MEDIA RELEASE: 12 June 2017 – R00114
Brock University, Niagara College’s School of Business and the Niagara Workforce Planning Board have formed a partnership that will see the three institutions collaborate on economic, business and labour research.
The parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on June 12 stating a desire to combine their strengths to gain a fresh understanding of Niagara’s makeup and challenges, and identify new approaches for stimulating healthy growth in area communities.
“The 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,” says the MOU.
Areas of cooperation include:
- Preparing research reports and/or policy briefs on group-decided projects
- Co-ordinating research activities that may include other community organizations
- Supporting the partners’ projects by sharing expertise and contacts
- Organizing joint forums with community partners in Niagara
- Obtaining funding from various sources for “policy-relevant” research
Charles Conteh, Director of Brock’s Niagara Community Observatory (NCO), says the three-way partnership will enable researchers to get a “panoramic view” of how the economy, business and labour interact with one another as Niagara region moves forward with regional development.
“Let’s 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?” he says.
Research generated from the five-year partnership is meant to align resources to best support people, programs and services.
“Brock University is deeply committed to working with the community by building partnerships in reciprocity and mutual respect,” says Interim Vice-President Research Joffre Mercier. “Our community stakeholders’ input informs and directs our research, and our research will help inform decisions that will enhance the economic and social health of Niagara. The Niagara Community Observatory plays a key role in directing and driving these efforts, and we are grateful to them for their hard work.”
Niagara College and the Niagara Workforce Planning Board are equally enthusiastic about the potential benefits of this agreement.
“Niagara College is pleased to have a role in this important partnership with Brock University and the Niagara Workforce Planning Board,” says Vivian Kinnaird, Niagara College’s Dean of Business, Hospitality and Environment. “This partnership will allow us to work together on research that will be beneficial for the Niagara region.”
This type of collaboration between post-secondary education and labour market experts is “key to identifying labour market research priorities for our community, and it leverages our individual roles and strengths in support of economic development in Niagara,” says Niagara College President Dan Patterson. “The MOU we’ve signed today reflects our shared goals of aligning the skills and knowledge of our workforce with the current and future needs of Niagara’s business and industry.”
The Niagara Workforce Planning Board is thrilled to be partnering with Niagara College and Brock’s NCO, said Chief Executive Officer Mario De Divitiis.
“This initiative ensures streamlined and effective collaboration between some of the foremost public research institutions in the region, and that opens up so much possibility for Niagara.”
About the partners
Brock University’s Niagara Community Observatory is a public-policy think-tank working in partnership with the Niagara community to foster, produce and disseminate research on current and emerging issues. It produces a range of policy briefs on topics of interest and concern to Niagara region.
Currently celebrating its 50th year as a College of Applied Arts and Technology, Niagara College is a leader in applied education and a key contributor to the economies of Niagara and Ontario. Through its School of Business, Niagara College offers a broad range of comprehensive business and business administration programs at the Diploma, Graduate Certificate and Bachelor’s Degree level.
The Niagara Workforce Planning Board (NWPB) is one of 26 regional planning boards in Ontario making up the Local Boards Network, partly funded through Employment Ontario. NWPB performs authoritative research identifying and assessing current employment and economic trends and growing workforce opportunities to foster economic growth, develop talent across the labour market, and strengthen partnership and collaboration within our growing community.
For more information or for assistance arranging interviews with Charles Conteh and Joffre Mercier:
* Cathy Majtenyi, Research Communications/Media Relations Specialist, Brock University cmajtenyi@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5789 or 905-321-0566
