SSHRC Partnership Grant LOI (2016)
Office of Research Services/Dr. Rosemary Ommer
Date: Jan 2016
SSHRC Partnership LOI Goal and Project Description (8 pages)
It is recommended that you format your project description around the main headings of the evaluation criteria
to ensure that you don’t miss any of the criteria and to assist the reviewers in finding the information they need
to evaluate your proposal.
Possible outline of the proposal could be formatted as follows:
1. Challenge — The aim and importance of the endeavour (40%)
1.1. Significance: originality, and expected contribution to knowledge;

Clearly justify your proposal within the stated program objectives (i.e., Insight and/or Connection;
or Talent) and partnership approaches, and state the overall goal and specific objectives that the
proposed partnership will set out for itself.

Demonstrate the relevance and significance of these objectives for all the partners that will be
involved in the partnership.

Describe the originality, significance (social, economic, cultural, intellectual) and expected
contribution to knowledge in the social sciences and/or humanities of the proposed research
and/or research-related partnership activities.
1.2. Literature Review: include complete literature review that serves to situate what you will be doing and
why.
1.3. Theoretical approach/framework: outline theoretical approach or conceptual framework and
demonstrate their appropriateness.
1.4. Methods: demonstrate the appropriateness of the theoretical and methodological approaches,
including the co-creation of knowledge, that will be chosen to meet the stated objectives.
1.5. Training: Describe the training and mentoring plans for students, emerging scholars and/or other highly
qualified personnel, and opportunities for them to contribute.
1.6. Impact: Describe the potential contribution of the research in terms of the advancement of knowledge;
the wider potential benefit of the research (e.g., Will this research be of interest to other areas of
research/disciplines? Will it be of interest outside the academic community? How will it be used and by
whom?)
1.7. Viability: potential for long-term viability and identification of progress indicators, refer to description
of team.
2. Feasibility — The plan to achieve excellence (30%)
2.1. Project Duration:

Address the appropriateness of the duration (four to seven years)

Give assurance that the project will reach its objectives in a timely and effective way.
2.2. Formal Partnership: Describe the quality and genuineness of the formal partnership and associated
management and governance arrangements and leadership, including involvement of partner
organizations and others in the design and conduct of the research and/or related activities. Address
governance, challenges in building the partnership, and the involvement of partners and others in the
design and conduct of the research and/or related activities and how partners will benefit from their
participation in the partnership, and the involvement of the host institution in supporting the
partnership.
2.3. Budget: Refer to budget attachments, where you describe the appropriateness of the requested
budget, and justification of proposed costs.
2.4. Other Planned Resources: refer to Contributions Plan attachment, where you indicate other planned
resources (time, human and financial), including leveraging of cash and in-kind support from the host
institution and/or from partners.
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SSHRC Partnership Grant LOI (2016)
Office of Research Services/Dr. Rosemary Ommer
Date: Jan 2016
2.5. Knowledge Mobilization: Outline a preliminary plan for knowledge mobilization and dissemination
activities that will engage appropriate audiences or participants within and/or beyond the research
community.
2.6. Strategies and timelines for the design and conduct of the activity/activities proposed.
3. Capability — The expertise to succeed (30%)
3.1. Commitment: Quality and significance of the host institution and partners’ commitment and
experience in collaboration and formal partnership.
3.2. Relevant Experience: refer to Relevant Experience attachment and CV for past experience and
published and/or creative outputs and for evidence of contributions such as commissioned reports,
professional practice, public discourses, public policies, products and services, development of talent,
experience in collaboration, etc.
3.3. Contributions to the development of talent: refer to Research Contributions attachment.
3.4. Experience in formal partnerships:
3.5. Future contributions: write a brief closing statement about you/your team’s potential to make future
contributions as a result of the research.
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