York Senate approves the University’s new strategic research plan

After eight months of consultation with the community, as well as internal and external research partners, the York Senate has unanimously approved the University’s new strategic research plan, "Building on Strength".

“York’s new strategic research plan commits to building research on our strengths and provides a strong aspirational vision for the development and recognition of York’s research over the next five years,” said Robert Haché, vice-president research & innovation. “I would like to thank the entire York community for your positive response to the consultation process and earnest engagement that made such important contributions to the development of the plan. We will continue to invest in the growth and development of our research as a foundational part of our efforts to grow our academic reputation as a recognized leading research-intensive university.”

Robert Haché

The plan supports the University’s research vision to better understand the human condition and the world around us and to employ the knowledge gained in the service of society as described in six intersecting themes:

advancing fundamental discovery and critical knowledge,
analyzing cultures and mobilizing creativity,
building healthy lives and communities,
exploring the frontiers of science and technology,
forging a just and sustainable world,
integrating entrepreneurial innovation and the public good.

The plan also articulates five areas of opportunities that complement past accomplishments, new developments, momentum and timing to provide particular opportunities for building research success. They include:

digital cultures,
engineering research that matters,
healthy individuals, healthy communities and global health,
public engagement for a just and sustainable world, and
scholarship of socially engaged research.

Through this plan, the University is implementing the objectives set out for research in both the University Academic Plan and the Provost’s 2010 white paper, which identify research intensification as a key University goal and recognize research as a core endeavor that broadly enriches the institution. The plan is meant to be a living document, responsive to the University's successes, as well as being sensitive to a rapidly evolving landscape.

Through a strategic combination of broadly based and focused investments over the course of the next five years, York University will continue its impressive development as a leading Canadian research university whose scholarship enhances our culture and improves society.

To view the full plan, click here.

VP Research & Innovation will share a draft of new Strategic Research Plan at open forum Feb.12

Vice-President Research & Innovation Robert Haché will share a first draft of York’s new Strategic Research Plan at an open forum being held on Feb. 12, from 2 to 4 pm in the Senate Chamber, N940 Ross Building.

During the open forum, Haché will report back to the community about the consultations to date. He will introduce a draft of the eventual plan and begin the process of soliciting feedback on the document.

“I am pleased to report back to the York community with respect to the Strategic Research Plan consultations to date that have broadly engaged the community and solicited an enthusiastic response. This open forum will provide an opportunity for us to share a first draft based on these consultations and to launch this next phase of consultation with the community on the Plan,” said Haché. “We look forward to an engaging discussion.”

Robert Haché

As part of the open forum, University community members will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome. To RSVP for this event, click here.

Haché will be joined by the Strategic Research Plan facilitators: Gary Miller, instructor in the MBA Program at the Schulich School of Business, as well as at the Schulich Executive Education Centre and Celia Haig-Brown, professor in the Faculty of Education.

The SRP draft is expected to be available on the Strategic Research Plan website on Monday, Feb. 11. The open forum will also be available via webcast on the website. Questions can be sent in advance by clicking here or through Twitter using the hashtag #yuresearchplan.

VP research & innovation to host consultations with researchers

Vice-President Research & Innovation Robert Haché is inviting researchers to a series of informal discussions to provide them with an opportunity to discuss a broad spectrum of research issues, including the development of the new strategic research plan, through community chats that will be held from January to April.

Initially, the community chats were launched as an opportunity for members of the York community to participate in an informal discourse about the new strategic research plan. However, they have also emerged as a useful mechanism for researchers to discuss a broad spectrum of research issues with the VPRI in an informal manner.

“As we continue to move forward in the strategic research planning process, I invite researchers and members of the York community to a continuing series of chats to discuss issues that are on their minds with respect to research, including the development of any aspect of the new strategic research plan,” said Haché.

