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II. Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcome
2.1 Strategic Outcome 1: People—A first-class research capacity in the social sciences and humanities
One of the key outcomes of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)’s programs is developing talented people. This talent comes in the form of research trainees, new researchers embarking on promising careers and established researchers with international reputations. SSHRC’s program activities that directly support the development of talent are described below. SSHRC also supports talent development indirectly, by funding research projects that engage students at all levels in conducting research.
The federal government’s science and technology (S&T) strategy recognizes that talented, skilled, creative people are the most critical element of a successful national economy. Demand is growing rapidly for highly qualified personnel who are creative, analytical and articulate, as well as sophisticated in their understanding of individuals, communities and societies in the past and present. This is what SSHRC’s investments in people help to produce. Canada is striving to become a magnet for the highly skilled people we need to thrive in the modern global economy. Having the best-educated, most highly skilled and flexible workforce in the world will generate Canada’s “People Advantage.”
Program Activity 1.1 Fellowships, Scholarships and Prizes
| Description (as per Program Activity Architecture [PAA]) |
SSHRC offers several award programs for advanced study and research in the social sciences and humanities at the master’s, doctoral and postdoctoral levels. These programs help train Canada’s researchers and the leaders of tomorrow. In addition, SSHRC offers special fellowships to experienced researchers and supplementary awards to outstanding doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships recipients. Finally, two commemorative prizes recognize the extraordinary dedication and creativity of Canada’s best researchers. | ||||
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time Equivalents (FTEs) | Planned spending ($ millions) |
FTEs | Planned Spending ($ millions) |
FTEs | Planned Spending ($ millions) |
| 17 | $109.8 | 17 | $112.6 | 15 | $114.7 |
|
Expected results
(as per the Performance Measurement Framework [PMF]) |
Highly qualified personnel, expert in research, are available to pursue various knowledge intensive careers in universities, industry, government and other sectors. | ||||
Planning Highlights
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships:
- SSHRC is implementing the delivery of this new flagship program in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and Industry Canada. For the first competition, agency-specific adjudication will be in February 2009, the inter-agency selection board meeting will be in March 2009, and the results will be announced in April 2009. The three agencies are working together to offer the second competition of the Vanier Scholarships in a more fully harmonized manner.
- SSHRC will implement the national and international promotion and branding of the program in collaboration with Canadian universities, Industry Canada, and the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.
Canada Graduate Scholarships–Foreign Study Supplements:
- SSHRC will implement, in cooperation with NSERC and CIHR, this new program awarding supplements to Canada Graduate Scholarship holders for short-term study abroad.
Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships Program (CGS):
- In light of a recently completed evaluation of the CGS program, SSHRC, in collaboration with CIHR and NSERC, will develop a management response to the evaluation’s findings. This will inform the renewal of the Terms and Conditions for the CGS program, which expire in May 2009.
Benefits for Canadians
Scholarships to master’s and doctoral students, and fellowships to postdoctorates who are launching a research career, are direct mechanisms for supporting the development of outstanding new research talent for Canada. People with graduate degrees in the social sciences and the humanities have research skills that serve them and Canada well, whether graduates go on to work within academia or in other sectors of the economy. Doctorate holders who have support at the launch of their research careers are better able to undertake new research, publish, develop personal research networks, and prepare to become competitive in national research competitions. This directly contributes to Canada having a first-class research capacity in the social sciences and humanities.
Program Activity 1.2 Canada Research Chairs
| Description (as per PAA) |
By helping Canadian universities and their affiliated research institutes and hospitals become world-class centres of research and research training, the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) Program contributes to enhancing Canada's competitiveness in the global, knowledge-based economy, improving Canadians' health and enriching our social and cultural life. Specifically, the program seeks to: strengthen research excellence in Canada and increase Canada's research capacity by attracting and retaining the best researchers; improve the training of highly qualified personnel through research; improve universities' capacity to generate and apply new knowledge; and promote the best possible use of research resources through strategic institutional planning, and through collaboration among institutions and between sectors. | ||||
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time Equivalents (FTEs) | Planned spending ($ millions) |
FTEs | Planned Spending ($ millions) |
FTEs | Planned Spending ($ millions) |
| 15 | $61.5 | 12 | $60.9 | 12 | $60.9 |
| Expected results (as per PMF) |
World-class research capacity is enhanced in the social sciences and humanities in Canadian universities, and research institutes through the attraction and retention of excellent researchers. | ||||
Planning Highlights
- SSHRC will continue progress toward full implementation of the new Canada Excellence Research Chairs program, including its branding and marketing strategy. Up to 20 Chairs will be awarded to support positions and research activities in the four priority areas identified in the federal S&T strategy, regardless of discipline. The first recipients of these prestigious Chairs will be named in early 2010.
