ONCAT supports research that advances knowledge and understanding of the current state of transfer students and pathways in Ontario. The objective of this funding strategy is to generate knowledge that can directly inform policies, institutional practices and contribute to a greater understanding of system-wide issues that impact transfer and student mobility.
Research Areas of Interest Include:
- Academic and labour market outcomes of transfer students
- Pathways between varied types of credentials, including micro-credentials, PLAR, postgraduate certificates, industry-based professional development, and non-conventional credentials
- Transfer considerations for Indigenous Institutes
- Transfer student supports and experiences (e.g., post-transfer integration, mental health supports for transfer students)
- COVID-19 impacts on transfer student flows
- Data linkages to assess transfer student outcomes, characteristics, transfer patterns, pathway uptake etc. This includes school boards (K-12) and postsecondary institutions to link administrative records to analyze localized patterns of student flows (direct entry/transfer) across regions of Ontario.
Funding
Research Project grants generally range from $10,000- $100,000. Larger grants may be considered based on the research scope.
Eligibility
Publicly assisted postsecondary institutions in Ontario (colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes), not-for-profit organizations, and postsecondary education researchers working in the field of postsecondary education in Ontario are eligible to apply. Applications can be from individual institutions or collaborative initiatives.
Application
- If you would like to discuss your project before applying, please reach out to Nick Hanson, Director of Research, Data and Funding, nhanson@oncat.ca and copy Inna Yeranosyan, Grants and Projects Specialist, at iyeranosyan@oncat.ca.
To view the Budget Guidelines, please click here.
Submission Requirements
To be considered for funding, proposals must include the following:
- Clear Scope and Sound Methods: Proposals should articulate clear research questions and a detailed research plan that outlines data sources, research approaches, and techniques.
- Strong Rationale: Proposals must demonstrate how the knowledge being generated can inform policies, pathways, and institutional practices in student mobility in Ontario. Proposals should explain how the research will contribute to the literature on student mobility and how it can serve as a sector resource for developing a more seamless postsecondary education system in Ontario.
- Demonstrated Research Capacity: Proposals must demonstrate clear capacity to conduct the research and an appropriate research team.
- Knowledge Mobilization Strategies: Proposals should include an overview of knowledge mobilization strategies during the project and how research findings will be shared and possibly implemented.
- Budget: Submissions must include a clear and realistic budget that aligns with the proposed activities.
- Ethics Review (if applicable): Submissions should include timelines for Research Ethics Board approval, as needed, for projects involving human participants or that require institutional research involving multiple institutional partners and/or access to institutional data/records.