Government of Canada Invests in Research to Grow Canada's Highly Skilled Workforce

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 3, 2015) - The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

The Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today announced investments in research grants to identify the most effective curriculum, methods of learning and teaching to prepare Canadians for the 21^st century, to create jobs, continue economic growth and promote long-term prosperity

New ways of learning and teaching to maintain a highly-skilled workforce is one of six challenge areas identified in the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council's Imagining Canada's Future initiative. In total, SSHRC is providing $488,969 through its Knowledge Synthesis Grants to 20 projects at postsecondary institutions across Canada to address this issue.

The projects involve Canadian and international collaborators across the academic, public, private and not-for-profit sectors which focus on two themes: demand for skills in tomorrow's Canadian labour market; and supply and development of skills for the future Canadian labour market. Results are presented in a format accessible to a broad audience, and are intended to foster collaboration among academic researchers, industry stakeholders and government policy-makers in addressing Canada's future labour market challenges.

Quick Facts

• The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council is the federal research funding agency that promotes and supports postsecondary-based research and training in the humanities and social sciences.

• Through its programs, SSHRC works to develop talented leaders for all sectors of society. SSHRC supports over 8,400 research projects annually

• SSHRC's Knowledge Synthesis Grants combine or "synthesize" current academic knowledge, and make the information accessible to a broader audience. The grants examine existing research emerging over the past 10 years to address future challenge areas, such as the Imagining Canada's Future initiative.

• The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support researchers, teams of researchers and knowledge users to produce knowledge syntheses and scoping reviews that will contribute to the use of synthesized evidence in decision-making and practice.

• Recently, Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered on the government's commitment to provide an updated science and technology strategy.The strategy, Seizing Canada's Moment, is a vision and a roadmap for strengthening Canada's position as a global leader in scientific research while looking to harness greater Canadian research and development that create jobs, increase prosperity and improve the quality of life of Canadians.

• The Knowledge Synthesis Grants correspond to the People pillar of the Government of Canada's updated science and technology strategy by fostering a highly trained and skilled workforce.

• Economic Action Plan 2015 provides over $1.5 billion in funding over five years to advance the Government's science and technology strategy. This includes $46 million in support for advanced research through SSHRC and other federal granting councils.

Quotes

"Our government recently introduced Economic Action Plan 2015, a plan that will ensure science and technology continues to create jobs and prosperity and improve the quality of life of Canadians across the country. Through today's announcement, our government is investing in research that will help inform solutions to social, cultural and economic barriers to skills training and employment to ensure we connect the greatest number of Canadians to jobs that are available."

- Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology)

"By funding knowledge mobilization related to new ways of learning, SSHRC is supporting initiatives in the social sciences and humanities that will strengthen the Canadian education system for the benefit of society. The results from these grants will generate insights into ways that Canadians can adapt, innovate and thrive in the 21^st century economy, ensuring a better future for Canada and the world."

- Ted Hewitt, President, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

Related products

Knowledge Synthesis Grants competition awards

Associated links

• Knowledge Synthesis Grants

• Government of Canada Invests in Research on Labour Market Issues

• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

• Economic Action Plan 2015

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