API detail
Has APIbool
No

Docs URL, Description

AI maturity
App detail

Has app

Core technology
Revenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Number of profiles
Profiles1 record

Each record includes

Name, Designation, Designation category, Overview, Profile commentary, Source

Subsidiaries5 records

Each record includes

Name, Acquired on, Relationship type, Type, Business focus

No data
Funding overview

Funding stage, Last funding date, Total funding USD

Funding rounds

Each record includes

Round, Amount USD, Date, Pre money valuation, Total investors, Investors, News

Investors

Each record includes

Name, Type, Date of entry, Rounds participated, Website

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Each record includes

Name, Acquisition type, Announced date, Completed date, Status, Website, News

Investment

Each record includes

Name, Round, Announced date, Lead investor, Website, News

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

OCAD University

Higher Education / Art and Designocad.ca

Founded 1876 in Toronto, OCAD University is Canada's publicly funded art and design university. It delivers undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs in art, design, digital media, and strategic innovation, supported by in-house research centres, a streaming platform, and industry partnerships.

What OCAD University does

OCAD University is a public post-secondary institution headquartered at 100 McCaul Street in downtown Toronto, Canada, founded in 1876 as the Ontario School of Art and granted university status in 2002. It operates under Ontario provincial legislation as a publicly funded but institutionally autonomous university focused exclusively on art, design, and digital media education, organized across the Faculty of Art, Faculty of Design, and Faculty of Arts & Science.

The institution delivers undergraduate degrees, graduate programs (including Contemporary Art Design and New Media Art Histories, Digital Futures, Inclusive Design, Design for Health, and Strategic Foresight and Innovation), and continuing-studies certificates. Its technology stack centers on the myOCADU student information portal (extended to iOS and Android mobile applications in 2026), the OCAD U LiVE on-demand streaming platform and production house, the Open Research Repository for academic outputs, and dedicated research platforms for the Inclusive Design Research Institute, Cultural Policy Hub, and Global Centre for Climate Action. Distribution includes on-campus delivery at the Toronto campus, international exchange and study-abroad channels (Global Experience Project and partner institutions), and a self-serve continuing-studies portal.

OCAD University's revenue model is built on tuition fees (which vary by program and by domestic versus international student status), supplementary student fees including a laptop program fee, provincial government operating grants, and ancillary income from the OCAD U CO futures-design consulting service, Onsite Gallery programming, and research grants routed through its research subsidiaries. Primary customer segments are undergraduate and graduate students, with secondary segments including international, Indigenous, and continuing-education learners.

OCAD University firmographics

Firmographics
Name
OCAD University
Legal name
OCAD University
Website
https://ocad.ca
Company type
Private
Founded year
1876
Operating status
Operating
Short description
Founded 1876 in Toronto, OCAD University is Canada's publicly funded art and design university. It delivers undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs in art, design, digital media, and strategic innovation, supported by in-house research centres, a streaming platform, and industry partnerships.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

OCAD University industry classification

Industry
Product category
Higher Education / Art and Design
NAICS
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Fine Arts Schools (61161)
SIC
Services-Educational Services (8200)
akta.pro primary industry
Design Colleges (Graphic, Industrial, UX/UI, Interior) (EDAHAJAB)
akta.pro secondary industries
University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA), Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK), Open Courseware & Course Modules (OCW) (EDAGAJAB), Open Educational Resources (OER) & Open Access Academic Publishing (MPAJABAG)

Keywords

  • Art and design education
  • Undergraduate degree programs
  • Graduate research programs
  • Continuing professional education
  • Creative arts university

Where OCAD University is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city
Toronto
HQ country
Canada
HQ region
North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

OCAD University business model

Business model
GTM type
B2C
Offering type
Services
Cost components
Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

OCAD University product offering

Product offering

Core offering

OCAD University is a publicly funded post-secondary institution that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs across art, design, digital media, and strategic innovation. It operates as Canada's dedicated art and design university, awarding degrees through faculties of Art, Design, and Arts & Science, while supplementing core teaching with research institutes, career services, public galleries, and a futures-design consulting practice.

Product overview

OCAD University is Canada's top art and design university offering a multi-tiered portfolio of educational programs and institutional services. The core educational offerings include undergraduate and graduate degree programs across art, design, and digital media disciplines, organized under the Faculty of Art, Faculty of Design, and Faculty of Arts & Science. Supporting student success, the university operates the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists and Designers (CEAD) for career services, myOCADU as the student portal, and OCAD U LiVE as a media production and streaming platform. Research initiatives are supported through the Open Research Repository, Inclusive Design Research Institute (IDRI), Global Centre for Climate Action (GCCA), and Cultural Policy Hub. The institution also operates professional galleries including Onsite Gallery and maintains OCAD U CO as a consulting offshoot for futures design services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

  • Undergraduate Degree Programs

Quantifiable outcome

  • Convocation 2026 celebrates more than 1,000 graduands

Companies that use OCAD University

Customer profile

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

OCAD University technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API
No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

