Posted on May 19: McMaster concludes SSHRC consultation process

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Rockwell.jpg” caption=”Geoffrey Rockwell”]McMaster's consultation process is completed and the University has submitted its report to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) on the transformation of the granting council to a knowledge council. The report recommends a variety of new programs and structures and emphasizes McMaster's values and goals.

“Not surprisingly, our researchers and graduate students were very involved in this process and provided substantial ideas and suggestions on both the SSHRC proposals and how McMaster can prepare for this transformation. We are very pleased with the participation, and the result is a document which we believe will place McMaster among the leaders when it comes to the development and implementation of the new SSHRC programs and structures,” says Mamdouh Shoukri, vice-president of research and international affairs.

“Dr. Rockwell has done an excellent job of leading these consultations and in developing recommendations that will benefit our research and graduate student communities. This report reflects the voices of our humanists, social scientists and business scholars and it will be important to the institution as we go forward with Refining Directions, our revised strategic vision.”

SSHRC representative Geoffrey Rockwell, associate professor School of the Arts, was impressed with the breadth and scope of the discussions and the interest and energy of scholars within the various research communities to share and exchange ideas. While consultations were focused on humanists and social scientists, Rockwell met with SSHRC researchers in other Faculties and with members of the external community. “McMaster's research community is a strong and vibrant one. People are keen to share experiences, they are interested in improving SSHRC and they genuinely and sincerely seek ways to build and strengthen McMaster's research enterprise. We are also fortunate to belong to a community which strongly supports McMaster's research enterprise, values and recognizes the contributions made by our scholars, and is eager to work with them.”

The contributions made by graduate students who participated in the discussions equally impressed Rockwell. “They came to the table with very important issues and concerns and with some very good suggestions about how to improve the research experience for graduate students.”

Rockwell says the report addresses many of the key points and concerns that came up repeatedly at discussions:

the importance of peer review, quality and excellence;

support for curiosity-driven research;

preserving the Standard Research Grants;

the status of the 4As (fundable but not funded grant applications);

increased training and research opportunities for graduate students; and

the need for time to support the research/creation processes.

While the report is complete, there is still much work ahead to prepare for the implementation of the new council. Shoukri and Rockwell will meet with other key members of the academic community to discuss and develop an action plan to ensure the McMaster researchers and graduate students are positioned to succeed under the newly transformed knowledge council.

The report is available at http://www.mcmaster.ca/research/sshrc.htm

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[img_inline align="right" src="http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Rockwell.jpg" caption="Geoffrey Rockwell"]McMaster&#039;s consultation process is completed and the University has submitted its report to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) on the transformation of the granting council to a knowledge council. The report recommends a variety of new programs and structures and emphasizes McMaster&#039;s values and goals. <p><br />
<br />
"Not surprisingly, our researchers and graduate students were very involved in this process and provided substantial ideas and suggestions on both the SSHRC proposals and how McMaster can prepare for this transformation. We are very pleased with the participation, and the result is a document which we believe will place McMaster among the leaders when it comes to the development and implementation of the new SSHRC programs and structures," says <a href="http://www.mcmaster.ca/research/vpres_index.htm">Mamdouh Shoukri</a>, vice-president of research and international affairs.<p><br />
<br />
"Dr. Rockwell has done an excellent job of leading these consultations and in developing recommendations that will benefit our research and graduate student communities. This report reflects the voices of our humanists, social scientists and business scholars and it will be important to the institution as we go forward with <i>Refining Directions</i>, our revised strategic vision."<p> <br />
 <br />
SSHRC representative <a href="http://www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/~hccrs/grockwell.htm">Geoffrey Rockwell</a>, associate professor School of the Arts, was impressed with the breadth and scope of the discussions and the interest and energy of scholars within the various research communities to share and exchange ideas. While consultations were focused on humanists and social scientists, Rockwell met with SSHRC researchers in other Faculties and with members of the external community. "McMaster&#039;s research community is a strong and vibrant one. People are keen to share experiences, they are interested in improving SSHRC and they genuinely and sincerely seek ways to build and strengthen McMaster&#039;s research enterprise. We are also fortunate to belong to a community which strongly supports McMaster&#039;s research enterprise, values and recognizes the contributions made by our scholars, and is eager to work with them."<p><br />
<br />
The contributions made by graduate students who participated in the discussions equally impressed Rockwell. "They came to the table with very important issues and concerns and with some very good suggestions about how to improve the research experience for graduate students."<p><br />
<br />
Rockwell says the report addresses many of the key points and concerns that came up repeatedly at discussions: <ul><br />
<br />
<li>the importance of peer review, quality and excellence; </li><br />
<li>support for curiosity-driven research;</li><br />
<li>preserving the Standard Research Grants;</li><br />
<li>the status of the 4As (fundable but not funded grant applications);</li> <br />
<li>increased training and research opportunities for graduate students; and</li><br />
<li>the need for time to support the research/creation processes.</li></ul><br />
<br />
While the report is complete, there is still much work ahead to prepare for the implementation of the new council. Shoukri and Rockwell will meet with other key members of the academic community to discuss and develop an action plan to ensure the McMaster researchers and graduate students are positioned to succeed under the newly transformed knowledge council. <p><br />
<br />
The report is available at <a href="http://www.mcmaster.ca/research/sshrc.htm">http://www.mcmaster.ca/research/sshrc.htm</a>

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