THE FUTURE OF RESEARCH AT UNBC

AND THE ROLE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT OF

RESEARCH

Traditional Territory of the Lheidli T’enneh

Vision:

• To be a student-centered, research-intensive university, uniquely Northern and personal in character, responsive to the region it serves, of national and international acclaim.

STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLANMAJOR OBJECTIVES

1) To strengthen research at UNBC that is of outstanding quality and pioneering in its innovation, especially in strategic interdisciplinary research areas that are of marked importance to our region and similar areas;

2) To enhance the training of researchers, by increasing the number of graduate students and by providing a highly stimulating research environment for all of our students (undergraduate and graduate) that establishes UNBC as a leader in the integration of research and teaching;

3) To guarantee our researchers access to superior research resources and

infrastructure, and to manage these to ensure their effective and efficient use;

4) To develop new research relations with communities, businesses, industries, other academic institutions and other partners, regionally, nationally and internationally;

5) To enhance access to the results of our research, through improved knowledge translation, transfer and application, in order to maximize their benefits to society in Northern British Columbia and beyond.

STRATEGIC RESEARCH AREAS

• UNBC’s four interdisciplinary strategic research areas are:

• Environment and Natural Resources

• Community Development

• Northern, Rural and Environmental Health

• First Nations and Indigenous Studies

Total Research Dollars

2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/110

5

10

15

20

25

How do we compare?

U of T

UBC

U of A

McG

illUvic

SFU

UNBC0

100200300400500600700800900

1000

All Research Funding

Research $ by full time faculty

U of T

U of A

UBCUvic

SFU

UNBC0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

$ per FT Faculty 000,000

Maxed out at UNBC

UBC Uvic SFU UNBC180/3600

100

200

300

400

500

600 550

10070

1565

All Research Funding

So, where to from here?• Focus on our strengths.

– Even if we double our research grant capture we aren’t half as big as our nearest competition.

• 40th place nationwide• Be more strategic • Collaboration• Industry

– If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it? Albert Einstein

• International

• Support new researchers• Undergrad research• Other sources of $$• Spread the success

around, get more faculty engaged

• Improve internal support• Not just about money

Action Plan• Improve success in grant applications

– A proof is a proof. What kind of a proof? It's a proof. A proof is a proof. And when you have a good proof, it's because it's proven. Jean Chretien

• Improve success in industry funding• Develop collaborative research partnerships• Improve support for researchers• Foster undergraduate research• Support and encourage knowledge translation• CELEBRATE SUCCESS!

ROLE OF THE VPR:PROMOTE AND FACILITATE RESEARCH

LEADERSHIP MANAGEMENT COLLABORATION STRATEGY INTEGRATION INNOVATION ADVOCACY RESOURCES

Policy & Procedures Promote & Enable KT Enhance the Reputation

of UNBC Community Celebrate Success

Our Mission:

• To improve the quality of life in our region, province and world by attaining the highest standards of undergraduate and graduate teaching, learning, and research. To serve our vast region by nurturing relationships and being innovative, resourceful and responsive to student and community needs. 

KEY VALUESCarrier Values• RESPECT• COMPASSION• WISDOM• RESPONSIBILITY• CARING• SHARING• BALANCE AND

HARMONY

UNBC Values• LEARNING• INTERDISCIPLINARITY• INNOVATION• EXCELLENCE• RESPONSIVENESS• LEADERSHIP• DIVERSITY AND

EQUITY• TEACHING• RESEARCH

UNBC STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN

STRENGTHEN RESEARCH STRATEGIC INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH ENHANCE THE TRAINING OF

RESEARCHERS SUPERIOR RESEARCH RESOURCES AND

INFRASTRUCTURE NEW RESEARCH RELATIONS ENHANCE ACCESS TO THE RESULTS OF

OUR RESEARCH

'En Cha Hunà