Abstract
The role of evidence-based knowledge and research in informing immigration and settlement policy is an important but under-examined area of inquiry. Knowledge for evidence-based policy-making is most likely to be useful to policymakers when it is produced collaboratively through sustained engagement between academic and non-academic stakeholders. This paper seeks to explore the role of non-governmental organizations in evidence/research-centred knowledge mobilization/transfer by a case study of CERIS—The Ontario Metropolis Centre, one of five immigration research centres in Canada that promoted partnerships to facilitate ongoing, systematic and timely exchange of social science knowledge. We explore the strategies and outcomes of establishing and maintaining relationships among academic researchers, representatives from non-governmental organizations and government policymakers. The experience at CERIS underscores the potential benefits from partnerships with non-governmental organizations that have detailed local knowledge of immigration and settlement issues and highlights the persistent challenges of funding and power imbalances that impede equitable and effective partnerships. The CERIS experience offers valuable insights into successful knowledge exchange from which the local, national and international immigration policy community can learn.
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Notes
After being funded for more than 15 years, Metropolis Canada ended in 2011, although CERIS continues to exist as a research centre with a KT/KM orientation.
In 2004, the Atlantic Metropolis Centre was created to complement the initial four centres: Metropolis BC, the Prairie Centre of Excellence for Research on Immigration and Integration (PCERII), CERIS and Quebec Metropolis Centre—Immigration and Metropolis.
There was a parallel establishment of an international dimension with the International Metropolis Project whose aim is to enhance research on migration and diversity issues with the purpose of informing public policy. Canada was central in the formation of the International Metropolis Project with well over 20 countries participating. However, the Canadian Metropolis Project has been by far the most extensive and deepest initiative (Shields and Evans 2012).
See Griffiths (2013) for an alternative view of recent policy-making concerning immigration and multiculturalism issues in Canada.
More than 200 people attended the first symposium held at Ryerson University while attendance at the remaining seminars was between 150 and 75 determined by the room size. In every instance, registration was limited by room capacity.
In brief assessments, participants indicated almost universal approval for the symposia although there were complaints that more time should be allocated to discussion.
Everyone who had attended the symposium was also informed by email when the summaries were available online.
SSHRC funding rules have changed so that NGOs can now be the lead partner in research partnerships. It is still unclear how many NGOs will be able to deal with the administrative systems and resources required for such an undertaking.
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Acknowledgments
We want to thank the reviewers and editor whose comments have strengthened our arguments, Michelynn Laflèche who was involved in the organizing committee and all those who participated in the Community Research Symposia.
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Shields, J., Preston, V., Richmond, T. et al. Knowledge Mobilization/Transfer and Immigration Policy: Forging Space for NGOs—the Case of CERIS—The Ontario Metropolis Centre. Int. Migration & Integration 16, 265–278 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-015-0425-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-015-0425-1