Centre For Excellence

Our Research

Our collaborative applied research and innovative projects challenge our thinking, embrace social innovation, and create opportunities through meaningful knowledge mobilization.

These projects provide hands-on experience for College learners and model inclusive teaching and learning communities, all with an aim to provide real-world solutions that remove barriers.

We work with employers, community and industry partners, all levels of government, and post-secondary organizations on applied research and innovative projects that develop learning resources, curricula, and methodology in English language learning, workplace training, and global competencies. To see a complete list of all our applied research projects click here for the applied research projects page.

Current Projects

Entrepreneurial and academic endeavors grounded in creating opportunities that support all learners, employers, and community partners.

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Applied Research Projects
Health Care Aide for English Language Learners
Health Care Aide for English Language Learners

September 2021 to December 2024

This regular project is a funded pathway program for newcomers to Alberta who are interested in having a career as a licensed Health Care Aides. This program is specifically designed for learners who do not yet meet the English language proficiency requirements for direct entry into the Health Care Aide Certificate program.

/our-research/applied-research-projects/health-care-aide-english-language-learners
Health Care Aide for English Language Learners
Health Care Aide for English Language Learners

September 2021 to December 2024

This regular project is a funded pathway program for newcomers to Alberta who are interested in having a career as a licensed Health Care Aides. This program is specifically designed for learners who do not yet meet the English language proficiency requirements for direct entry into the Health Care Aide Certificate program.

Skills Enhancement for Newcomers
Skills Enhancement for Newcomers

November 2021 to February 2024

Skills Enhancement for Newcomers is a national initiative by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) and is funded by the Government of Canada’s Skills for Success program. Bow Valley College was selected to be the lead institution in a working group of seven post-secondary institutions across Canada, along with an Employer Advisory Group and nineteen delivery institutions across Canada.

/our-research/applied-research-projects/skills-enhancement-newcomers
Skills Enhancement for Newcomers
Skills Enhancement for Newcomers

November 2021 to February 2024

Skills Enhancement for Newcomers is a national initiative by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) and is funded by the Government of Canada’s Skills for Success program. Bow Valley College was selected to be the lead institution in a working group of seven post-secondary institutions across Canada, along with an Employer Advisory Group and nineteen delivery institutions across Canada.

Putting Strengths to Work
Putting Strengths to Work

April 2023 to March 2025

Immigrants to Alberta bring with them exceptional skills, knowledge, and experience that can benefit themselves, their families, and all Albertans. However, they often experience barriers to leveraging their skills to attain and retain work that is commensurate with their skills and that helps Alberta’s economy to flourish.

/our-research/applied-research-projects/putting-strengths-work
Putting Strengths to Work
Putting Strengths to Work

April 2023 to March 2025

Immigrants to Alberta bring with them exceptional skills, knowledge, and experience that can benefit themselves, their families, and all Albertans. However, they often experience barriers to leveraging their skills to attain and retain work that is commensurate with their skills and that helps Alberta’s economy to flourish.

Recent Projects

Making all learning count and connecting campus and community partners in seeking an evidence-based understanding of issues facing learners, newcomers, instructors, and employers.

Groups audience: 
Our Resources
Workplace Wellness for Immigrant Women

Exploring how workplace harassment and toxic environments affect immigrant women workers’ wellbeing.

/our-research/applied-research-projects/workplace-wellness-immigrant-women
Workplace Wellness for Immigrant Women

Exploring how workplace harassment and toxic environments affect immigrant women workers’ wellbeing.

Culture of Inclusion at Bow Valley College

Helping create a campus culture that embraces intercultural respect through a rights-based lens.

/our-research/applied-research-projects/creating-culture-inclusion-bow-valley-college
Culture of Inclusion at Bow Valley College

Helping create a campus culture that embraces intercultural respect through a rights-based lens.

Post TESL Certificate

A series of post-TESL courses to meet the professional development needs of language instructors

/our-research/applied-research-projects/post-tesl-certificate-program
Post TESL Certificate

A series of post-TESL courses to meet the professional development needs of language instructors

Tri-Council Research

The School of Global Access has successfully acquired two of the College’s four Tri-Council grants. The Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) are two of the three Tri-Council funding agencies that operate as the primary funding arm of the Government of Canada as they support peer-reviewed, high quality research.

