Research at KPU

Scholars at our polytechnic university engage in all kinds of research to pursue their subject expertise, publications and further inform the enrichment of their teaching practice. At KPU we live the tag line “where thought meets action”. Much of our research is closely intertwined with local industry. Our researchers work with local companies, NGOs and community groups to address and seek solutions for real challenges. Through the valuable work of our researchers and our research institutes we provide powerful experiences for our learners, add value and enhance our brand and profile. The external changes affecting our regional and provincial organizations and agencies present unique opportunities to strengthen and redesign the ORS and our KPU research community to respond to regional needs to partner with us on mobilizing and co-creating knowledge.

The former Office of Research and Scholarship will become the newly restructured Office of Research and Research Services (ORRS). It will provide enhanced orientation, mentoring and other research services that will raise KPU's profile and capacity in the areas of applied research, basic research as well as the scholarship of teaching and learning.

The ORSS will serve as a place for researchers to reinforce and enhance their research capacity, secure support from diverse funders and to connect them to national and international private, institutional and governmental research networks, postsecondary institutions and research foundations. Secondly, the office will support researchers to strengthen the accountability of research work by providing access to knowledgeable staff to assist with financial reporting, compliance matters, and communication.

An essential hub and portal for research at KPU, the ORRS is well positioned to showcase the talent of our researchers and scholars, as well as to support their efforts to produce creative work at the intersection of teaching/ learning and discovery/innovation. The ORRS is a place that encourages, facilitates and supports creativity and action; it is set up to be a catalyst for dialogue, strategic planning and collegial exchange around contemporary issues and research questions. KPU will support the ORRS and ensure it works closely with the KPU Library to provide the necessary support and materials for researchers to do their work. ORSS will foster strategic alliances with the Library and the Teaching & Learning Commons to support and forge ahead with research. Kwantlen Open Resource Access (KORA) will provide immediate global reach to support KPU researchers and their academic publishing.

At the same time the ORRS will maintain a seamless interaction with the Office of Teaching and Learning to provide the widest set of services, tools and training to elevate the role of research and its relationship to teaching at KPU. Our polytechnic university promotes and supports research through a comprehensive approach that enables researchers, enhances their knowledge acquisition and informs their teaching.

Our vision for an effective and engaged ORRS rests on the following propositions:

• Research is critical to KPU's credibility as a legitimate university.
• Research at KPU will encompass applied research, basic research, and the scholarship of teaching and learning.
• Research informs teaching and learning.
• The optimum role of the ORRS is to showcase, promote, and support all research at KPU.
• Research strengthens KPU.
• Research expands students' ways of learning by integrating learners into faculty-led and student-led research.
• Our research institutes play a key role in connecting KPU to external industry and community partners and add a distinctive value to our university.
• KPU upholds the principle of academic freedom.

   

While specifics of the university's research endeavor are best determined and implemented through discussion among our community of scholars, the ORRS has a strategic role to play helping shape big questions and providing the means to pursue solutions to complex human problems.

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Goal 3: Accelerate Research at KPU

Strategy 3.1

Restructure the new Office of Research and Research Services to nurture research capacity, provide optimized research services, enhance accountability support and communicate successes.

Dashboard Update

Strategy 3.2

Develop and implement KPU Intellectual Property and Commercialization policies.

Dashboard Update

Strategy 3.3

Deepen our relationship with external industries, government and community organizations to ignite an active research agenda. Provide powerful learning experiences for our students while seeking practical solutions for physical, social and discovery challenges.

Dashboard Update

Strategy 3.4

Reinforce the role and function of our research institutes by supporting and enhancing their external networks and partnerships and by providing a clear line of accountability and support services.

Dashboard Update

Strategy 3.5

Ensure and encourage an enriched, direct connection between our research activities and our teaching and learning mission.

Dashboard Update

Strategy 3.6

Engage the KPU Library and Teaching and Learning Commons to assist researchers and the Office of Research and Research Services to enhance research capabilities and access up-to-date methodologies and resources. Reinforce KORA’s role in providing immediate global reach for KPU research through KORA and other avenues to open academic publishing.

Dashboard Update