Please refer to our Student FAQs for more information. If you still have more questions, please feel free to contact us.
Course-Based Research is a method of experiential learning that engages a business, industry, or community partner to solve a real-world challenge, or address an issue for a partner. As an authentic experience with concrete outcomes, it is an effective and powerful way to fulfill course criteria.
Research and Innovation can support you in various ways, such as:
Each course is different, and we can support you in a way that makes sense for your specific project.
Project length is dependent on the scope. Since Course-Based Research projects generally align within an academic semester (September to December), (May to August), (January to April), they can range from 4 to 12 weeks.
Course-Based Research can fit into any course if there is a component or multiple components that would make sense for an industry challenge. Course-Based Research can have applicability in any year of study and the course can be structured in a way that allows for either a short or longer project to run.
Discuss the project concept with your Program Coordinator and Associate Dean first, especially if the project involves changing multiple components of your course. After this, a consultation can be scheduled with Research and Innovation to understand the support you require.
Niagara College directly supports research and scholarly activity of its employees through the Research Opportunity Fund (ROF). Administered by the Research and Innovation division, and existing as a stream under the Dream Big Fund, the ROF has been created to nurture and cultivate research and innovation at Niagara College. This fund will provide financial support to its employees who wish to pursue activities that support the research interests of the Niagara College community. The support provided through the ROF will build organizational capacity, contribute to the excellence of the College, and promote employee professional development through the conduct of research. To learn more about eligibility, how to apply, and more, please visit the ROF page.
With funding support from various regional, provincial, and federal agencies, Research and Innovation partners with small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to conduct projects and services which provide innovative solutions for industry and the community, including producing and testing prototypes, evaluating new technologies, and developing new or improved products and processes.
Thanks to our funding partners, we conduct applied research that makes an impact on small- and medium-sized businesses across Niagara, Ontario and Canada. For a full list and to learn more about our funders, please visit the Funders page.
Niagara College is committed to pursuing research and development activities that:
Our research mission is providing innovative solutions to business and key industry sectors through applied research and knowledge transfer, in partnership with Niagara College faculty and students.
Niagara College has received over $200M in government, industry and partner funding for applied research projects since July 2011 across the four innovation centres. This investment has funded 3 new buildings, over 900+ projects with industry, with more than 550+ faculty/researchers, and has resulted in more than 15,000+ student research experiences.
In 2023-24, we leveraged $44,317,073 in funding from a variety of sources working with 157 unique industry and community partners on a total of 235 projects.
Visit our By the Numbers and Annual Report from 2022-23 for more information on our research impact.
Niagara College is committed to the professional development and innovative/trailblazing spirit of its employees and is therefore supporting research initiated by College employees within the bounds of available resources through our Research Opportunity Fund (ROF).
During its applied research evolution, Niagara College has become a national leader in multi-institutional networks, including the award-winning Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation, in operation since 2015, and which now numbers 11 members, and the FedDev Ontario-supported Greenhouse Technology Network, initiated in 2019 and is now comprised of 5 research centres, also in southern Ontario.
Most recently, the latest investment in the new Horticultural & Environmental Sciences Innovation Centre (HESIC) greenhouse facility at the Daniel J. Patterson campus in Niagara-on-the-lake, shows the College’s commitment to research and innovation within Niagara, southern Ontario, and Canada. This new greenhouse has opened its doors for HESIC to help more businesses that are requesting assistance.
Niagara College and the Niagara College Research Ethics Board are committed to ensuring research at the College is conducted with the highest ethical standards. Together, they promote the ethical conduct of research and adhere to the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans or TCPS 2 (2022) and Niagara College Research Policies.
Niagara College is committed to continually improving institutional policies and developing new policies and best practices. Ensuring Niagara College’s commitment the Research Data Management was developed and implemented in 2023, with further development to occur over a three-year period.
Niagara College is also committed to supporting Ontario’s Commercialization Mandate Policy Framework within the context of the role Ontario colleges play in applied research and innovation.
When you work with Research and Innovation, you gain real-world experience that sets you apart from the competition. It is a paid professional development experience with excellent networking opportunities that connects you with industry and helps you gain employment.
You will be reporting regularly to your Research Lead or Associate Director on the progress of your project. You will also be involved in meetings with your industry partner for progress updates and research direction.
Employment opportunities are based on project need and availability of funds. We have opportunities for students to work part-time hours while they are in school at Niagara College. We also have opportunities for co-op placements and summer positions.
If you’re looking for a job opportunity to work with Niagara College (not as a student), please visit the Job Postings portal.
We have a few areas of focus in which we take on projects: advanced manufacturing, business and commercialization, food and beverage, health, and horticultural and environmental sciences.
We evaluate the probability that a successful project will result in economic development for you and the region, province, and country – such as new products/services/processes, new markets for the company, or creating new jobs. We also look at the fit with the college mission and educational opportunities for students and faculty.
If we receive a project request that falls outside of what we do, we will seek to find the best possible alternative for our industry or community partner to help meet their needs.
The Associate Director from Niagara College would be the main point of contact for the company and the person responsible for the management of the project; the Research Lead would oversee the technical aspects; and the students and Research Associates would be the main workers and learners on the project.
It depends on the funding being leveraged, but there is usually a requirement for some cash and/or in-kind contribution from the partner company. For example, the in-kind contribution can be equipment, use of company facilities, or time from company experts. Part of the in-kind commitment is an involvement of staff from the company in the project to ensure good communications throughout the project and facilitate the transfer of technology at the end. Typically, funded research project requires a cash component, which is somewhere between 10 to 25 per cent of a total project cost.
A successful applied research project benefits all stakeholders, including Niagara College as a whole. Our students and recent graduates benefit from being involved in a leading edge, real-world project. Our faculty benefit from professional development, and the ability to apply what they have learned from applied research into their course-based teaching. The College benefits from positive publicity. As Niagara College leads more and more successful research projects, their role as a provider to the community grows stronger and their reputation is enhanced.
In the majority of cases, the IP is 100 per cent owned by the industry partner upon project sign-off. Intellectual property is dealt with on a case-by-case basis, and Research and Innovation will address IP allocation with each industry partner before the project begins.
Time commitment depends on the nature of the project. It is important for the industry partner to remember that the quality and success of the research project is largely dependent on their level of commitment. An engaged and dedicated industry partner allows the research team to ensure the potential of the project is maximized and deliverables are met.
Course-Based Research Projects bring together small- and medium-sized businesses, along with Niagara College faculty and students to provide solutions for a specific industry need. Course-Based Research Projects can be leveraged by industry partners who may not qualify for funded research or would prefer to collaborate with a class of students, contributing to a positive learning environment.
Please refer to our Student FAQs for more information. If you still have more questions, please feel free to contact us.