Concordia University
AC-10: Support for Research

Concordia Institute for Water, Energy and Sustainable Systems (CIWESS) host the CREATE program that provides students with incentives to research sustainability. The CREATE program facilitates investigations that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries and address the issues of water, energy and sustainability through a systems approach, building bridges between academic and private sectors. Therefore, the program provides a vital stage for the exchange of interdisciplinary research and perspectives, uniting nationally and internationally acclaimed researchers from the Faculties of Engineering and Computer Science, Arts and Science and the John Molson School of Business. The Program establishes linkages with existing programs at Concordia and the Government of Quebec to fund student mobility, especially as part of an internship or required research. Internships enable trainees to work in the modern collaborative workplace to improve their academic and professional strengths and acquire program-relevant work experience. They gain important soft skills (communications, team work, interpersonal cooperation) essential to today's work environment, while learn more about the expectations and needs of employers.

Since 2013, Concordia University has a Provost's Fellow for Sustainability. Formally launched in the 2012-13 academic year, the Provost’s Fellows Program aims to create opportunities for faculty development and to create a university-wide network of faculty working on a variety of specific portfolios. The Fellows Program allows faculty members to use their expertise to enrich the academic life of the university. In return, the Program provides fellows with an overview of and experience in the university’s management and leadership team. Each year, faculty members who have demonstrated leadership potential, and who have an interest in university leadership, will be selected to work on specific projects identified by the Office of the Provost. Faculty members in the Fellows Program will be given a one- or two-year mandate to work on a specific initiative or project. Working with the Provost, Deputy Provost, Vice-Provost Faculty Relations, Vice-Provost Teaching & Learning, or other, the Fellow will develop a work plan for the year, with a series of deliverables. These can include, but are not limited to: - Organizing workshops or lectures; - Conducting research on a specific issue/topic; - Developing a policy recommendation or proposal; - Optimizing an area of the University - Serving on a committee; or - Representing the University externally.

A Concordia Library Sustainability Research Guide has been created to provide a central area to find databases, journals, articles, videos and more on sustainability topics across disciplines. The guide was created by the Concordia Library team in collaboration with faculty members, staff and students.