- A tenth-year summative evaluation of the CRC Program is underway: completion is expected in 2009. Findings and recommendation of the evaluation will inform the renewal of the program’s Terms and Conditions, due to expire in March 2011.
Benefits for Canadians
The CRC Program invests $300 million a year in 2,000 research professorships within universities across Canada to attract and retain some of the world's most accomplished and promising minds. By helping Canadian universities and their affiliated research institutes and hospitals become world-class centres of research and research training, the program contributes to enhancing Canada's competitiveness in the global, knowledge-based economy, improving Canadians' health, and enriching our social and cultural life. The newly launched Canada Excellence Research Chairs program reinforces this effort, by attracting the very top tier of world-class researchers to Canadian universities and supporting research teams to undertake research in identified areas of strategic importance to Canadians.
2.2 Strategic Outcome 2: Research—New knowledge based on excellent research in the social sciences and humanities
SSHRC is Canada’s key instrument for supporting world-class research in the social sciences and humanities. The activities under SSHRC’s research strategic outcome help create a broad spectrum of knowledge and capacity in such areas as anthropology, law, social work, urban and regional studies, linguistics, literature, business, economics, education and fine arts. This capacity for creating knowledge and understanding is a critical factor for Canada’s quality of life and competitiveness in the knowledge economy and, as a result, is critical in ensuring Canada’s “Knowledge Advantage.”
Program Activity 2.1 Investigator-Framed Research (theme area and subject defined by researcher[s])
| Description (as per PAA) |
SSHRC research grants support individual and team projects and programs of research for which the applicant(s) propose(s) the research topic and methodology. These range from individuals or small groups working in libraries and archives to large, multi-disciplinary, collaborative projects with researchers, partners and assistants conducting fieldwork across the country. | ||||
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time Equivalents (FTEs) | Planned spending ($ millions) |
FTEs | Planned Spending ($ millions) |
FTEs | Planned Spending ($ millions) |
| 32 | $85.3 | 32 | $84.9 | 32 | $84.7 |
| Expected results (as per PMF) |
Investigator-framed research creates a synergy contributing to observable knowledge advancement and dissemination of research results throughout the academic community and beyond.
Highly talented individuals are available to pursue Canadian careers in the social sciences and humanities. |
||||
Planning Highlights
- SSHRC has commissioned an international blue ribbon panel to review its peer-review processes. SSHRC will develop and implement an action plan in response to the panel’s findings.
- An evaluation of the Standard Research Grants program is underway and expected to be completed in 2009-10. The evaluation will provide guidance to SSHRC on the future developments to the program. The implementation of any recommended adjustments will be coordinated with other improvement initiatives.
- An evaluation of the Major Collaborative Research Initiatives program is planned for 2010-11.
Benefits for Canadians
Through this program activity, SSHRC funds the very best scholars in the social sciences and humanities to undertake excellent research projects as individuals, in small teams or in large multi-disciplinary teams to advance fundamental knowledge in all areas of the social sciences and humanities, thereby advancing Canada’s “Knowledge Advantage.” Using a rigorous system of peer review to ensure excellence, SSHRC funds leading-edge research projects undertaken by Canadian researchers. These grants ensure that Canada has the foundations of knowledge in place in all domains of the social sciences and humanities and is poised to rapidly respond to demands for knowledge as new pressing societal issues emerge. This research activity helps to develop the foundations of knowledge and explore the social, economic, cultural and intellectual issues that are important to Canada. Because this research activity is largely undertaken by researchers based in Canadian universities, it results in a rich and stimulating learning environment for students at all levels and for postdoctoral fellows, thereby contributing to the development of the next generation of highly talented research-trained workers who become leaders across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.
Program Activity 2.2 Targeted Research and Training Initiatives
| Description (as per PAA) |
SSHRC develops and funds programs to support strategic research programs, both on its own and in partnership with other funding providers (including government, private and community organizations). These programs generate new knowledge on pressing social, economic and cultural issues of particular importance to Canadians. One particular stream of strategic programs supports research that will contribute to a better understanding of the impacts of the knowledge-based economy on Canada's economic, social, political and cultural life, and will help to improve Canadians' ability to influence the future for the common good. | ||||
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time Equivalents (FTEs) | Planned spending ($ millions) |
FTEs | Planned Spending ($ millions) |
FTEs | Planned Spending ($ millions) |
| 12 | $23.1 | 12 | $20.6 | 12 | $20.4 |
| Expected results (as per PMF) |
Excellent SSHRC-funded research targeted in areas of importance to Canadians (as defined by SSHRC, in consultation with the research community and various stakeholders).
