Community Based Research and
Knowledge Mobilization: University
Engagement in Canada
Martin Taylor
University of Victoria
NCCPE Bristol
December 6, 2012
Currency of C-U Engagement
 University research supported by public funds for the public good
 University responsibility and accountability to show ROI as
societal outcomes and impacts of research funding
 KM as a central tenet across the academy
 Royal Society Report on Open Science in UK
 In Canada:
 SSHRC KM programs
 NSERC IRPs
 CIHR Strategic Plan
 MSFHR KM initiative
 KM in cyberspace
 Accessible and assessable data and research outputs
 Portal for active and passive public engagement in research
 Citizen Science
Community-Campus Collaboration
Initiative (CCCI)
 Launched in May, 2012
 Supported by the Governor General, David Johnson
 Developed by United Way Canada; SSHRC; and
ResearchImpact KM network
 Four areas of focus to build C-C capacity to address “big
societal” issues:
 Community based research
 Integrating community experience into learning
 Knowledge mobilization
 Policies and institutional supports
Canadian Distinctives in PE
 SSHRC KM programs (2000-10)
 Stimulus for interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral research
 Some success in accelerating KM process
 Evidence-based decision-making for public policy
 Enhancing research culture in partner agencies
 Little incentive for junior faculty involvement
 First Nations research
 Research ethics protocols (Tri-Council policy)
 SSHRC CURA projects
 FN language preservation
 BC West coast environmental mgt of fisheries and forests
SSHRC’s New Program Architecture
 Fundamental restructuring introduced in 2010
 3 program foci
 Talent (graduate fellowship and PDF programs)
 Insight (PI and team discovery grants)
 Connection (C-U and other partnership awards)
PE Models at Canadian Universities
 UVic OCBR
 Leslie Harris Centre, Memorial University
 The Research Shop, Guelph University
 York University, KM Unit
 Centre for Public Involvement,Univ of Alberta
 VanCity Office of Community Engagement, SFU
PE Networks
 Community based Research Canada (community-university
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partnership research),
Research Impact (Knowledge Mobilisation-embedded in
several universities),
Community Engaged Scholarship Partnership (academic staff
policies)
Canadian Alliance for Community Service Learning (student
engagement).
Global Alliance for Community Engaged Research
UNESCO Chair in CBR and Social Responsibility in Higher
Education
The Civic Engagement Domain
CBR
POLICY
EXPL LEARNING
KM
Coasts Under Stress Project (2000-05)
 SSHRC/NSERC MCRI ($6.25M)
 Co-led by UVic and Memorial
 Focus on coastal community
vulnerability/resilience to environmental and
socio-economic change
 60 science and ssh investigators plus students
 Engagement of/feedback to communities
Community Mapping
 “A graphic learning, development and planning tool that
connects people to one another and to their home places”
 UVic Community Mapping Initiative and the Common Ground
Community Mapping Network
 Projects include:
 Health, wellness, and transportation mapping
 Green mapping and sustainability initiatives
 Historical and cultural landscape stories
 Resource conflicts in indigenous communities
 Treasured places in local neighbourhoods
 Land use conflicts in major transportation corridors
Open Science
 Citizen Science
 Scientific research conducted (often by crowdsourcing), in
whole or in part, by nonprofessional scientists
 Ocean Networks Canada
 World-leading cabled ocean observatory in the NE Pacific off
the BC coast
 Examples of citizen science
 Tagging of video clips/sequences to identify marine life, and seafloor
geology
 Operation of mini-observatories (Vancouver Island and Cambridge Bay)
 Development of a near-shore tsunami early warning system
Lessons Learned
 For funding agencies
 Assessing the value of continued CE funding based on
evidence of outcomes/impacts to date
 Easier strategic and operational fit for SSHRC – CE
now part of ‘Insight and Connections’
 Imagining Canada’s Future initiative
 Knowledge Mobilization programs
Lessons Learned
 For universities
 Growing inclusion of CE in strategic plans
 Enthusiasm of students
 Maturing models for intra-and inter-institutional CE
networks, programs and projects
 International joint initiatives (UNESCO Chair in
CBR/SR – UVic/PRIA)
Lessons Learned
 For communities
 Raised expectations/enthusiasm for sustained CE partnerships
 Readiness to commit (cash and in kind) resources
 Challenges remain (after Margo Fryer in UA, Nov 2012)
 Cultural differences between the academy and the community
 Power dynamics
 Lack of incentives for those involved (esp. junior faculty)
 Operational factors (lack of time and money).
