LEARN. INNOVATE. ADVANCE.

At Vancouver Community College, our research is focused on ideas that have practical and lasting value in education, industry, and the community.

Research Ethics Board

The Research Ethics Board is responsible for ensuring that any research at the college involving humans meets the highest ethical standards. If you have questions about applying for Research Ethics approval, please contact REBsupport@vcc.ca for more information.

The course-based research ethics application may be used for courses where students carry out projects of a similar scope under supervision of an instructor. In these cases, the students do not need to apply for individual REB approval. One application covers all eligible projects with human participants, as long as they fit within the parameters of the course-based application and the assignment is described in the class syllabus.

REB application form for course-based review

 

Studies that involve no more risk to participants than they would encounter in their everyday lives are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Please submit your application and all attachments to the REB, 3-4 weeks before you need to start collecting data.

For applicants submitting a study that involves more risk than participants would encounter in their everyday lives, please contact the REB Chair and provide all materials 2-3 weeks in advance of the meeting dates below to ensure sufficient time for a full-board review.

2024 Meeting Dates:

  • January 18, 2024
  • February 15, 2024
  • April 18, 2024
  • May 16, 2024
  • June 20, 2024
  • September 19, 2024
  • October 17, 2024
  • November 21, 2024

Summer Closure: REB will be closed August 5-31, 2024. The final date for submission of new REB applications before the closure is July 22.

2025 Meeting Dates:

  • January 16, 2025
  • February 20, 2025
  • April 17, 2025

VCC Research Projects

nurse

Access in Clinical Education: Co-creating greater Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion through connections and understanding.

Led by VCC Disability Services department head Brianna Higgins, UBC accessibility advisor Dr. Laura Yvonne Bulk, and VCC Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) instructor Dr. Maki Iwase.
Read more

andrea korens

Courageous Dialogues: Building Capacity to Transcend Polarization in Civil Society.

Andrea Korens, Program Coordinator of VCC Continuing Studies, is a co-investigator in the project, which also includes staff and faculty from partners Capilano University and the Mir Centre for Peace at Selkirk College. VCC Associate Director of Continuing Studies Claire Sauvé is also connected to project in her role as president of the Continuing Education and Training Association of BC (CETABC), another community research partner.
Read more

student using his computer

The pivot to online, on the front lines: measuring the real impact of alternative assessment in remote learning.

This project led by Elle Ting with co-investigators Andy Sellwood and Andrew Dunn, was supported by BC Campus, 2020-2021. The project outcomes include this Alternate Assessment Toolkit.
Read More

research_student-on-tablet

VCC Open Education Resources Virtual Hub - SPARC

Elena Kuzmina, OER Coordinator, has been granted a fellowship with SPARC (Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition). Her projects focus on supporting open education initiatives, such as the Open Education Map for Exploring OER Territory and building an institutional open education virtual hub.
Read More

Research Fund

The VCC Research Fund (VRF) assists employees in building the skills and abilities to engage in high quality research at our institution. Each year, a total of $10,000 is available.  Individuals may apply for any amount, up to $2,500 for individual projects and up to $5,000 for interdepartmental projects.

The funds are intended to offset some of the costs associated with research engagement. Research activity may involve any stage of a project beyond primary research and data collection, including literature review, creation of data collection tools such as surveys, preparation of proposals and grant applications, activities related to publishing, preparing data sets for deposit, and knowledge mobilization.

The deadline this year is Monday, April 15 at 5 p.m. More information about eligibility and use of the funds can be found on the Research Fund Application form. 

  • The use of simple closed ecosystem activity to teach ecosystem services and management
    - Elaine Lum
  • Transforming communication culture in Vancouver Community College's (VCC) Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET): Strategies for enhanced engagement and collaboration
    - Jennifer Adachi
  • A semi-systematic literature review of academic supports for neurodiverse college students
    - Sara Yuen, Brianna Higgins
  • Culinary Arts VR immersive "Pilot" video
    - Ysabel Sukic, Michael Knie, Tina Yeung
  • Q Methodology in nursing qualitative research
    - David Wells
  • 2SLGBTQIA+ student experiences at teaching focused institutions in British Columbia
    - Emily Simpson
  • A qualitative study on what factors influence practical nursing students' acquisition and learning of clinical skills in the laboratory
    - Christine Poznanski
  • VCC Library feedback project: Indigenous student talking circle
    - Mari Paz Vera
  • What are the HUC students’ knowledge of Indigenous peoples and their historical experiences
    - Radhika Kumar, School of Health Science
  • Fashion marketing for a life sustaining environment
    - Sarah Muray, Fashion
  • Student perspectives on academic integrity protection 
    - Elle Ting, Humanities
  • The role of the post-secondary in the integration of skilled immigrant women in B.C.
    - Katarina Jovanovic, Early Childhood Care and Education

Events

Teaching, Learning and Research (TLR) Symposium

The VCC Teaching, Learning, and Research Symposium strives to provide a platform for sharing best practices, research findings, innovative ideas, and diverse perspectives on teaching and learning in post-secondary education. The annual symposium is also a space to nurture a community of practice among educators, staff, students, researchers, administrators, and other collaborators who are interested in enhancing teaching and learning in post-secondary education. As a community college dedicated to values of inclusivity and accessibility, our symposium is free of cost to participants.

Presentations: Watch videos

2024 Keynote Speakers were: Dr. Gwendolyn Point, "What does Indigenization/Decolonization mean in a Post-Secondary setting?" and Dr. Vanessa Andreotti, "Navigating the Meta-Crisis Together: From Narrow Intelligence to Relational Wisdom." Sessions focused on the following areas: authentic/alternative assessments, critical pedagogy, equity, diversity, and inclusion, generative AI, indigenization/decolonization, internationalization, professional well-being, quality teaching and learning, scholarship of teaching and learning, strategies and approaches for student success, student experience, mental health, and wellness.

Theme: Designing for Today's Post-Secondary Landscape.

Presentations: Watch videos

The symposium explored instructional and research practices underpinning the delivery of programming that enriches the student experience. Dr. Sarah Eaton (University of Calgary) gave a keynote presentation entitled, "Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: What it Means for Teaching and Learning Potential." Dr. Kumari Beck and Dr. Michelle Pidgeon (Simon Fraser University) gave a second keynote presentation entitled: "Critical conversations on Indigenization and Internationalization in the Era of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion."

Theme: Untangling and weaving our history, knowledge, and ways of being: Co-creating and making space for indigenization and decolonization in teaching, learning, and research .

Presentations: Watch videos

We explored stories of Indigenization to discover how, in our various roles, we can change our practices in ways that are culturally safe and make space for Indigenous voices and perspectives in teaching, learning, and research. VCC welcomed Ta7talíya Michelle Nahanee as the keynote speaker for this event. Ta7talíya Michelle Nahanee, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh works within the intersection of class, culture and creativity, focusing on social change through communications and design.

VCC Student Showcase

Each year students from across the College are invited to showcase their learning through digital posters and lightning talks during the Teaching, Learning and Research Symposium.

In 2024, VCC awarded $500 in prizes to students for the best digital posters and presentations. To learn more about the annual Student Showcase and how to participate, view the event page.

2023 Best lightning talk winners

Research Support

The internal myVCC Research site centralizes all the information that VCC employees need to engage in research, explore opportunities, and enhance their research related skills. The News & Events section highlight workshops related to research, new funding opportunities, and other resources and tools to build and enhance VCC’s research community.

If you have questions, contact Alicia Copp, MLIS, PhD, Coordinator of Research, Scholarly Publishing and Library Instruction at acopp@vcc.ca