4: SRC Intensity
Vigorously support the efforts of individual faculty members and larger research groups within Ryerson, as well as the efforts
of Ryerson faculty members that involve collaborative research at other institutions.
Other Information:
Scholarly, Research and Creative activity -- the construction and transmission of new knowledge -- is essential to any university.
The University will vigorously support the efforts of individual faculty members and larger research groups within Ryerson,
as well as the efforts of Ryerson faculty members that involve collaborative research at other institutions. Through a strategic
exercise carried out by the VPRI in conjunction with this Academic Plan, seven areas of research activity have been identified
as carrying special opportunities. These are: Digital Media, Communication, 1. and Information Technology 2. Energy, Sustainability,
and the Environment 3. Health and Well Being 4. Cultural Prosperity 5. Technological Innovation 6. Management, Competitiveness,
and Entrepreneurship 7. Learning and Teaching Effectiveness Ryerson will continue to encourage and support innovation in SRC,
particularly in areas that have direct applications in industry, infrastructure, and systems, and that contribute to the prosperity,
culture, and health of society. The University is committed to promoting SRC as a key part of student engagement at the graduate
and undergraduate levels and as a key element in the retention of highly qualified faculty members. SCHOLARLY, RESEARCH AND
CREATIVE ACTIVITY Scholarly, research and creative (SRC) activity is central to the mission of the University. These pursuits
provide opportunities to create and transmit new knowledge, a process that is central to the health of the academy, the prosperity
of the society we serve, and the future of our graduates. The University will need to focus its resources in areas of strategic
importance as well as in areas of emerging importance. These areas have been identified in an SRC Strategic Planning process
involving representatives from each of the faculties, The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, the Provost, and
the VPRI. The areas that have been determined to be of strategic or emerging importance are outlined as follows in no particular
order. As a recognized leader in digital arts, engineering, design and media content creation, Ryerson University is involved
in a variety of scholarly, research and creative activities in the area of Digital Media, Communication, and Information Technology.
This engages the digital arts, science, and technology in a dialogue that fosters a vital exchange of ideas, enables imaginative
forms of human communication, and informs new and exciting media in business and education. The area Energy, Sustainability,
and the Environment focuses on Ryerson’s ability to balance the complex interactions between the need for development, its
effect on the environment, and the means for achieving ecological stability and sustainability. This includes activities leading
to production of renewable energy or controlling the harmful effects of conventional energy production, water, natural resources,
climate, materials, manufacturing, and public policy. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Health and Well Being as
“a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.” This strategic area can be characterized by the interplay of
the experimental sciences, engineering, the affiliated health sciences, social sciences, and humanities, and the knowledge
and methods each brings to address issues of health, stress, and well being. Ryerson is engaged in many diverse activities
in the realm of health and well being of various communities, especially in an urban context. Cultural Prosperity represents
the contribution of the social sciences, humanities, all media, and fine arts to the economy and society. Across its faculties,
Ryerson is uniquely positioned to leverage and stimulate creative expression, innovation, and vision, drawing on its diverse
urban, academic, and multicultural surroundings. Technological Innovation exemplifies the contributions made to Canada’s economy
and society from disciplines in engineering and the physical and life sciences. Ryerson has traditionally had a strong foundation
of researchers contributing to technological innovation and intends to build on existing strengths in such areas as aerospace
and robotics, power electronics, medical physics and biomedical engineering, advanced materials, and safety engineering. Ryerson
supports a focus on activities in Management, Competitiveness, and Entrepreneurship, the study of planning, organizing, resourcing,
leading or controlling an organization, starting new organizations or revitalizing mature organizations while best managing
performance. As a leader for career-focused and applied university education, Ryerson engages in a wide range of activities
to improve Learning and Teaching Effectiveness in education, training and development. Research in this emerging area ensures
that there is development towards a meaningful and practical body of knowledge about student learning and teaching effectiveness
in higher education. Joint initiatives will be undertaken with University Advancement to seek endowments for research chairs
in areas of strategic importance. New research opportunities will be explored through national granting councils, research
foundations, external research institutes, other institutions, as well as business, industry, governments (federal, provincial,
and other), and external communities. Centres that enable strategic alliances between the University and other sectors, including
both the extended public sector and private enterprise, and that build upon and reflect the existing and potential educational
and SRC strengths and priority areas within a faculty or the University, are a key part of Ryerson’s SRC agenda. An interdisciplinary
Centre devoted to digital media, communication, and information technology is being considered. A framework will be developed
at both the central and the local level that will help Ryerson to fulfill its SRC objectives, and promote an environment that
ensures collaboration among Ryerson’s faculties, schools and the library—among scholars in various fields—in research and
creative, scholarly, and professional activities. The SRC Enhancement Program also includes internal programs to encourage
interdisciplinary collaboration within Ryerson, inter-institutional collaboration (e.g. between universities, or universities
and industry), and international initiatives. The building of a new Student Learning Centre will provide a unique opportunity
to strengthen the library as both a research institution of its own and a key part of the SRC life of the University. The
Vice President, Research and Innovation will work with the Provost and the Vice President, Administration and Finance and
the Deans, Associate Deans, Chairs and academic members to attract resources and provide adequate infrastructure for scholarly,
research and creative activities, and explore the establishment of partnerships with other institutions for possible access
to specialized facilities in order to grow our SRC funding, output, and impact. The stated goal has been to double externally
funded research to $25 million by 2011. Ryerson also recognizes that not all SRC is tied to external research funding, and
that other types of scholarship and creative activity are also recognized and valued. Mechanisms for this recognition will
be established and will continue to evolve on criteria of quantity and quality. This includes the growing trend to recognize
the scholarship of teaching and learning. As the quantity of SRC grows, so must the infrastructure to support that growth.
Faculty must be supported both in their submission and administration of grants. The Office of the Vice President, Research
and Innovation has recently undergone a review to determine how it can better serve the needs of faculty.
Objective(s):
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