Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Conseil de recherches en sciences humaines du Canada SSHRC’s Program Architecture Éric Bastien, Assistant Director Strategic Programs and Joint Initiatives October 21, 2010

2 Purpose of SSHRC Program Architecture Renewal By renewing SSHRC’s program architecture we will deliver: −greater overall program coherence −a simpler interface between applicants and SSHRC −improved service for applicants

3 Structure Three programs: −Talent −Insight −Connection Two funding streams: −Individual researchers and informal groups or teams −Formal partnerships

4 Individuals & Teams Partnerships TalentInsightConnection Program Mechanism Partnership Development Grants Partnership Grants SSHRC Doctoral Awards SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships (CGS, Vanier and Foreign Study Stipend) Research Development Grants Research Grants Workshops & Conferences Scholarly Journals Outreach and Tools (in future)

5 Research Development Initiatives Strategic research development grants (several) International Opportunities Fund: Development Grants Standard Research Grants Strategic research grants (several) Research Development Grants Research Grants Community-University Research Alliances Major Collaborative Research Initiatives Strategic Knowledge Clusters Knowledge Impact in Society Aspects of International Opportunities Fund Partnership Grants Partnership Development Grants & Public Outreach: Dissemination Grants Tools aspects of Standard Research Grants Image, Text, Sound and Technology: Summer Institutes Workshops and Conferences Outreach and Tools INSIGHT CURRENT PROGRAMSRENEWED PROGRAM ARCHITECTURE CONNECTION INSIGHT & CONNECTION Aid to Scholarly Workshops & Conferences International Opportunities Fund: Workshops & Conferences Public Outreach: Workshops & Conferences Grants Aspects of Image, Text, Sound and Technology Fellowships and scholarships No changes at this time TALENT No changes at this time Aid to Scholarly Journals

6 Talent −The objectives of the Talent program are to:Talent –support the development of the best or most promising highly qualified personnel with SSH research and professional skills; –support the best or most promising SSH students and postdoctoral fellows selected through an adjudication process; –support students and scholars in gaining exposure to international SSH scholarship; and –mobilize SSH knowledge that has the potential to lead to intellectual, cultural, social and economic influence, benefit and impact.

7 Insight −The objectives of the Insight program are to:Insight –build knowledge and understanding from disciplinary, interdisciplinary and/or cross-sector perspectives through support for the best researchers; –support new approaches to research on complex and important topics, including those that transcend the capacity of any one scholar, institution or discipline; –provide a high-quality research training experience for students; –fund research expertise that relates to societal challenges and opportunities; and –mobilize research knowledge, to and from academic and non-academic audiences, with the potential to lead to intellectual, cultural, social and economic influence, benefit and impact.

8 Connections −The objectives of the Connection program are to:Connection –facilitate the multidirectional flow of SSH knowledge among researchers and between the campus and the larger community, in order to enhance intellectual, cultural, social and economic influence, benefit, and impact; –increase the accessibility and use of SSH research knowledge among academic and non-academic audiences; –support the building of reciprocal relationships among SSH, and between SSH researchers and those in a position to either co-create or use research knowledge; –support the development of SSH research networks and tools designed to facilitate scholarly work; and –make such networks and tools more accessible to non- academic audiences.

9 Evaluation Criteria Across Funding Opportunities −Challenge: The aim and importance of the endeavour −Feasibility: The plan to achieve excellence −Capability: The expertise to succeed

10 Results of Program Architecture Feedback −Committee structure for the Insight program –The Research Grants funding opportunity will be reviewed, and a new structure announced in spring −Assessment criteria: –The weighting of “capability” will be adjusted to between 30 and 40 per cent for all funding opportunities. −Level of mandatory contributions in Partnership Grants for Insight and Connection programs: –This will be reduced to 35 per cent in cash and/or in-kind contributions over and above the total amount of funding requested from SSHRC. −Proposed maximum grant sizes: –For some funding opportunities these sizes will be decreased. −Deadlines for applications –These will be adjusted to better meet the needs of applicants and institutions.

11 Proposed Timeline for Implementation

12 Thank you / Merci Tel.: