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.