Both School of Global Access projects are funded through the Community and College Social Innovation Fund that connects us to community partners as we work to make our research a part of the learner and employer experience and address real world issues.

Groups audience: 
Our Resources
Enhancing Wellbeing and Civic Engagement of Immigrant Women Retirees

A SSHRC-funded investigation of the critical barriers and available supports for retired immigrant women. Bow Valley College and the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA) partnered and work collaboratively with research participants to co-create a community delivered program focused on immigrant women retirees’ wellbeing and engagement.

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/our-research/applied-research-projects/enhancing-wellbeing-and-civic-engagement-immigrant-women
Enhancing Wellbeing and Civic Engagement of Immigrant Women Retirees

A SSHRC-funded investigation of the critical barriers and available supports for retired immigrant women. Bow Valley College and the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA) partnered and work collaboratively with research participants to co-create a community delivered program focused on immigrant women retirees’ wellbeing and engagement.

Where I Belong: Public Spaces and Everyday Acts of Inclusion

A three-year NSERC project in partnership with the Calgary Public Library and the Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth that explores an understanding of the everyday practices within public spaces that promote belonging and inclusion among racialized immigrant youth.

Where I Belong: Public Spaces and Everyday Acts of Inclusion

A three-year NSERC project in partnership with the Calgary Public Library and the Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth that explores an understanding of the everyday practices within public spaces that promote belonging and inclusion among racialized immigrant youth.

Sharing Our Results

Facilitating knowledge mobilization ensures our applied research goes beyond the page and into the community.

We are committed to sharing and translating our work not only with our academic colleagues both on campus and beyond, but with project stakeholders, policy makers, sector and community agencies, employers, learners, and the public at large.

Some examples of our knowledge mobilization efforts include:

Groups audience: 
Applied Research Projects
Publications
Embracing complexity: Co-Creation with retired immigrant women

A central component in the end-of-grant phase of all applied research work is publishing articles in peer reviewed journals of record. This article discussing the results of the Enhancing Wellbeing and Civic Engagement of Immigrant Women Retirees project was a key element of our knowledge mobilization plan.

https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/ijcre/article/view/6342
Publications
Embracing complexity: Co-Creation with retired immigrant women

A central component in the end-of-grant phase of all applied research work is publishing articles in peer reviewed journals of record. This article discussing the results of the Enhancing Wellbeing and Civic Engagement of Immigrant Women Retirees project was a key element of our knowledge mobilization plan.

Resources
Supporting Immigrant Women Seniors: A Toolkit for Service Providers

This toolkit is an outcome of Enhancing Wellbeing and Civic Engagement of Immigrant Women Retirees and it offers service providers information and resources relevant to meeting the needs of this growing population.

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Resources
Supporting Immigrant Women Seniors: A Toolkit for Service Providers

This toolkit is an outcome of Enhancing Wellbeing and Civic Engagement of Immigrant Women Retirees and it offers service providers information and resources relevant to meeting the needs of this growing population.

In the community
Methods for Change Workshop

Our Enhancing the Wellbeing of Immigrant Women Retirees research team welcomed more than 25 interdisciplinary academics and service providers to a collaborative workshop and research panel focused on co-creation methodology and community-based applied research.

In the community
Methods for Change Workshop

Our Enhancing the Wellbeing of Immigrant Women Retirees research team welcomed more than 25 interdisciplinary academics and service providers to a collaborative workshop and research panel focused on co-creation methodology and community-based applied research.

Connect With Us

Contact Us

For more information on our applied research projects contact 403-410-3400 or email sgareception@bowvalleycollege.ca

Contact Us

For more information on our applied research projects contact 403-410-3400 or email sgareception@bowvalleycollege.ca

Our Resources

We offer a wide range of resources focused on language and workforce development. We are committed to sharing our expertise. Learn more

Our Resources

We offer a wide range of resources focused on language and workforce development. We are committed to sharing our expertise. Learn more

What's New

Our innovative applied research projects focus on immigrant advancement, diversity and inclusion, civic engagement, and resource development. Learn more

What's New

Our innovative applied research projects focus on immigrant advancement, diversity and inclusion, civic engagement, and resource development. Learn more

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