Christian Higher Education Canada (CHEC) is a network of 34 faith-based universities, colleges and seminaries across Canada. Historically most of these campuses were teaching institutions. Today many are seeking to expand their research capacity to bolster their scholarship. This research shift comes at a time when faith-based campuses are under increasing pressure to demonstrate their relevance to constituents.

Executive Summary from CHEC:

Community-based research encourages community-campus partnerships stressing both community relevance and academic excellence. It is gaining traction across Canada (and globally) as universities emphasize community-engaged scholarship for direct societal impact. This trend is supported by substantial academic funding (e.g., Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s Partnership Grants). Unfortunately many faith-based campus have limited capacity to compete for these funds. This represents a barrier to advancing their own research agenda, and a lost opportunity for them to partner with their constituents on topics that matter to communities of faith.

With Crandall University as the lead on behalf of CHEC, and with the expertise of the Centre for Community Based Research (CCBR), we are proposing to hold a 2-day capacity-building event. Its purpose will be to equip faith-based campuses and their constituent-base to collaborate on community-based research. It will include:

• Keynote presentations from leading experts
• Panel discussions by denominational and campus leaders
• Skill-building workshops to give practical tips
• A learning exchange to share promising practices
• Networking platforms to develop future research collaborations

Topics to include:

• Overview of community-based research including indicators of excellence
• Building research partnerships and developing funding proposals
• Engaging students in community-based research
• Ethics in community-based research
• Creative knowledge mobilization strategies

The event, to be held in 2017, will target and benefit 1) faculty, students and administrators of faith-based universities, colleges and seminaries across Canada, and 2) their denominational and ministry partners. We expect about 30-40 people to attend who in turn are expected to impact their respective 20-30 campuses/constituent partners. The eventual impact will be increased community-campus research partnerships that lead to more evidence-based ministry.

Measurable Outcomes:

• 15-25 scholars from faith-based campuses across Canada will actively participate in a 2-day capacity-building event in 2017 designed to strengthen their ties and make them more effective in conducting collaborative research with their constituent partners.
• 10-15 leaders of churches and ministry organizations who participate at the event will have a better understanding of how community-based research can strengthen their ministry service and outreach.
• At least 50% of event participants will be involved in new research partnerships (between faith-based campuses and the constituents that they serve) designed to enhance evidence-based ministry service and outreach, within six months of the event.

Register for this event here.