1. Best Practices in Partnerships
Gail Zboch, Senior Program Officer Strategic Programs and Joint Initiatives

2. Context
SSHRC has funded research partnerships in the past, both through short-term funding opportunities and through long-term initiatives (CURA, MCRI, etc.)
SSHRC has also funded research networks through joint initiatives (CISS RDC, Metropolis, etc.)
These partnerships have resulted in fruitful collaboration, rich research findings and sustainable, long-term relationships
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3. Best Practices in Building Partnerships
Communication
Governance structures
Stakeholder involvement
Training opportunities
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4. Communication
Ensure effective communication with all interested parties (e.g., researchers, partners, general public)
Ongoing liaison with stakeholders
Full-time project co-ordinator or facilitator
Works for the partnership project
Point of contact for stakeholders
Circulates newsletters and updates
Development of common tools for information sharing with stakeholders as well as with greater audiences
Websites, web portals, etc.
Social networking sites
Facebook, Twitter, Second Life
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5. Governance Structures
Provide a clear, well-developed governance structure (e.g. steering committee, sub-committees, working groups)
Use a decision-making process that incorporates all stakeholders
Ensuring the active participation of all stakeholders at the table
Ensure conflict resolution mechanisms are in place
Managing competing interests and priorities in the partnership
Develop performance evaluation frameworks in collaboration with stakeholders
Ensuring that the deliverables and activities are carried out according to schedule
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6. Stakeholder Involvement
Ensure the active participation of all stakeholders over the course of the project
Define roles and responsibilites for all partners at the start
Establish common goals and priorities in consultation with stakeholders
Delegate tasks according to capacity and expertise
Share resources equitably, and ensure a reasonable “buy-in” on the project from the partners
Cash or in-kind contributions, including:
Personnel
Access to facilities or facilitating interaction with other organizations/communities
Knowledge mobilization activities
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7. Training Opportunities
Ensure the meaningful involvement of students
Working with partnering organizations
Hands-on skills
Ensure capacity-building and learning, not only for students, but all involved in the project, by:
Integrating partnering organizations into project plans
For example, training personnel from partnering organizations to conduct interviews, organize events, present at conferences, etc.
Fostering the exchange of knowledge and expertise between all the stakeholders of the project
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8. Helpful Hints: Developing a Partnership Project
Develop plans to ensure the sustainability of the partnership beyond the tenure of the grant
Set realistic, attainable goals
Validate objectives and plans with the stakeholders even in the development phases
Ensure that the project has the necessary stakeholders on board to successfully achieve its goals
Number of partners: quality over quantity
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9. Helpful Hints: Developing a Partnership Project
Continue to recruit new partners over the course of the project
Identify potential interested partners through networking opportunities, including:
External events
Contacts in the field
Existing projects and partnerships
Social networking
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10. Some Helpful Documents
A formalized partnership document such as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Letters of engagement that clearly outline the partner’s commitments, both financial and in-kind
Tips for partner letters:
Avoid “template” letters
Ensure that all letters are personalized and demonstrate a knowledge of the project
Address the letters to the principal investigator/project director and refer to the project title
An assessment or self-assessment mechanism that allows the team to evaluate its activities and the quality of the partnership
A common reporting system
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11. Useful Resources – Examples of projects
Cluster: Network for Business Sustainability (Dr. Tima Bansal, University of Western Ontario)
CURA: Life stories of Montrealers displaced by war, genocide, and other human rights violations, (Dr. Steven High, Canada Research Chair in Public History, Department of History, Concordia University)
Knowledge Impact in Society: For the list of all projects funded visit:
MCRI: The Asia Pacific Dispute Resolution Project (Dr. Pitman Potter, University of British Columbia)
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12. Useful Resources
CIROP MEASURE: Measuring community impacts of research-oriented partnerships.
Social Economy Hub: List of resources and guides on community-university partnerships.
The ARUC-ÉS and RQRP-ÉS: Model and Guide for Knowledge Mobilization in the Context of Research Partnerships.
CU Expo 2011: Canadian-led conference designed to showcase the best community-university partnerships worldwide.
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13. Thank you / Merci
Tel.:
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