Highly talented individuals available to pursue Canadian careers in the social sciences and humanities. |
||||
Planning Highlights
- SSHRC will support research in the following three priority areas identified by the Government of Canada:
- Management, Business and Finance: SSHRC will offer funding programs, undertake consultations with a range of stakeholders, and respond to the results of the Council of Canadian Academies’ study on the strengths and weaknesses of this research and advanced research training in Canada;
- Canadian Environmental Issues: SSHRC will offer a suite of funding programs, develop inter-agency funding mechanisms, as well as undertake consultations with non-governmental, public and private sector organizations; and
- Northern Communities: SSHRC will develop funding programs that take into account the unique issues facing the North and its communities.
- SSHRC will also work, in collaboration with stakeholders and other government departments, to identify other emerging research priorities of national importance to Canadians;
- SSHRC will continue to implement the Partnership Strategy (approved by Council in June 2008) by mobilizing campus-community connections, actively engaging the private, public and not-for-profit sector, facilitating inter-agency and international research collaboration and reporting on results and outcomes of partnerships; and
- Evaluations of the two sunsetting programs—the Initiative on the New Economy (underway, 2009) and Social Economy Suite (planned, 2011)—will provide insight into the design of large multi-faceted initiatives to fund research on a defined issue.
Benefits for Canadians
This program activity mobilizes Canada’s best scholars to undertake research on priority or thematic areas of social, economic and cultural importance to Canadians. Much of this research activity also involves the training of highly qualified personnel, as well as the mobilization of research knowledge. Knowledge developed through these programs can strengthen decision-making in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Focussing strategically on research in the national interest is a guiding principle of the federal S&T strategy. SSHRC uses two main program mechanisms for funding such thematic research: 1) Strategic Research Grants—the themes of which are defined by SSHRC in consultation with stakeholders, including government; and 2) Strategic Joint Initiatives—through which SSHRC partners with public, private and not-for-profit organizations to co-fund thematic research and research training initiatives. This program activity is expected to enhance excellent research and the development of highly talented individuals in areas of importance to Canadians. It is well aligned with the S&T strategy commitment to harness science and technology to meet our social and economic needs through research priorities and the building of partnerships.
Program Activity 2.3 Strategic Research Development
| Description (as per PAA) |
Strategic grants, through programs in this program activity, are available to faculty, postsecondary institutions, scholarly associations and not-for-profit organizations to explore, develop and define new perspectives, challenges, and priorities in conducting research, disseminating research results, and training new researchers. Strategic research development programs also help develop related research capacity through the promotion of new modes of research collaboration and partnerships. | ||||
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time Equivalents (FTEs) | Planned spending ($ millions) |
FTEs | Planned Spending ($ millions) |
FTEs | Planned Spending ($ millions) |
| 7 | $26.9 | 7 | $27.0 | 7 | $26.9 |
| Expected results (as per PMF) |
Research institutions are supported to conduct research development.
New research and new researchers are attracted in strategic and targeted areas. |
||||
Planning Highlights
- SSHRC will engage in a series of knowledge mobilization activities with leading scholars, as well as the private and public sector, to discuss critical economic and social issues facing Canadians. This includes funding a national forum on management, business and finance research, undertaking consultations, as well as funding a range of public outreach events that are of interest to Canadians.
- SSHRC will update the Research Development Initiatives (RDI) program, based on the findings and recommendations of program evaluation now underway, to assist scholars to incubate new and innovative ideas leading to the advancement of knowledge. In addition, SSHRC will launch calls to address research questions of importance to Canadians such as environment; northern communities; business, management, finance; and others.
- Based on a recently completed audit and an upcoming evaluation, SSHRC will consider enhancements to the Community-University Research Alliances program.
- SSHRC will develop and enhance international research collaborations in the social sciences and the humanities, via funding mechanisms such as the International Opportunities Fund, and collaboration with foreign research funding partners and networks.
Benefits for Canadians
Through this program activity, SSHRC funds research activities that explore and develop new perspectives, directions and modes of research. It also enhances institutional capacity for research in the social sciences and humanities. For instance, the Research Development Initiatives program supports early-stage exploratory research activities in areas that are emerging beyond established disciplinary, theoretical or methodological boundaries. The Community-University Research Alliances program funds new forms of research partnerships between university-based researchers and community-based organizations, in which partners join forces to define research questions and undertake research on an issue of mutual interest. This program ensures the real-world application of the knowledge produced, as the potential users of the new knowledge are present and participating in the research process at the outset. The International Opportunities Fund (IOF) enables top researchers to collaborate in international research activities and enhances the leadership role of Canadian scholars in global research efforts. The IOF is expected to develop activities that lead to significant international research collaborations and has already become a fund though which international funding agreements are being negotiated.
