Sponsored by Education at Work-Ontario (EWO)

OVERVIEW

The Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE) seeks to foster research activity that will advance and enhance co-operative education across Canada. Research will strengthen the development of co-operative education as a learning model, stimulate professional discourse, and help build bridges between co-op practitioners and the academic research community. As part of this mandate CAFCE established the Co-operative Education Research Grant in 2006. By establishing this grant, CAFCE is better able to:

• Identify, promote, and support co-operative education research activity
• Connect practitioners needs to potential research opportunities
• Link co-operative education researchers across Canada and globally
• Mentor those conducting co-operative education research projects and inspire others to consider such projects

Type of Grant

The CAFCE Co-operative Education Research Grant will be presented:

• Based on quality and feasibility of proposal submissions
• In support of proposed research that is not funded by any other grant
• As financial support and recognition

Eligibility

Both members and non-members of CAFCE are eligible to apply. Projects must not be funded by other granting sources. Preference will be given to proposals that have already been reviewed and accepted by their relevant ethics review boards as well as to projects that investigate new questions and directions.

Grant Amount

The grant is for $5,000 to be awarded to one recipient. Grant recipients will receive the grant in two halves to encourage completion of the research project as well as dissemination of the results. As such, half the amount will be granted immediately and the final half once the researcher(s) present their findings at a CAFCE Conference or AGM, and publish.

Research Priorities

The CAFCE Co-operative Education Recognition Grant will be presented to research that helps to strengthen the development of co-operative education. Priority will be given to studies that provide a deeper understanding of what engages, enacts, and enriches students, faculty, employers, and staff as well as studies that contrast and compare various co-op practices and their outcomes.

CRITERIA AND REQUIREMENTS

Evaluation Criteria

The following criteria will be used to evaluate all proposals submitted. As such, it is advisable that applicants address each of the criteria in their submission.

• 30% Relevancy of topic to stated priorities and contribution of research to field
• 10% Clarity of research purpose and objectives
• 10% Appropriateness of design
• 10% Originality and creativity
• 10% Qualification of researcher(s)
• 10% Adequacy of budget
• 10% Plan for dissemination of results
• 10% Overall quality of the research proposal

Submission Requirements
In order to be considered for the CAFCE Co-operative Education Research Grant applicants must submit a proposal that includes a cover document and a narrative of the research project. Submission Deadline is Friday March 26, 2010 of each year with the recipient announced in May or June of the same year. A downloadable copy of the CAFCE Research Grant (2010) Submission Guide will be made available in the Fall of 2009.

Cover Document

The cover document, not to exceed 5 pages (12 point font, single spaced) must include:

1. Title of research
2. Brief abstract (100 words)
3. Name(s) of principle researcher(s)
4. Name of university, organization of individual submitting the proposal
5. Address, phone fax and e-mail
6. Statement of qualifications of the researcher(s)
7. Projected timetable
8. Plan for dissemination of results
9. Budget plan¹

¹ Note: As part of the budget plan, a description on how the funds will be spent must be included. The following information may prove helpful:

Examples of allowable budget expenses include personnel (clerical support, student assistance, etc.), postage, printing, photocopying, travel for conference presentation, telephone and fax costs, and office supplies. Items must all be for directly achieving the research project.

Examples of non-allowable budget expenses include salary for the researcher, indirect institutional expenses, institutional overhead, permanent equipment and capital purchases.

Narrative of the Research

Project The narrative of the research project, not to exceed 5 pages (12 point font, single spaced), must include:

1. Statement of the problem. Purpose and objectives of the research should be clearly stated including research questions or hypotheses to be tested.
2. Relevance of the research. Applicants should show how the research is useful to professionals in co-operative education.
3. Background information. Include a review of the relevant research and literature.
4. Research methodology.   Applicants should describe how the data for the project will be collected and provide a timetable for data collection. Any research instruments to be used should be explained and, if possible, a sample attached. Methods for data analysis should be explained. 

Addenda

The submission should also include:

1. Reference List (one page)
2. Appendices (not to exceed 10 pages)

Applicant and Recipient Responsibilities

Applicants

Applicants are required to submit a complete research proposal demonstrating that the project is in keeping with the Association’s research priorities, closely follow the submission criteria, and submit on time (via e-mail). In general, applicants must clearly demonstrate that the research project is appropriate, ethical, and feasible.

Recipients

Sign research grant agreement: Grant recipients are required to sign an agreement where they agree to meet the Association’s expectations. The expectations include adhering to the deadline of completing the research and disseminating the results at a conference, and in a juried journal (2 years). In general, the purpose of the document is to ensure the Association’s expectations are clear and therefore, helpful to recipients in understanding and meeting the Association’s expectations.

Fax the signed agreement back to the CAFCE Research Committee Chair: Grant recipients are required to sign and fax the grant agreement to the CAFCE Research Committee Chair and retain a copy for themselves.

Fulfill research objective and disseminate results: Grant recipients must complete their research and present their findings at a CAFCE Conference or AGM and publish (2 year timeframe).