Departmental Performance Report 2013–14

Name of transfer payment program: Grants and Scholarships (voted)

Start date: 1978

End date: No End date

Description: This transfer payment program consists of grants and scholarships awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) for research, talent development and research dissemination activities in the social sciences and humanities.

Strategic outcome: 1—Canada is a world leader in social sciences and humanities research and research training

Results achieved:

Program 1.1 Talent: attraction, retention and development of students and researchers in the social sciences and humanities

Talent funding constituted 49 per cent of SSHRC’s grant expenditures in 2013–14 under Strategic outcome 1. The scholarships, fellowships and research chairs offered under the Talent program are key to attracting, retaining and developing students and researchers in the social sciences and humanities.

The 2011–12 SSHRC Scholarships and Fellowships Survey revealed that the majority of former SSHRC award recipients perceived the opportunities offered by the award as the most important influence on their research and career path. The survey assessed the career progression of a cohort of SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarships master’s scholars and SSHRC doctoral and postdoctoral fellowship recipients, to compare trends in employment. The survey included Canada Graduate Scholarships master’s scholars who received their award in 2004, SSHRC doctoral recipients from 2000 to 2002, and SSHRC postdoctoral recipients from 2002 to 2004. The majority of SSHRC doctoral and postdoctoral fellowship recipients were employed at the time of the survey. At 47 per cent, the rate of employment for the Canada Graduate Scholarships master’s recipients was about half that of the other two groups; however, almost 45 per cent of the Canada Graduate Scholarships master’s recipients were not employed because they were pursuing doctoral or postdoctoral studies. Nearly 92 per cent of SSHRC postdoctoral fellowship recipients and about 85 per cent of SSHRC doctoral fellowship recipients had found employment at a university or college. Canada Graduate Scholarships master’s recipients were more diversely employed—in universities (41 per cent), the public sector (25 per cent), the private sector (15 per cent) and the not-for-profit sector (13 per cent).

The Canada Research Chairs Program stands at the centre of a national strategy to make Canada one of the world’s top countries in research and development and, more specifically, to attract and retain some of the world’s most accomplished and promising minds. The 10th-year evaluation of the program (2010) concluded that, overall, the Canada Research Chairs Program “is a very well-regarded and effective tool for Canadian universities to attract and retain leading researchers.” Chairholders in the humanities and social sciences are also being recognized and celebrated nationally and internationally for their advancements. A 2011 qualitative and quantitative analysis of the annual reports produced by social sciences and humanities chairholders highlighted that they won a wide range of prizes, including the Boyd McCandless Award, the Humboldt Research Award, the Killam Award and the National Achievement Award.

Program 1.2 Insight: new knowledge in the social sciences and humanities

In 2013–14, SSHRC invested 41 per cent of its Strategic Outcome 1 grants budget in funding opportunities under its Insight program. This program aims to support and foster excellence in social sciences and humanities research intended to deepen, widen and increase understanding of individuals and societies, as well as to inform the search for solutions to societal challenges. SSHRC-funded researchers are building knowledge and understanding of complex and important topics in the humanities and social sciences, producing an average of 16 research contributions per project. The majority of these contributions are conference papers (24.4 per cent of research contributions), peer-reviewed articles in research journals (23.5 per cent), and books and book chapters (16.2 per cent). SSHRC-funded researchers are also present in the media, radio and television broadcasts, public lectures, and websites. The work of researchers funded through the Insight program is recognized nationally and internationally. A number of funded research projects have been cited for recognition or prizes, and the researchers themselves have won various awards for their books and articles, as well as prestigious prizes such as the Killam Prize offered by the Canada Council for the Arts for academic research and scholarly achievement.

SSHRC supports many mechanisms for formal partnerships (with financial and/or in-kind contributions from partners) involving partners from the academic, public, private and not-for-profit sectors within Canada and internationally. For every dollar requested through SSHRC, Partnership Grant holders are, on average, leveraging up to $0.89 in cash and in-kind partner contributions. Furthermore, Partnership Development Grant holders are leveraging up to $1.02 through partner contributions.

