Call for Applications: Skills Research Program (Canada)

The Future Skills Centre welcomes proposals developed around diverse research methodologies including quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods. Research projects may take on any number of approaches including:

• developing new analytical concepts and frameworks
• documenting and reviewing evidence on skills interventions  public policy analysis
• comparative/international research
• forecasting studies using labour market information (LMI)
• thematic or field reviews
• studies which document and analyze labour market and skills issues affecting certain population groups
• studies exploring the potential impact of policies and practices on particular industries, communities or regions.

Focus Areas

• They’re looking to fund research projects that address key knowledge gaps or explore emerging issues tied to their five focus areas:
  • Pathways to Jobs Facilitating pathways for individuals entering, transitioning, and advancing in the labour market.
  • SME Adaptability Engaging Canadian employers, especially SMEs, in meaningful skills development and utilization.
  • Tech and Automation Preparing workers and employers for a more digital and connected world of work.
  • Inclusive Economy Driving labour market inclusion for underrepresented groups, with an emphasis on Black Youth, Newcomers, and Indigenous & Northern Communities.
  • Sustainable Jobs Advancing skills development and transition planning for a decarbonized economy.

Funding Information

• As a general guideline, the Future Skills Centre is interested in considering proposals with budgets ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 for this Call. All proposals and budgets are expected to be strongly aligned with the Selection Criteria. Partners’ capacity to implement the proposed research within the prescribed timelines is of paramount importance and will be considered as part of the proposal review process.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Future Skills Centre is committed to embracing a diverse range of organizations from across Canada, representing various communities and groups within the skills ecosystem. Whether you are an educational institution, community or sector organization, service deliverer, employer or labour union, if you have a compelling idea to enhance skills development in Canada, they want to hear from you.
• Skills Research, is an open call for proposals available to organizations based in Canada. Applications may be submitted by a sole organization or a partnership/consortium of organizations, including:
  • Legally incorporated not-for-profit organizations, including not-for-profit social enterprises and registered charities;
  • Publicly funded post-secondary institutions;
  • Industry associations;
  • Professional associations;
  • Indigenous organizations that are a legal entity
  • Municipalities or district social services administration boards
  • Trade unions and relevant colleges of trades
  • For-profit organizations (provided the project is undertaken at cost, with no mark-ups or profit incorporated).
• For applications with multiple partners, one organization must be identified as the lead applicant for the purpose of submitting the funding proposal, signing the funding agreement, receiving and managing the funds, ensuring coordination of project parties and activities, and communicating with the Centre regarding the status of the project. The lead organization must be a Canadian entity. All participating organizations must be eligible as set out above. Applicants are only eligible to lead on one application but may participate in more than one application.
• Organizations that have received or are currently receiving funding from the Future Skills Centre are eligible, provided that the proposal clearly outlines a scope not previously funded by the Future Skills Centre. Federal, provincial and territorial government ministries and agencies are not eligible to apply.

Selection Criteria 

• The following criteria will apply to all proposals received through this open call and will be assigned equal weight during review:
  • Relevance: The proposed research is aligned with one or more of the Future Skills Centre’s Focus Areas and one or more of the Strategic Questions, and/or; seeks to develop evidence and insights on significant new or emerging issues or concepts.
  • Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Reconciliation: The project lead(s) has taken EDI&R into consideration in areas such as leadership and governance of the project, the design of the research and framing of the research questions, methods, data collection and analysis, and the composition of the research team. The organization submitting a proposal has formal commitments and strategies to advance EDI&R.
  • Feasibility: The lead researcher or organization (and partners, if applicable) has the necessary expertise, experience and resources to execute the project successfully within the established timelines and must also have the needed experience and capacity to manage the project and reporting requirements.
  • Methods & Implementation: The proposed research framework and the methods or approach are appropriate to the research question(s). The identified approach is likely to generate timely information that will advance knowledge and/or solutions on the proposed research question(s).
  • Deliverables & Impact: In addition to meeting the Relevance criteria (above), the proposed research demonstrates an understanding of the information/knowledge needs of key decision makers and actors in the skills ecosystem relative to the identified gaps, issues and challenges; the project plan includes final deliverable(s) that will distill that knowledge for key audiences.

For more information, visit Future Skills Centre.