SSHRC welcomes feedback on renewed program architecture
A message from President Chad Gaffield
Over the past year, SSHRC has been in the process of renewing its program architecture to create a simpler, more flexible and effective system of application and assessment.
To meet the needs of Canadian researchers in the evolving world of research, training and knowledge mobilization, five principles have guided the program architecture renewal process: excellence, simplicity, flexibility, integration and quality of service.
The result is a proposed new program architecture featuring three umbrella programs entitled Talent, Insight and Connection, based on SSHRC’s mandate to develop talent, to build knowledge and understanding, and to mobilize knowledge on campus and across society.
Building upon SSHRC’s past successes in supporting research and research training, many of the features of the renewed program architecture will be familiar to our applicants, both in terms of the funding opportunities provided and the ways in which these will be administered.
In renewing our program architecture, we will pay particular attention to more effectively supporting the potential of the new generation of scholars who represent the future of Canada’s social science and humanities community. We are embracing different types of research activity, scholarly traditions and sizes of proposals as equally prestigious and important. SSHRC is also moving beyond distinctions such as ‘pure’ and ‘applied’ and ‘basic’ and ‘strategic’ research.
Further, we are recognizing an inclusive definition of scholarly contribution that builds upon the familiar emphasis on journal articles and books, to include diverse means of mobilizing knowledge both on and beyond the campus. In this way, applicants and award-holders will be able to report on the substantive benefits, influence and impact of their research, such as how research has examined our thinking, challenged established wisdom, and introduced new interpretations and insights about the past and present; and how research has analyzed, reinforced or changed behaviour, including both policies and practices.
SSHRC will continue to support research in all fields using disciplinary, interdisciplinary and cross-sector approaches. The renewed program architecture will also enable new and emerging forms of research, partnerships, talent development and knowledge mobilization, which do not always fit easily into our current suite of programs.
A comprehensive set of materials has been assembled to facilitate a review and feedback on the new program architecture. The Briefing on SSHRC’s Renewed Program Architecture (PDF document, 400 KB) describes in more detail the changes we propose to introduce, and presents draft versions of new program literature and a proposed timeline for implementation.
I encourage you to take the time to review this material, and to share your comments with us. We look forward to working together with the research community and our many partners to recognize and increase the contributions of social sciences and humanities research to Canada and to the world.
Yours in Research,
Chad Gaffield