Community Based Research and Knowledge Mobilization: University Engagement in Canada

1. Community Based Research and Knowledge Mobilization: University Engagement in Canada Martin Taylor University of Victoria NCCPE Bristol December 6, 2012

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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)

6. 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

7. PE Networks • Community based Research Canada (community-university 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

8. The Civic Engagement Domain CBREXPL LEARNING POLICYKM COOP/ LTC OCBR DEANS ORS

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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)

14. 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).

15. 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?

16. Extra slides

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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)

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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 focus in the 2012 Strategic Plan • PE as a pillar of an integrated Research Partnerships plan

23. 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

24. 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 • 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