NCCPE Notes Civic Engagement in Canadian UniversitiesCurrency 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:
Portal for active and passive public engagement in research
Citizen Science
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
Knowledge mobilization
Evidence-based decision-making for public policy
Enhancing research culture in partner agencies
Little incentive for junior faculty involvement
First Nations research
SSHRC CURA projects
FN language preservation
SSHRC’s New Program Architecture
Fundamental restructuring introduced in 2010
3 program foci
PE Models at Canadian Universities
UVic OCBR
York University, KM Unit
PE Networks
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
SSHRC/NSERC MCRI ($6.25M)
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:
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
Enthusiasm of students
International joint initiatives (UNESCO Chair in CBR/SR – UVic/PRIA)
Lessons Learned
For communities
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
Operational factors (lack of time and money).
Questions arising
How best to govern and manage CE initiatives at the institutional and national level?
How best to engage key stakeholders (universities, community partners, and funders) in the planning, funding and implementation of CE projects?
How best to ensure that the different ROI expectations are met for all stakeholders?
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Community outcomes
Increased org capacity in the community
Personal transformation and empowerment
Improved services and policies
University outcomes
Career development opportunities
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.
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.
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, Law, SCI and ENG)
Reinforced by UVic’s leadership in Coop education
CBR Forum in 2006
OCBR established in 2007
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
300 researchers in 79 universities
Topics include:
SE and food security
Effective practices for development of social orgzns
SEs among indigenous peoples