2.3 Strategic Outcome 3: Knowledge Mobilization—Facilitating the use of social sciences and humanities knowledge within and beyond academia
Moving new knowledge from academia into realms where it can be applied more directly to the benefit of Canadians has been a dominant theme in SSHRC’s strategic planning for several years. SSHRC understands this challenge in the broadest sense: that it is not merely about “transferring” knowledge after it has been produced, but also about allowing opportunities for practitioners and other research users to participate and influence the knowledge-production process from the beginning. Knowledge mobilization is a key strategy for realizing Canada’s “Entrepreneurial Advantage.”
Program Activity 3.1 Research Dissemination and Knowledge Translation
| Description (as per PAA) |
This program activity supports the effective dissemination of social sciences and humanities research results, both within and beyond academia. Through grants to researchers and research institutions, it helps to ensure that research results are accessible to potential users, through both dissemination and engagement activities. Accessibility includes both the availability of research results to a range of audiences through publications (research publishing), as well as the tailoring of research results to the needs of potential users (knowledge translation). | ||||
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time Equivalents (FTEs) | Planned spending ($ millions) |
FTEs | Planned Spending ($ millions) |
FTEs | Planned Spending ($ millions) |
| 2 | $7.9 | 2 | $7.5 | 2 | $8.0 |
| Expected results (as per PMF) |
Effective dissemination of research results both within and beyond academia. | ||||
Planning Highlights
- Knowledge Mobilization (KMb) Strategy: SSHRC will finalize a KMb strategic framework for approval by Council. This will include an assessment of SSHRC program initiatives in KMb (e.g., Knowledge Impact in Society, Strategic Knowledge Clusters, Public Outreach, etc.); and developing guidelines for the adjudication of KMb elements in all SSHRC programs, for the design of KMb programming, for the use of available infrastructure to sustain KMb and for developing a KMb community of practice.
- Public Outreach Grants: SSHRC will administer and monitor the progress of this programming in relation to the objectives of special federal research investment in management, business and finance; environmental issues; and northern communities.
- Aid to Scholarly Journals: SSHRC will study the outcomes of the 2008 journals competition in preparation for the next anticipated triennial competition in 2011.
Benefits for Canadians
Through this program activity, SSHRC funds knowledge-sharing activities among researchers. These activities are essential for ensuring the dissemination of research results, for challenging assumptions and exploring potential implications for further research. SSHRC also funds knowledge-translation activities, in which research results are synthesized and interpreted for specific audiences in order to facilitate the use of research results in sectors beyond academia. These activities are directly aimed at helping to maximize the impact of public investments in social sciences and humanities research.
Program Activity 3.2 Research Networking
| Description (as per PAA) |
This program activity supports interactions between researchers (in academia and other sectors) and between researchers and users of research results (in a range of sectors). These interactions enable researchers, research trainees and others to share and collaborate on research plans and results. Research networking is an important part of the research enterprise that is difficult to fund through traditional research grants. Dedicated funding for networking activities acknowledges its important role in fostering high-impact research and innovation. Research networking is supported through grants to researchers and research institutions to fund both discrete events, such as conferences and workshops, as well as more sustained collaborative relationships, such as research networks and clusters. | ||||
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time Equivalents (FTEs) | Planned spending ($ millions) |
FTEs | Planned Spending ($ millions) |
FTEs | Planned Spending ($ millions) |
| 1 | $25.1 | 1 | $21.2 | 1 | $21.2 |
| Expected results (as per PMF) |
Researchers interact and work with each other, across disciplines and sectors, and with potential users of research in a range of sectors outside of academia in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. | ||||
Planning Highlights
- Evaluation of Knowledge Mobilization programming: An umbrella evaluation of the program mechanisms supporting the Knowledge Mobilization strategic outcome is planned for 2010-11.
- Aid to Research Workshops and Conferences: SSHRC will continue to administer this program (two competitions per year), monitoring its progress towards achieving its expected results as one of SSHRC’s more intensely subscribed programs.
- Networks of Centres of Excellence: SSHRC will work to deepen the involvement of social sciences and humanities scholars in the full suite of Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) programming, including Business-led NCEs, Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research, and the Industrial Research and Development Internships program. An evaluation of the NCE program is underway (2009).
