UCGSA Brief to SRSR: Advocating for Graduate Student Representation and Research Funding in Canada’s Future

The Standing Committee on Science and Research (SRSR) plays a crucial role in overseeing federal scientific activity, including the work of the Tri-Council granting agencies. As part of its current project, the committee is investigating the Capstone research organization outlined in Budget 2024.

On October 29th, 2024, the University of Calgary Graduate Students’ Association (UCGSA) submitted a brief to SRSR titled “Engines of the Future: Graduate Students and the Capstone Project”. This brief addresses three key themes that are vital for shaping the future of federally funded research in Canada, offering eight detailed recommendations to enhance Canada’s scientific competitiveness.

Key Themes and Recommendations:

1. Governance

• Recommendation 1: Reserve at least three seats on the Board of Directors of the Capstone organization for members from the student research community.
• Recommendation 2: Ensure at least four additional seats for student representation in the Tri-Council Agencies and in the multidisciplinary research unit of the Capstone organization.
• Recommendation 3: Reserve seats for the student research community on every representative committee of the Capstone organization.
• Recommendation 4: Ensure equal representation of both master’s and doctoral students on these boards.
• Recommendation 5: Ensure that students serving on these decision-making bodies are not disqualified from receiving scholarships or fellowships in the future and that their service is recognized with a monetary award.

2. Funding

• Recommendation 6: Index the value of graduate student scholarships and post-doctoral fellowships to the Canadian Consumer Price Index (CPI) to maintain their value over time.

3. The Future

• Recommendation 7: Ensure that graduate student and post-doctoral fellowship applications receive constructive feedback, particularly those that are unsuccessful in Tri-Council competitions.
• Recommendation 8: Strike a balance between free and targeted research funding while promoting equitable, spontaneous interactions among Canadian researchers, especially at the graduate level.

The Benefits of Empowering Graduate Students:

The brief emphasizes that empowering graduate students will enable Canada to “do less with more,” boosting Canada’s competitiveness on the global research stage. It highlights that these changes can lead to more effective, innovative research with stronger representation and support for the next generation of Canadian researchers.

Next Steps:

The UCGSA will continue to advocate, alongside the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA), for the implementation of these recommendations. The association will also remain engaged with the committee for any follow-up questions or further collaboration.

This submission is a critical step in ensuring that graduate students play an integral role in shaping Canada’s research future. It advocates for policies that support equity, inclusion, and competitiveness in Canadian science and innovation, positioning graduate students as key contributors to the country’s scientific and research landscape.