Jun 23, 2020
Vancouver, BC - Langara College has been awarded funding by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to support an explorative study looking at the education, employment, and immigration outcomes of international students. The findings will then inform the development of new solutions to bridge the gap between policy, reality, and intent in ways that will benefit all stakeholders.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for our faculty and students to engage with our community partners,“ said Margaret Heldman, Vice President, Academic (Interim). “We’re thankful to SSHRC for recognizing the value of this research, and we look forward to working with our partners across British Columbia.”
Langara's Applied Research program will work closely with a number of partners on this project, including South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, College of New Caledonia, Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society of Prince George, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The project will be supported by a $360,000 College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) grant, paid over three years.
“We want to examine immigration pathways and what they look like for urban and rural international students in BC,” said project director Jenny Francis, a geography instructor at Langara College. “What supports exist to prevent or mitigate challenges along the study-work-stay transition, and how can we ensure student success? Addressing these issues is as much a matter of equity and social justice as it is a policy and program imperative to ensure effective decision making.”
The project also creates opportunities for Langara faculty and students to be involved in researching, surveying, recruiting, analysing, and interviewing. A total of nine semesters of course release for faculty and 25 research assistant positions for students will be available over the course of the study.
About the CCSIF
College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) grants are intended to foster social innovation by connecting the talent, facilities and capabilities of Canada’s colleges and polytechnics with the research needs of local community organizations. CCSIF proposals should facilitate collaborative social innovation research that brings together researchers, students and partners to address research challenges in social innovation, leading to solutions addressing a Canadian community need. The CCSIF program enables colleges to increase their capacity to work with communities, with the goal of developing partnerships that foster social innovation in areas such as education, integration of vulnerable populations, and community development.
About snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓ Langara College
Located in beautiful Vancouver, BC, Canada, snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓ Langara College provides University, Career, and Continuing Studies education to more than 23,000 students annually. With more than 1,700 courses and 130 programs, Langara’s expansive academic breadth and depth allows students of all ages, backgrounds, and life stages to choose their own educational path. Langara is also known as snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓, a name given to it by the Musqueam people on whose unceded traditional territory the College is located.
Learn more.
Mark Dawson
Manager, Public Affairs
604.323.5702
mdawson@langara.ca