SSHRC partners with other organizations to offer several joint initiatives, such as the International Partnerships for Sustainable Societies (IPaSS), a collaboration with the International Development Research Centre to create opportunities for researchers and partners in Canada and in low- or middle-income countries to develop a collaborative international research program across sectoral, organizational and international boundaries. SSHRC awarded four partnership grants under the IPaSS joint initiative in 2013–14. The Digging into Data initiative is another international collaboration with 10 international research funders supporting research into how computational techniques can be applied to “big data”; 14 teams representing Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands were awarded a grant.

Program 1.3 Connection: mobilization of social sciences and humanities knowledge

In 2013–14, Connection program funding constituted 10 per cent of SSHRC’s grant expenditures under Strategic outcome 1. SSHRC’s support for knowledge mobilization activities enhances access to, and maximizes the impact of, publicly funded research in the social sciences and humanities. In addition, SSHRC continued its integration of knowledge mobilization activities across its suite of programs, so that Canadian and international policy-makers, business and community leaders, educators, media representatives, and countless others benefit from SSHRC-funded activities. Activities include the publication of scholarly journals and books; organization of and participation in events to discuss, compare and plan research activities; the honouring and recognition of researchers, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows whose contributions to research have enriched Canadian society; and the development of large-scale, virtual research networks that bring together partners from academia, industry, government and not-for-profit organizations.

The evaluation of SSHRC’s knowledge mobilization funding opportunities, completed in 2013, concluded that “for the social sciences, SSHRC has achieved its strategic objectives for knowledge mobilization, as articulated in the 2009–11 Knowledge Mobilization Strategy… The social science community is now on the upslope of the adoption curve.” (p. 68) The evaluation also revealed that SSHRC’s knowledge mobilization funding opportunities were very successful in creating partnerships and networks, and that a large array of organization types are involved as contributors, including aboriginal associations, museums, not-for-profit organizations, private business enterprises and different levels of government. Every dollar awarded by SSHRC through its Connection Grants funding opportunity in 2013–14 yielded a commitment of $1.05 in combined cash and in-kind contributions.

In December 2012, SSHRC started offering institutional Connection Grants, through which institutions may submit an application to conduct connection activities in order to attain strategic objectives relevant to the institution’s mission and mandate. As a result, 15 institutional Connection grants were awarded in 2013–14.

Comments on variances: Differences in planned and actual spending relates to approximately 10 per cent of Canada Research Chairs not being filled at any given point, due to normal turnover of incumbents, and include changes announced in Budget 2013.

Audits completed or planned:

• Audit of SSHRC Appeals Process was completed in December 2013.
• Audit of the Insight Program is expected to be completed in 2014–15.

Evaluations completed or planned:

• SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships Evaluation is expected to be completed in 2014–15.

Engagement of applicants and recipients: A variety of engagement initiatives (webinars, site visits, telephone, email, online forums) have been used as part of the regular competition cycle, in order to give applicants and recipients opportunities to seek and receive information and to provide feedback on service delivery.

Name of transfer payment program: Canada Graduate Scholarships (voted)

Start date: 2003

End date: No End date

Description: This transfer payment program supports doctoral students and master’s students in the social sciences and humanities.

Strategic outcome: 1—Canada is a world leader in social sciences and humanities research and research training

Results achieved: In 2013–14, SSHRC awarded 1,300 master’s scholarships and 430 doctoral scholarships through the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships funding opportunity. The last evaluation of the Canada Graduate Scholarships program, in 2009, found that both the possibility of receiving a scholarship and actually receiving a scholarship were, for 70 per cent of scholarship recipients at both the master’s and doctoral levels, important incentives for enrolling in graduate studies. The 2011–12 SSHRC Scholarships and Fellowships survey looked at the SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarships master’s cohort from 2004 and revealed that over 97 per cent of respondents completed their graduate degree or research program, and that the median time to completion was just under two years. Canada Graduate Scholarships master’s respondents also reported satisfaction with different facets of their program: 77 per cent were satisfied with their overall experience in the program; 78 per cent were satisfied with the opportunity to conduct research during their program; and 75 per cent were satisfied with the quality of the teaching in their program. The next evaluation of the Canada Graduate Scholarships program will be completed in 2014–15.