Questions arising
1.
How best to govern and manage CE initiatives at the
institutional and national level?
2.
How best to engage key stakeholders (universities,
community partners, and funders) in the planning, funding
and implementation of CE projects?
3.
How best to ensure that the different ROI expectations are
met for all stakeholders?
Extra slides
SSHRC’s KM Record
 SSHRC KM Programs (2000-10)
 CURA
 Strategic Knowledge Clusters
 INE Research Alliance
 Public Outreach Grants
 Knowledge Impact in Society
 Social Economy Strategic Initiative
Learning from SSHRC Funded
Partnerships (Hall and Tremblay, 2012)
 Community outcomes
 Stronger and more respectful links with univs
 Increased org capacity in the community
 Personal transformation and empowerment
 Improved services and policies
 Economic contributions
 Policy and legislative changes
Learning from SSHRC Funded
Partnerships (Hall and Tremblay, 2012)
 University outcomes
 Student training and research fellowships (CACSL)
 Career development opportunities
 Better receptivity to community partnerships
 Recognition of CE in faculty performance evaluation (CESP)
 Inter-university CE linkages/networks (CBR Canada;
GACER)
SSHRC’s Program Architecture
 Connection
 The goal of this program is to realize the potential of social
sciences and humanities research for intellectual, cultural, social
and economic influence, benefit and impact on and beyond the
campus, by supporting specific activities and tools that facilitate
the multidirectional flow of knowledge.
 Funding supports workshops, conferences, outreach activities,
tools, publications, and partnered knowledge mobilization
activities.
SSHRC’s Connection Program Uptake
 SSHRC Partnership Development Grants (2011-12)
 67 successful proposals involved a total of 252 distinct partners:
 64 per cent included at least one not-for-profit organization as a partner;
 55 per cent included at least one public sector organization; and
 31 per cent included at least one private sector organization.
 On average, grant holders are leveraging $2.18 for every $1 of SSHRC
funding through partner contributions and funds from other sources.
 SSHRC Partnership Grants (2011-12)
 25 successful proposals involved a total of 377 distinct partners:
 88 per cent included at least one not-for-profit organization as a partner;
 80 per cent included at least one higher-education institution;
 56 per cent included at least one provincial government organization.
 On average, grant holders are leveraging $0.96 for every $1 of SSHRC
funding through in-kind contributions from partners and funds from other
sources.
PE at UVic
 Strong record of CBR across faculties (SSC, HUM, HSD,
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Law, SCI and ENG)
Reinforced by UVic’s leadership in Coop education
CBR Forum in 2006
OCBR established in 2007
PE as a focus in the 2012 Strategic Plan
PE as a pillar of an integrated Research Partnerships plan
PE at UVic
 University of Victoria’s Vision Statement
 To be the Canadian university that best integrates outstanding
scholarship, inspired teaching and real-life involvement. As members of a
diverse and dynamic leaning community, we challenge one another to
become thoughtful, engaged citizens and leaders, prepared to contribute
to the betterment of a rapidly changing global society.
 Strategic Plan Objectives include:
 Establish a university-level civic engagement plan that integrates and
supports the civic engagement efforts and units across the campus
 Implement a coordinated leadership and support structure for advancing
and measuring UVic’s engagement in and with communities around the
globe, supporting and coordinating best practices in this area
SSHRC Canadian Social Economy
Research Partnerships Program
 Rationale: Role of collective action to address social and economic
issues for the common good
 Key change agents: efficacy and effectiveness of community
organizations (e.g., Cooperatives)
 Strong history and tradition in Quebec
 CSERP details
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5 year program (2006-11)
Hub (UVic (BCICS) plus 6 regional centres)
300 researchers in 79 universities
Topics include:
 Extent and nature of the SE in Canada
 SE and food security
 Roles of women in the SE
 Effective practices for development of social orgzns
 SEs among indigenous peoples