Community Chats with the VPRI will be held at the following dates and times:

DATE	TIME	LOCATION
January 11, 2013	9:00 am - 10:00 am	902 YRT
January 31, 2013	10:00 am - 11:00 am	286C Winters College
February 22, 2013	9:00 am - 10:00 am	203 Bethune College
March 1, 2013	9:00 am - 10:00 am	219 Glendon Hall
March 8, 2013	9:00 am - 10:00 am	TEL 3072
April 1, 2013	9:00 am - 10:00 am	S802 Ross

As part of the ongoing nature of the consultation process, York students, staff and faculty are invited to share their thoughts on the development of the strategic research plan. For more information, visit the strategic research plan website.

Republished courtesy of YFile– York University’s daily e-bulletin to research stories on the research website.

Vice-President of Research & Innovation to report on Strategic Research Plan

Interested in learning more about the feedback from the York community with respect to the new Strategic Research Plan? Want to learn more about the draft themes describing the scope of research at York?

Join Vice-President Research & Innovation Robert Haché for an open forum to learn more about the development of the University’s Strategic Research Plan 2013 – 2018. During the Open Forum, Haché will be reporting back to the community about the feedback from the consultations to date, as well as initiating a discussion of draft themes describing the scope of research at York.

Robert Haché

“I am pleased to report that we have engaged almost 1100 members of the York community in the Strategic Research Plan consultations to date. This open forum will provide an opportunity for us to share some of the feedback that we have received and to seek new input from the community on the draft themes aiming to describe the scope of research at York,” said Haché. “We will be seeking input and feedback from the York community in helping to refine the draft themes as we continue to work towards the development of the new Strategic Research Plan, which will shape the future of York research over the next five years.”

The open forum will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 20 from 10 am to 12 pm in the Senate Chamber, N940, Ross Building. The audience will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback on the draft themes and development of the new plan. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome. To RSVP for this event, click here.

The open forum will also be available via webcast on the Strategic Research Plan website, or questions can be sent in advance by clicking here and via Twitter using the hashtag #yuresearchplan.

Republished courtesy of YFile– York University’s daily e-bulletin.

Strategic Research Plan consultation survey accessible online

Want to have your say about the development of York’s new Strategic Research Plan?

Vice-President Research & Innovation Robert Haché invites the York University community to share their thoughts and perceptions with respect to research at York by participating in an online survey as part of the broader consultation process. The data gathered will help to inform the development of the new Strategic Research Plan: 2013-2018.

The survey seeks input on the importance of various forms of research support, explores the core research values at York, the availability of research tools and infrastructure, and other research-related information. All members of the York University community are invited to participate and responses will remain confidential.

Robert Haché

“The online survey provides members of the York community with an additional opportunity to share their thoughts and feedback in a manner that is convenient and easily accessible,” said Haché. “One of our goals for the Strategic Research Planning consultation process is to ensure that all members of the York University community have an opportunity to engage. I encourage all members of the York community to participate in the consultation process. We are interested in hearing your thoughts and suggestions about the development of the new plan.”

To participate in the survey, click here.

Strategic Research Plan Consultation workshops are scheduled for Oct. 26 and Nov. 1. The workshops are open to all members of the York University community and seek to engage the research community in examining York’s core values with respect to research, probing our perceptions and seeking to prioritize our commitments to the support of research.

To register, click here.

Members of the York community can also drop in to have a discussion about the development of the new Strategic Research Plan with Haché during community chats. To view the schedule, click here.

Republished courtesy of YFile– York University’s daily e-bulletin.

VPRI engages Faculty Councils to seek input on the Strategic Research Plan

Vice-President Research & Innovation Robert Haché continues to seek input on the development of York’s new Strategic Research Plan: 2013-2018 by engaging with Faculty Councils.

In the first of a series of Faculty visits, held last week, Haché had an in-depth discussion with the Faculty of Education Council about how the new Strategic Research Plan can best support and integrate the core research values and objectives reflected in the Faculty Strategic Research plan.