In fall 2012, the federal research granting agencies launched an initiative to harmonize the Canada Graduate Scholarships program. The initiative aimed to provide an opportunity to critically examine the ways in which the three granting agencies are delivering the Canada Graduate Scholarships program, and to rethink some of the administrative fundamentals. Resulting benefits to the academic community and the agencies will include streamlined, simplified application and review processes that are fully aligned across the three agencies. The design of the harmonized Canada Graduate Scholarships program was approved by the presidents of the three granting agencies in June 2013. Changes to the Canada Graduate Scholarships—Masters program were implemented and the first harmonized competition was launched in September 2013, with a deadline date in December 2013. Over 13,000 applications, in all areas and disciplines for all three agencies, were received and processed.

Comments on variances: Not applicable.

Audits completed or planned: Audit of Canada Graduate Scholarships Program is expected to be completed in 2015–16

Evaluations completed or planned: Canada Graduate Scholarships Evaluation is expected to be completed in December 2014.

Engagement of applicants and recipients: A variety of engagement initiatives (webinars, site visits, telephone, email, online forums) have been used as part of the regular competition cycle, in order to give applicants and recipients opportunities to seek and receive information and to provide feedback on service delivery.

Name of transfer payment program: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (voted)

Start date: 2008

End date: No End date

Description: SSHRC’s portion of this tri-agency class grant transfer payment program provides financial support to Canadian and international students who have achieved outstanding success in their studies and will pursue a doctoral program at a Canadian university in an area of the social sciences and humanities.

Strategic outcome: 1—Canada is a world leader in social sciences and humanities research and research training

Results achieved: The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program attracts and retains world-class doctoral students and helps establish Canada as a global centre of excellence in research and higher learning. SSHRC funded 55 new Vanier scholars in 2013–14, including 25 foreign citizens. In this competition, 33 per cent of the candidates put forward by universities in the humanities and social sciences were from outside Canada.

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program is administered by the Vanier-Banting Secretariat representing Canada’s three federal research funding agencies. The Secretariat is housed within the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program’s first evaluation, completed in May 2014, indicates that the program is achieving its two main outcomes. The results of the program evaluation are being used to revise the Performance Measurement Strategy, which is expected to be completed by March 2015.

Comments on variances: Not applicable.

Audits completed or planned: No audit was conducted or planned during the reporting year.

Evaluations completed or planned: The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships Evaluation was completed in June 2014.

Engagement of applicants and recipients: A variety of engagement initiatives (webinars, site visits, telephone, email, online forums) have been used as part of the regular competition cycle, in order to give applicants and recipients opportunities to seek and receive information and to provide feedback on service delivery.

Name of transfer payment program: Indirect Costs of Research (voted)

Start date: 2003

End date: No End date

Description: This transfer payment program supports a portion of the indirect costs associated with the conduct of academic research in institutions that receive research grant funds from any of the three federal research funding agencies. Grants are awarded to eligible institutions using a progressive funding formula based on the average revenues from research grants received from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, and SSHRC.

Strategic outcome: 2—Canada has the institutional capacity to enable research and research-related activities in social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering and health

Results achieved: The Indirect Costs Program, administered by SSHRC for the three federal research funding agencies, contributes to improving the overall ability of postsecondary institutions to conduct research and to recruit and retain world-class researchers in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health. Indirect Costs Program grants to postsecondary institutions equalled $331.6 million in 2013–14, providing vital support to the academic research environment in Canada. The Indirect Costs Program partially offsets institutional expenses by providing support in five categories, and institutions have flexibility in deciding how to use their grants. In 2012–13, institutions allocated 34 per cent of the grants to research facilities, 17 per cent to research resources, 34 per cent to management and administration, 10 per cent to regulatory requirements and accreditation, and 5 per cent to intellectual property management. In their annual outcomes report, 83 per cent of institutions cited the program as an important factor in gaining new sources of funding. The impact of the grants was both direct, through supporting research administration and grant writing, and indirect, by helping to maintain the infrastructure necessary to support new initiatives.