- Centres of Excellence in Commercialization & Research (CECR): Funds are earmarked for this tri-agency program in the fiscal framework for the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 in the amounts of $28.485 M and $28.835 M respectively. SSHRC anticipates preparing a joint Treasury Board Submission with NSERC and CIHR to access these funds. The amounts allocated to each granting agency will be determined only after recipients are identified through a competitive process.
Benefits for Canadians
SSHRC funds networking activities in which researchers working in different disciplines and in different sectors can interact in a sustained way to collaborate on issues of common interest. Through these activities is the explicit recognition that Canada’s entrepreneurial challenge is not only a technological one but one grounded in the need for better bridges between research and practice, and more people skilled in management, business acumen, marketing and communications skills, and global fluency. This range of activities directly supports Canada’s “Entrepreneurial Advantage,” focused on maximizing the impact of public investments in research.
2.4 Strategic Outcome 4: Institutional Environment—A strong Canadian science and research environment
Program Activity 4.1 Indirect Costs of Research
| Description (as per PAA) |
In Canada, the provincial and federal governments jointly support academic research. The provinces provide the basic physical infrastructure and, supported in part by the Canada Health and Social Transfer, direct and indirect operating costs. The federal government funds the direct costs of research, mainly through the three federal granting agencies—CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC. The term "indirect costs" refers to the central and departmental administrative costs that institutions incur to support research, but are not attributable to specific research projects. In its 2003 budget, the Government of Canada announced a new program to support the indirect costs associated with the conduct of academic research in institutions that receive research grant funds from any of the three federal granting agencies. This grant program—Indirect Costs program—recognizes the growing indirect costs of conducting publicly-funded academic research. The program was created to help postsecondary institutions maximize the investments in research in one of two ways: 1) secure additional support for the indirect costs of conducting research; or 2) support their mandates to teach and provide community services. The Indirect Costs program is administered by the SSHRC-hosted Canada Research Chairs Secretariat, on behalf of the three federal granting agencies. | ||||
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time Equivalents (FTEs) | Planned spending ($ millions) |
FTEs | Planned Spending ($ millions) |
FTEs | Planned Spending ($ millions) |
| 1 | $329.2 | 1 | $329.2 | 1 | $329.2 |
| Expected results (as per PMF) |
Universities and colleges have the necessary resources, research facilities and services to carry out and mobilize world-class research.
Universities and colleges have the ability to meet their institutional teaching and citizenship mandates while carrying out world-class research. |
||||
Planning Highlights
- The Indirect Costs program is undergoing a summative evaluation in fiscal year 2008-09. This evaluation is examining some design issues and will assess the program’s progress toward achieving its immediate objectives. Discussions are underway with colleagues at Industry Canada regarding the renewal of the terms and conditions of the program in June 2009.
- The Indirect Costs program has also undergone an internal audit in 2008-09. The findings are positive overall and the recommendations are minor and mostly administrative in nature.
Benefits for Canadians
The Indirect Costs program supports the institutional environment for research in all fields: social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health. The program serves the S&T strategy commitment to “encourage a supportive post-secondary research environment.” This support helps to position Canada and Canadian research institutions as a primary destination for world-class research.
2.5 Program Activity 5 Internal Services
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time Equivalents (FTEs) | Planned spending ($ millions) |
FTEs | Planned Spending ($ millions) |
FTEs | Planned Spending ($ millions) |
| 113 | $16.3 | 116 | $16.3 | 118 | $16.3 |
Program Activity Summary
SSHRC and NSERC share internal services for general administration, human resources, finance, awards administration, and information management and technology services. This common administrative services model has proven highly efficient for the two federal granting agencies. In addition, SSHRC has its own corporate services serving the agency’s distinct needs in terms of board and committee governance, policy, planning, statistics, program evaluation, performance measurement, audit, communications and international affairs.
Planning Highlights
From 2009-10 to 2011-12, SSHRC will
- continue the renewal of business tools and processes. This includes the initiative for full implementation of an electronic grant application system and the renewal of the awards management system;
- continue the examination of SSHRC’s programs, criteria, policies and procedures to ensure strategic investments and the coherence and effectiveness of SSHRC’s activities in support of excellence;
- continue progress in systematically integrating performance, evaluation and audit activities into program delivery and decision-making;
- continue the development of integrated planning processes (e.g., multi-year strategic plan, annual corporate plan, annual divisional plans and annual budget planning cycle);
- develop and implement a human resources strategy, with tools and defined processes;
- enhance tri-agency collaboration, harmonization and alignment of programs, procedures and policies;
- continue implementation of the internal communications and staff engagement strategies, to strengthen SSHRC’s work environment; and
- prepare the next assessment of SSHRC’s Management Accountability Framework, planned for fall 2009.
