Community Based Research Training Centre

What is the CBRTC?

The Community-Based Research Training Centre (CBRTC) is a University of Winnipeg based project supported by the Manitoba Research Alliance (MRA) and the University of Winnipeg Research Office. The MRA is composed of a diverse group of researchers and community organizations that are committed to community-driven solutions to the adverse effects of poverty. More Information about the MRA is availablehere.

The purpose of the CBRTC is to harness the expertise of MRA co-investigators as well as other researchers, offering practical research related workshops to students and community members interested in practising community-based participatory research.

Background:

2020年,MRAwas awarded a 7-year, $2.5 million Partnership Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The MRA has allocated $1.2 million of its funding to support student and community researchers. In response to the award application, reviewers suggested strengthening the project by increasing training opportunities for students. The idea of a CBRTC was thought to be a way to make this happen, while also prioritizing opportunities for community researchers. Due to its diverse connections and location, The University of Winnipeg was proposed by the MRA as an ideal site for the CBRTC, and we received enthusiastic support from the UWinnipeg Research Office. A commitment to establishing the CBRTC was included in the full MRA proposal, which was positively received, and resulted in the 2020 award.

The CBRTC will provide training and employment opportunities for student and community researchers while also serving to match students and community researchers with paid research opportunities. The MRA will be looking for both undergraduate students and graduate students, as well as community researchers with lived experience, to work on various research projects.

Workshops:

The CBRTC is already making connections to begin working in collaboration with various partners, including TheC UWinnipeg口述历史中心,草原气候entre, Librarians and Archivists, the Institute for Urban Studies and others, and will offer an array of practical workshops. Like the MRA, the CBRTC takes an interdisciplinary approach and recognizes multiple forms of knowledge. We will provide a range of workshops with a general focus on research skills related to community-based participatory research. Workshops will cover all aspects of research including research design, implementation, analysis and knowledge mobilization. Examples of workshops include, but are not limited to: research instrument development; interview and focus group skills; integrating Indigenous ways of knowing into research; effective use of census and other statistics; qualitative and quantitative data analysis; preparation of research ethics proposals; and effective and respectful ways of working with community-based organization partners.

While experienced MRA scholars will continue to provide mentoring and training aligned with individual research projects, the CBRTC will facilitate a more systematic and coordinated approach, offering workshops and training to students and community researchers. MRA scholars and other experienced researchers will lead training sessions aligned with their areas of expertise. Student researchers may be matched with MRA projects where they can develop research skills and capacity. The CBRTC will also enable university scholars, students and community researchers to interact and generate new research ideas and projects together. The CBRTC willfill a void by providing an opportunity to develop skills that build on the important academic content learned in university courses. Workshops offered by the CBRTC will provide students with useful micro credentials sought by employers and/or better prepare them for graduate studies. The CBRTC is a unique example of Work Integrated Learning (WIL). Students learn practical skills which they can further develop through paid research positions.