Robert Haché

“The feedback resulting from the Faculty Councils is integral to the development of the Strategic Research Plan,” said Robert Haché, vice-president research & innovation. “It is important to ensure that the University-wide Strategic Research Plan echoes the research programs, core research values and objectives identified by each of the Faculties, as reflected by the individual Faculty strategic research plans.”

Over the past 18 months, the Faculty of Education has undergone an extensive consultation process for the development of their Faculty strategic research plan. Members of the Faculty Council had an opportunity to discuss and reflect on this process and share their thoughts and concerns with the VPRI.

Among the comments raised were: the need to effectively consider the distribution of resources with respect to research at York, the ways in which the Faculties can work together to support interdisciplinary initiatives and advance research agendas, the intersection of teaching and research, the pursuit of research agendas as they relate to tri-council funding measures, and the need to ensure that the finalized plan reflects the fluid, fast-paced and rapidly-changing nature of research.

Over the coming months, Haché will be continuing the discussion on the development of the Strategic Research Plan with each of the Faculty Councils and more broadly with the University community through workshops and community chats.

To view the workshop schedule and for more information on the development of the plan, visit the Strategic Research Plan website.

Republished courtesy of YFile– York University’s daily e-bulletin.

VP Research & Innovation launches community consultations about a new strategic research plan

Vice-President Research & Innovation Robert Haché officially launched a series of community consultations regarding a new Strategic Research Plan for the University at an open forum held last Tuesday at the Keele campus.

The community consultations are an important part of a process to develop the plan. More than 150 members of the York community attended the open forum to discuss the plan that will articulate the priorities and vision for the future of York research over the next five years. The open forum provided an opportunity for community members to learn more about consultation process and the goals for the plan.

More than 150 members of the York community attended the open forum, which was held in the University’s Senate Chamber

In addition, there was a lively, open and engaging discussion that saw participants share their thoughts and concerns.

Among the comments offered by those present at the open forum was the aspiration that the new Strategic Research Plan would help improve York’s research reputation. Participants articulated the need to develop a strategy that empowers researchers by providing them with appropriate opportunities to focus their attention on research. Many of those welcomed the transparency of the open consultation process, highlighted the need for inclusiveness in defining research areas and stressed the importance of equitable research support.

“York’s new Strategic Research Plan will help us achieve our vision of becoming a more recognized research intensive University – an ambition reflected in the White Paper and University Academic Plan,” said Haché.

Haché chats with a community member

He explained that the goals of the consultation process are to engage the York community in an open, collaborative and ongoing discussion about the University’s core research values to develop a plan that is meaningful to the community.

Haché was joined in the open forum by York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri, Strategic Research Plan Facilitators Celia Haig-Brown, who is a professor in the Faculty of Education, and Gary Miller, and instructor in the MBA program at the Schulich School of Business and Schulich Executive Education Centre, along with members of the Strategic Research Plan Advisory Committee.

As part of the ongoing nature of the consultation process, York students, staff and faculty are invited to continue the discussion with Haché through upcoming workshops and community chats. The workshops will seek to examine York’s core values with respect to research, understand perceptions and prioritize commitments to the support of research.

The workshops will be held on:

Date	Time	Location
Tuesday, Oct. 2	9 to 11am	305 Lumbers Building, Keele campus
Friday, Oct. 5	9 to 11am	BMO Room, Glendon Manor, Glendon campus
Tuesday, Oct. 16	9 to 11am	Founders Senior Common Room, 305 Founders College, Keele campus
Friday, Oct. 26	1 to 3pm	Harry Crowe Room 109 Atkinson Building, Keele campus
Thursday, Nov. 1	1 to 3pm	519 York Research Tower, Keele campus

To RSVP for the consultation workshops, click here. For more information on the community chats and the Strategic Research Plan, click here.

Republished courtesy of YFile– York University’s daily e-bulletin.

