{"id":45281,"date":"2017-06-12T15:54:04","date_gmt":"2017-06-12T19:54:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=45281"},"modified":"2017-08-29T16:10:34","modified_gmt":"2017-08-29T20:10:34","slug":"brock-creates-community-partnership-to-research-pathways-to-economic-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2017\/06\/brock-creates-community-partnership-to-research-pathways-to-economic-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"Brock launches community partnership to research pathways to economic growth"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/b>Assessing Niagara\u2019s economic potential. Examining job creation in the region. Tracking numbers and trends of workers coming in and out of the area.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

These are some of the topics a newly-formed, Brock University-led research consortium plans to pursue in the next five years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brock University\u2019s Niagara Community Observatory (NCO), Niagara College\u2019s School of Business and the Niagara Workforce Planning Board will jointly produce research on Niagara region\u2019s economy, business development and workforce innovation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe partnership is based on the shared values of responsiveness to the needs of the local community, a commitment to collaboration that celebrates and leverages the diverse perspectives and strengths of stakeholders, and pursuit of world-class research excellence,\u201d says a Memorandum of Understanding the participating organizations signed at Brock June 12.<\/span><\/p>\n

NCO Director Charles Conteh explains that the three-way partnership will enable researchers to get a \u201cpanoramic view\u201d of how the economy, business and labour interact with one another as Niagara moves forward with regional development.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRather than us being confined to our silos, let\u2019s synchronize our efforts,\u201d Conteh says of the consortium.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s co-ordinate our strength and together begin to ask larger questions about the economic vitality of Niagara and job creation: What are the gaps? What are the challenges? Bottlenecks? Constraints? How can we overcome them?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He says each institution has its own strengths, enabling each to bring to the table unique knowledge, funding, contacts, experiences and other resources.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you combine the job creators and the labour force, that is the wealth of our region,\u201d says Conteh. \u201cWhen you have productive, innovative businesses, when you have highly skilled, confident and adaptive workers, you have a winning region.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Research generated from the five-year partnership is meant to guide politicians as they create and implement policies, programs and services, Conteh says.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe partnership provides us a basic legitimacy and strength, the resources to impact action more, to influence outcomes, to be part of the conversation,\u201d he says. \u201cWe have a great capacity to actually mobilize our research into the hands of policymakers, to use evidence to influence, engage and advise policy action.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The June 12 Memorandum of Understanding outlines \u201cforms of co-operation and collaboration\u201d between the partners, including:<\/span><\/p>\n