Bridging research and educational excellence
To meet the growing expectations of our stakeholders within the province, BCIT is developing a more focused, collaborative and strategic approach to research. The Research Task Group (RTG) has been formed to act as a catalyst to achieve this vision. By inspiring collaboration and facilitating the bridge between research and education, RTG will help find “the incredible waiting to be known”.
The RTG will help ensure that the research BCIT conducts will continue to produce tangible contributions to our learners, employers and society.
The Research Task Group (RTG) was formed shortly after the ‘BCIT Faculty and Staff Association Summit on Research at BCIT’ (May 25-26, 2009). This two-day discussion was attended by over 80 BCIT managers, instructors, researchers, technicians and support staff, and facilitated by Dr. Mark L. Winston, FRSC of SFU’s Centre for Dialogue.
A voice for every corner of the campus
The members of the RTG are drawn from every school and many departments, and include staff, faculty, instructors, researchers and administrators from across the Institute.
RTG is here to foster collaboration in the name of research. It will work closely with BCIT constituents, the community and industry to facilitate the success of a more focused, collaborative and strategic approach to research at BCIT.
RTG goals
- Facilitate the coordination and integration of research activities across BCIT: ARLO, CARI, BCIT’s six schools, Learning and Teaching Centre
- Propose and implement policies, practices and procedures to foster research at BCIT
- Develop a process for identifying and defining BCIT research themes that align with BCIT’s Vision and Mandate
- Support the facilitation and development of research funding opportunities
- Communicate, reach, engage and solicit feedback effectively with the BCIT community and industry on matters relating to research at BCIT.
RTG is a voice for every corner of BCIT.
RTG is comprised of a mosaic of BCIT talent.
RTG is chaired by Kim Dotto.
- Sanja Boskovic, Associate Dean, Aerospace, School of Transportation
- Joe Boyd, Research Liaison, Applied Research Liaison Office (ARLO)
- Paula Brown, Canada Research Chair in Phytoanalytics
- Jenna Clews, Administrative Assistant, Applied Research Liaison Office (ARLO)
- Kim Dotto, Dean, Applied Research
- Guy Ellis, Dean, School of Transportation
- Wayne Hand, Dean, School of Construction and the Environment
- David Holloway, Faculty, School of Computing and Academic Studies
- Cyri Jones, Faculty, Operations Management, School of Business
- Stefan Joseph, Project Leader, Applied Research Liaison Office (ARLO)
- Cory Langford, Bargaining Unit Chair, BCGEU
- Silvia Raschke, Project Leader, MAKE+
- Judy Shandler, Senior Systems Analyst, Information Technology Services
- Caleb Wei, Instructor / AST, Automotive Diploma and Advanced Studies
- Tracy Willcock, Faculty, School of Energy
1) Developing BCIT’s research strategy
What we’ve done
- An RTG sub-committee met to consider the key components of a BCIT Research Strategy, and developed a draft document proposing four Strategic Directions for Research at BCIT
- The document will guide the development of a detailed Research Strategy and supporting policies
- The draft “BCIT Research Strategic Directions” document was distributed to the BCIT community on July 12, 2010
2) Securing funding from Canada Research Chairs (CRC)
What we’ve done
- BCIT received an allocation of 1 Tier 1 and 1 Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs in 2009-2010, 2011-2012, 2013-2014
- An internal competition was held seeking nominations
- The RTG evaluated the 12 applications received, and forwarded recommendations to the Deans Council:
- to convert our Tier 1 CRC into 2 Tier 2 CRCs,
- to confirm the top 3 candidates
- Three BCIT faculty members submitted nominations for 2010 submission deadlines.
- If successful, BCIT will receive $100,000 annually for 5 years for each Tier 2 Chair, renewable for another 5 years. The CRC submissions are also accompanied by applications to the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for research infrastructure to help acquire state-of-the-art equipment essential to their work
- November 12, 2010 – BCIT researcher named Canada Research Chair
- October 12, 2011 – Second BCIT researcher named Canada Research Chair
- June 6, 2014 – BCIT Celebrates Third Canada Research Chair
3) Developing policies, practices and procedures to help increase research at BCIT
What we’ve done
Research committees
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- Develop guidelines to create School Research Committees and an Institute Research Committee to implement these policies and procedures.
- The role of these committees will be:
- to function as the channel for communications among research participants,
- to provide transparent access to research funding and resources that require decisions at the School or Institute level,
- to provide feedback and direction for research initiatives and policies at BCIT.
- The School Research Committees will be the decision making body for research projects or initiatives that require resources to be allocated by the respective school. The Institute Research Committee will be the decision making body for research projects or initiatives that require resources to be allocated at the Institute Level.
Institute research funds
- Create Institute Research Funds to allow BCIT employees to pursue research initiatives that are not able to obtain funding from other sources or allow researchers to leverage institute funds to obtain research funding from external agencies and partners that they would otherwise be unable to access. Two funds were created:
- VP Research Seed Fund – The intention of this fund is to fund research applications that will require partial release time from duties for the principal investigator for extended periods of time, usually one or more terms.
- Discovery Parks Fund – The intention of this fund is to fund research applications that are for a fixed term or to fund the preparation of applications for external grants.