Graduate students are the lifeblood of research and innovation in Canada

Preparing students for meaningful work and conducting research for a better, more informed world: this is what we do at universities throughout Canada. The March 2023 Report of the Advisory Panel on the Federal Research Support System highlighted some of the actions that the federal government can—and arguably should—take to ensure we can do those things more effectively. Even superbly. The challenges the world is facing are complex and pervasive, and the well-being and prosperity of Canada and Canadians hangs on how well we nurture and empower the minds and skills of rising generations. Current inflationary pressures have made it virtually impossible for some of our most talented students to undertake graduate training here. As the advisory panel points out, “current support for graduate students, the researchers of tomorrow, is at a breaking point.” The value of government-funded scholarships for university research trainees has been static for two decades and has not kept pace with increases to the cost of living or compensation trends in other countries. Increasing support for these young researchers is an opportunity for Canada. We cannot afford to miss it. Graduate students are essential members of our knowledge economy and key drivers of research. They have the curiosity to ask why, and the courage to instigate the innovative change we need to stimulate economic development and find solutions to our most pressing societal challenges. If we lose our students to other countries, we will also lose the talent and energy they infuse into start-ups and small and medium-sized businesses. These companies are clamouring for the type of talent our graduate students can provide. There is a real risk in our relying on other nations to provide the talent and innovation that will move the global community forward in the ways that matter to us: climate action, human rights and social justice, Indigenous resurgence, health and wellness, and fundamental discovery research. The future promises to be increasingly turbulent, and even friendly countries must deal with their residents’ needs before ours. We need to invest confidently in our own talent pipeline to pave the way for more made-in-Canada solutions. At individual post-secondary institutions and across the country, our students and trainees are a key indicator of our success. They become ambassadors for the universities they train at, and indeed for Canada as a whole. When we do a good job of preparing and empowering the next generation of researchers, artists, thought-leaders and problem-solvers, they will go out into the world prepared, confident, and eager to make a difference. Changes to tri-agency funding requirements and commitments will help include more people and more forms of research and creativity throughout the country. As part of these changes, we need to prioritize investments in graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and early-career researchers to build research and innovation capacity for the next decade and beyond. The advisory panel describes specific steps that will support graduate students, their research and professional development, and, ultimately, Canadian society. The report is specific: “Funding for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows should be increased to an internationally competitive level.” The best way to accomplish this is for government to immediately increase the value of tri-agency scholarships. These scholarships provide crucial support for students struggling to make ends meet. That certainly was my experience long ago, when the high cost of living in Vancouver meant I could not afford food at the end of each month. A tri-agency scholarship allowed me to complete my PhD, and a postdoctoral fellowship convinced me to stay engaged in research. We owe it to the students of today to give them the same opportunities. In recent years, the federal government has made significant investments in research in Canada through programs such as the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy, and other direct funding for quantum science, digital research infrastructure, innovation, and international partnerships. As welcome as these investments are, let’s not forget that research requires people. We need our graduate students to bring all these investments to life. Lisa Kalynchuk is vice-president, research and innovation at the University of Victoria. The Hill Times

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Graduate students are the lifeblood of research and innovation in Canada

Current inflationary pressures have made it virtually impossible for some of our most talented students to undertake graduate training in Canada.

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