College social innovation announces second round of winners; now fully committed

Assessment required to determine future status

The pilot phase of a novel three-year, $15-million college social innovation program is now fully committed with the announcement of results from a second competition. The latest round of the Community and College Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) awarded $7.4 million to 35 projects at 22 colleges across the country. The CCSIF is a first for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the first college-focused program to be offered outside its sister agency — the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.

The program was approved by the previous government after discussions with SSHRC and the college community. It was initially funded at $10 million over two years in the 2014 Budget and subsequently extended for a year with an additional $5 million. Awards can range between one to three years up to a maximum of $240,000.

Applicants are required to include a plan to seek and secure cash and/or in-kind support although there is no minimum contribution requirement.

Early indications of success

An early impact assessment has identified the range of partners collaborating with colleges and concluded that the projects are meeting their fundamental objectives. In fact, many partners have made real contributions — an indication that they are deriving value.

"A distinction is often made between basic and applied research but we see them as a continuum so this program isn't a stretch at all," says SSHRC president Dr Ted Hewitt. "We're applying the existing research base with new partners and they undertake further research that will benefit the partners in the projects."

Projects are expected to:

• foster social innovation by connecting the talent, facilities and capabilities of Canada's colleges and polytechnics with the research needs of local community organizations; and,

• facilitate the development of collaborative social innovation research that brings together researchers, students and partners to address research challenges pertaining to social innovation.

"Colleges have spoken very directly about their role in applied research and they've also made the case for social innovation. The impact of the work done (through CCSIF) will determine the future of the program," says Hewitt. "We'll complete the program, wrap up calls and do an evaluation, then decide whether to make the program permanent in some way ... Then we'll go back to the government with recommendations in consultation with the colleges."

All SSHRC programs are technically open to colleges but Hewitt estimates thant prior to CCSIF, funding to colleges was less than 2% of total awards.

"There are real constraints at colleges to apply for funding perceived to be for universities," he says. "Most researchers also have a full teaching load so they feel it's not worth their while. Also, colleges need to provide researchers with support."

For its part, SSHRC relies on its sister granting councils to assemble the necessary peer review talent for projects beyond the traditional SSHRC disciplines requiring assessment.

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