An evaluation of the Indirect Costs Program was initiated in 2013–14, and will be completed in 2014–15. Preliminary evaluation findings suggest that the program continues to meet its intended outcomes. However, the evaluation found it difficult to measure whether the program enhances the research environment by freeing up institutional and provincial funds that would otherwise have to pay for the indirect costs of research. More specific reporting on the part of grant recipients would help in assessing this aspect of program performance.

Comments on variances: Not applicable.

Audits completed or planned: No audit was conducted or planned during the reporting year.

Evaluations completed or planned: The Indirect Costs Program Evaluation was completed in June 2014.

Engagement of applicants and recipients: A variety of engagement initiatives (webinars, site visits, telephone, email, online forums) have been used in order to give applicants and recipients opportunities to seek and receive information and to provide feedback on service delivery.

Name of transfer payment program: Networks of Centres of Excellence (voted)

Start date: 1997

End date: No End date

Description: This federal class grant transfer payment program is administered jointly by the three federal research funding agencies in partnership with Industry Canada. It supports research in complex areas of critical importance to Canadian universities and hospitals working with the private and public sectors. The networks funded through this program are multidisciplinary and multisectoral partnerships that stimulate leading-edge, internationally competitive research in areas critical to Canadian economic and social development.

Strategic outcome: 1—Canada is a world leader in social sciences and humanities research and research training

Results achieved: A program audit of the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program was undertaken in 2013–14. The audit identified several positive findings linked to the core activities of the program, notably related to the adjudication of applications and award payment. The program’s merit review assessments were found to be consistent and well documented, with decisions supported by thorough justifications, highlighting the quality of the reviewers’ work, as well as the diligence and professionalism of staff. The second NCE Knowledge Mobilization competition led to the identification of two new NCE Knowledge Mobilization networks: Serene (cybersecurity) and CellCAN (regenerative medicine). These new networks have each signed funding agreements and began receiving funding in March 2014.

Comments on variances: Not applicable.

Audits completed or planned: Audit of the Networks of Centres of Excellence Program was completed in March 2014.

Evaluations completed or planned: A Tri-Agency Review of the Relevance and Effectiveness of the Networks of Centres of Excellence Program was completed in June 2013.

A Joint Evaluation of the NCEs and the Business-Led NCEs is expected to be completed in February 2015.

Engagement of applicants and recipients: A variety of engagement initiatives (webinars, site visits, telephone, email, online forums) have been used as part of each competition cycle, in order to give applicants and recipients opportunities to seek and receive information and to provide feedback on service delivery.

Name of transfer payment program: Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (voted)

Start date: 2007–08

End date: No End date

Description: SSHRC’s portion of the tri-agency class grant Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) program supports the operation of commercialization and/or research centres that bring together people, services and infrastructure to maximize the benefits of the government’s investments in skills and research, and to encourage greater private sector investment in science and technology, in areas of the social sciences and humanities.

Strategic outcome: 1—Canada is a world leader in social sciences and humanities research and research training

Results achieved: An evaluation of the CECR program was completed in 2012–13. It found that the CECR program has enhanced research and commercialization capacity, strengthened domestic collaboration, and attracted investment from partners by leveraging $1.50 for every $1.00 of CECR grant funds. A key program strength is the level of industry involvement in the program. In the most successful centres, the quality of the leadership and the strength of the centre’s governance are also seen as key ingredients of their success. These centres’ customer focus, commercial relevance and focused organizational objectives and strategy were also noted as critical success factors. Building on the evaluation, the program has clarified its commercialization focus, to encourage applications from business-oriented centres that can demonstrate a clear path to sustainability by the end of their grant period. A recently launched competition includes management, business and finance as priority areas.

Comments on variances: The variance between planned and actual spending relates to the program cycle where funding amounts are determined post-competition and appropriated through the Supplementary Estimates during the year.

Audits completed or planned: Audit of the Networks of Centres of Excellence Program was completed in March 2014.

Evaluations completed or planned: No evaluation was conducted or planned during the reporting year.

Engagement of applicants and recipients: A variety of engagement initiatives (webinars, site visits, telephone, email, online forums) have been used as part of each competition cycle, in order to give applicants and recipients opportunities to seek and receive information and to provide feedback on service delivery.