OCAD University partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

  • Gwangju BiennaleflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026OCAD University represents Canada at Gwangju Biennale 2026, one of the world's most important contemporary art exhibitions. Presenting a Kanien'kehá:ka-led exhibition at the Canada Pavilion.
  • Global Experience Project PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational exchange and mobility partnerships facilitating student and faculty exchanges between OCAD U and partner institutions globally. Includes GEP 2017, GEP 2018, and GEP 2023/24 cohorts.
  • Exchange PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner institutions for student and faculty exchange programs. Listed under Mobility/Exchange section of the university.
  • Faculty of Design Industry PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partnerships within the Faculty of Design providing students with experiential learning opportunities, design projects, and career connections.
  • Study Abroad PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational study abroad partnerships enabling students to spend terms at partner institutions globally.
  • IArts ResidencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for artist residencies providing students with immersive creative experiences.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

OCAD University competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

OCAD University social profiles

Digital presence

OCAD University financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

OCAD University leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

OCAD University subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries5 records

OCAD University funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

OCAD University M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OCAD University

What does OCAD University do?

OCAD University is a publicly funded post-secondary institution that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs across art, design, digital media, and strategic innovation. It operates as Canada's dedicated art and design university, awarding degrees through faculties of Art, Design, and Arts & Science, while supplementing core teaching with research institutes, career services, public galleries, and a futures-design consulting practice.

Is OCAD University a public or private company?

OCAD University is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was OCAD University founded?

OCAD University was founded in 1876.

Where is OCAD University based?

OCAD University is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.

Does OCAD University have an API?

No public API is recorded for OCAD University.

What industry is OCAD University in?

OCAD University's product category is Higher Education / Art and Design. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAJAB, Design Colleges (Graphic, Industrial, UX/UI, Interior), with a secondary code of EDAAAEAA, University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.

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Live signals
Financial PostOCAD U announces 2026 honorary degree recipientsOCAD University announced four honorary doctorate recipients for its June 19 Convocation ceremonies, recognizing Rita Davies, Joshua Greer, Tanya Talaga, and Ash K. Prakash for their contributions to design, arts, culture, and philanthropy. The honorees will join over 800 graduating students as the university approaches its 150th anniversary this fall. Rita Davies is being recognized for her work as a cultural visionary who helped establish Toronto's Nuit Blanche event and transformed the Toronto Arts Council into a major arts funding institution.GlobeNewswireOCAD U announces 2026 honorary degree recipientsOCAD University announced four honorary doctorate recipients for its 2026 convocation ceremonies scheduled for June 19 in Toronto, Ontario. The honorees include arts visionary Rita Davies, entrepreneur and inventor Joshua Greer, journalist and author Tanya Talaga, and scholar-philanthropist Ash K. Prakash, who collectively represent achievements in arts advocacy, digital innovation, investigative journalism, and Canadian art scholarship. The announcement coincides with OCAD University's approaching 150th anniversary this fall.GlobeNewswireOCAD U awards honorary doctorates to exceptional individualsOCAD University will award honorary doctorates to Christi Belcourt, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Tim Whiten, and John Bianchini on June 13. The recipients include award-winning creatives and an arts advocate, with ceremonies held at Roy Thomson Hall. The university will also host over 1,000 students in convocation.GlobeNewswire2024 NUIT BLANCHE: OCAD University co-presents two eventsOCAD University and the EU Delegation to Canada co-present two Nuit Blanche events on October 5: Riparia, an aquatic temple in the Canada Malting Silos, and Metipso Portal International, a live link between Toronto and a Kenyan village. The events address climate crisis and cross-continental connection.GlobeNewswireOCAD University on the red carpet at TIFFOCAD University will showcase a VR exhibition of 2024 Cannes Film Festival works at TIFF from Sept. 7-10, partnering with the Consulate General of France. The event includes a masterclass with directors Julie Delpy and Louise Archambault on Sept. 8, and OCAD U LiVE will interview filmmakers on the red carpet.GlobeNewswireOCAD University announces 2024 honorary degree recipientsOCAD University announced five honorary doctorate recipients for its June 14 convocation, including architect Siamak Hariri and artist Michael Massie. The honorees include Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, and Andrew Pringle, who will address over 1,000 graduates.GlobeNewswireGradEx 109 – Toronto’s largest free art and design exhibition returns May 1 to 5OCAD University's GradEx 109, Toronto's largest free art and design exhibition, opens May 1-5 at 100 McCaul St. The show features work from over 800 emerging artists, designers, and digital media makers, with an opening celebration and a supplemental online exhibition. A special animation screening and a new art marketplace are also included.GlobeNewswire$2.5 million gift from The Delaney Family to create lasting impact at OCAD UniversityOCAD University received a $2.5 million gift from The Delaney Family, announced Sept. 19. The funds will support Onsite Gallery's programming for 10 years, create an annual curator's prize, and establish a bursary for students in criticism and curatorial practice.GlobeNewswireMajor gift announcement at OCAD UniversityOCAD University will announce a major gift at its Onsite Gallery on September 19, 2023, from 6 to 8 p.m. The gift will support art and design education and the gallery's programming, and will also honor Chancellor Emerita Kiki Delaney and the Delaney Family.GlobeNewswireOCAD University mounts significant presence at TIFFOCAD University will showcase its Experimental Animation program and OCAD U LiVE at TIFF, co-hosting the opening reception before The Boy and the Heron. Michael Fukushima joins as the program's first Executive Producer-in-Residence. The university's partnership with TIFF provides students with professional equipment and industry skills.