Royal Roads joins Dimensions Canada
Royal Roads University is proud to announce its official participation in the Dimensions Canada program, a national initiative led by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the university’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse research environment.
The Dimensions program, now in its second cohort, supports Canadian post-secondary institutions to identify and eliminate inequities and systemic barriers within their research community. The program aims to provide equitable access to funding opportunities, increase equitable and inclusive participation, and embed EDI-related considerations in research design and practices. Royal Roads is one of 17 institutions across Canada chosen to participate.
“As Canada’s university for changemakers, Royal Roads operates on the knowledge that diverse perspectives and worldviews are essential to driving meaningful impact,” says RRU President and Vice-Chancellor Philip Steenkamp. “Getting accepted into the Dimensions program is another step in our journey toward an accessible, equitable learning and research environment. This will support our student and faculty researchers, but also the greater community as we break down barriers to changemaking research that addresses the toughest problems of our time.”
"Being part of the Dimensions program strengthens our ability to support research that matters, not just within our university, but in the world,” says RRU Vice-President Academic and Provost Veronica Thompson. “It’s about creating space for inquiry that reflects the lived experience of diverse communities and contributes to real-world changes. I’m excited to see how this framework helps our researchers build deeper connections and deliver meaningful impact.”
The Dimensions program addresses barriers and discrimination faced by equity-deserving groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis), persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities/racialized groups, and members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, in all disciplines and at postsecondary institutions.
“Entry into the Dimensions program reflects our deep commitment to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into the heart of our research culture,” says RRU’s Manager of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research, Gwen Thompson Hill. “This initiative empowers us to critically examine and challenge inequities in our research systems, while benefiting from the knowledge of our cohort institutions across Canada.”
Royal Roads University joins a growing community of Canadian post-secondary institutions committed to reshaping the research landscape. As part of this initiative, the university will continue to engage in self-assessment and collaborate with other participating institutions to improve how research is conducted and shared.