Vice-president research & innovation to host open forum

Are you interested in having a say about the development of York’s new strategic research plan?

Join Vice-President Research & Innovation Robert Haché for an open forum to launch the consultation process for the University’s Strategic Research Plan 2013 – 2018.

“The open forum will provide an opportunity for members of the York community to participate in the conversation as we work towards becoming a more recognized research-intensive university through the development of this new plan,” said Haché.

Robert Haché

“York has a strong history of showcasing research excellence through the integration of collaborative and interdisciplinary models of research,” he said. “We have built a solid basis for future growth and development and we look forward to hearing from all members of the York community, as we fully articulate our collective ambitions for York research over the next five years.”

The open forum will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 11, from 1 to 3 pm in the Senate Chamber, N940, Ross Building. The purpose of the open forum is to discuss the goals, values and objectives that will help shape the continued development of research at York over the next five years and learn more about the rollout of the consultation process and upcoming workshops. In addition, the audience will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback on the scope of research at York. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome. To RSVP for this event, click here.

Haché will be joined by York’s President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri, members of the Strategic Research Plan Advisory Committee and the Strategic Research Plan facilitators: Gary Miller, instructor in the MBA Program at the Schulich School of Business, as well as at the Schulich Executive Education Centre and Celia Haig-Brown, professor in the Faculty of Education.

The mandate of the Strategic Research Plan Advisory Committee is to advise the vice-president research & innovation on all aspects of the consultation with the York Community and in the development of the plan, which will articulate a vision and aspiration for York research over the next five years. The goal is to provide regular updates to the community on the progress of the consultation and development of the plan working towards a completed plan in the spring of 2013.

The open forum will also be available via webcast on the Strategic Research Plan website, or questions can be sent in advance by clicking here and via Twitter using the hashtag #yuresearchplan.

Republished courtesy of YFile– York University’s daily e-bulletin.

VPRI seeks input from researchers on new strategic research plan

The Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation (VPRI) is launching a consultation process to seek input from the York University research community on the development of a new strategic research plan for 2013-2018. The launch of the consultation process was announced in Senate on Thursday.

VPRI will be advised in the consultation process by a Strategic Research Plan Advisory Committee comprised of individuals from the University and community, whose membership will be announced shortly. The goal is to engage the community in a discussion of goals and values to provide shape to a strategic research plan that will set the vision for the continuing development of research at York for the next several years. The expectation is to provide the community with a draft of the plan before the end of 2012, with a final version going to Senate for approval in spring 2013.

“The establishment of a new strategic research plan will help to advance research intensification broadly at York and identify areas of opportunity for growth and development,” said Robert Haché (left), vice-president research & innovation. “The plan will help to foster the support of research excellence across the University while providing a strategic framework for driving our research reputation forward in areas of opportunity.”

In order to create a document with the broadest possible support, VPRI is inviting all members of the York community to contribute to the development of the strategic research plan by sharing their points of view throughout the consultation and development process. The University community is invited to participate in workshops, focus groups, town hall meetings and other events being organized or through an online form that is available here.

Through an extensive process of broadly-based consultations, VPRI will arrive at a plan that sets well-defined goals within an aspirational vision that is strongly supported by the University academic community, as represented by Senate.

The goals of the strategic research plan consultation process are:

To engage in a collaborative, University-building exercise that articulates a clear valuation and appreciation of research at York and its integration into all aspects of the fabric of the University;
To build a strong, broadly accepted aspirational vision for the development of research based on a comprehensive consultation process with the University community and external stakeholders;
To appropriately identify and articulate areas of opportunity in the strategic development of research across the institution.

Haché, in collaboration with the Strategic Research Plan Advisory Committee, invites all members of the community to be an engaged part of a comprehensive consultation process that will help York University continue to move forward in research excellence and scholarship.

For more information, click here.

Republished courtesy of YFile– York University’s daily e-bulletin.