Algonquin College Launching Research Development Institute

Posted on Friday, October 14th, 2022

$1.5 million over Five Years from NSERC Mobilize Program

Today, Algonquin College is pleased to announce that it has received $1.5 million in funding to establish a Research and Development Institute (RDI), thanks to funding received by The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

The RDI will serve a dual purpose:

(1) To support highly strategic applied research projects in collaboration with industry and community partners (an estimated five projects per year).

(2) To grow applied research capacity within the College.

“The RDI will support special, collaborative applied research projects that have strategic

importance to the College and community,” said Claude Brulé, President and CEO, Algonquin College. “The projects will reside in the College’s existing domains of research excellence, and they will address issues of national importance, working with local and community partners. Topics include supply chain innovation, tools for online learning, intimate partner violence, wastewater for rural development and reduction of carbon footprint in biogas generation.”

“Funding will support the introduction of a new type of faculty course release called Research Engagement Facilitator (REF),” said – Kristine Dawson, Associate Vice President, Experiential Learning and Innovation. REFs will act as catalysts to grow Algonquin’s applied research capacity. They will mentor other professors who seek to adopt applied research activities and they will assist with tasks such as grant writing, business development, outreach, and networking.

The key strategy of the RDI is to draw the PIs and REFs from the College’s full-time teaching staff. This is a departure from historical practices in which part-time professors were contracted to lead applied research projects. The new focus on full-time professors, which is supported by College management, will ensure that research know-how stays within the College.

This will fortify Algonquin’s research culture and it will foster organic growth of research throughout the campus. The aim is to embed applied research in Algonquin’s cultural fabric and to ensure that it becomes self-sufficient, sustainable, and resilient to unforeseen changes in research funding and in society at large.

 


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