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2009-10
Departmental Performance Report



Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council






Supplementary Information (Tables)






Table of Contents




Sources of Respendable1 and Non-Respendable Revenue

Non-Respendable Revenue ($ millions)
Transfer Payment Program Actual 2007-08 Actual 2008-09 2009-10
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Main Estimates Planned Revenue Total Authorities Actual
Refunds of previous year’s expenditures 1.7 2.8 N/A 1.7 N/A 3.3
Total Non-Respendable Revenue 1.7 2.8 N/A 1.7 N/A 3.3

1 SSHRC has no respendable revenue.



Details of Transfer Payment Programs

1: Grants and Scholarships

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Grants and Scholarships (voted)
Start Date: 1978 End Date: No end date
Description: This transfer payment program consists of grants and scholarships awarded for research, research training and research dissemination activities in the social sciences and humanities.
Strategic Outcomes: 1. PEOPLE—A first-class research capacity in the social sciences and humanities
2. RESEARCH—New knowledge based on excellent research in the social sciences and humanities
3. KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATION—Facilitating the use of social sciences and humanities knowledge within and beyond academia

Results Achieved

Strategic Outcome 1: PEOPLE

  • In 2009-10, the development of talent through direct support to student and postdoctoral fellows had increased 36 per cent since 2005-06, to $117 million. The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) awarded 2,972 master’s, doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships and awards, representing a 15 per cent increase over 2008-09.
  • There has been a 25 per cent increase since 2005-06 in the number of postdoctoral fellowships and awards granted, reflecting proportionate increases in applications for that same period.
  • A career survey of past scholarship and fellowship awardees revealed that over 80 per cent are employed full time, with four out of five doctoral graduates and postdoctorates earning more than $75,000 annually. The perceived importance of SSHRC support increases with the level of graduate studies (40 per cent for Canada Graduate Scholarships master’s graduates, 65 per cent for doctoral graduates and 95 per cent for postdoctorates).
  • Performance has been maintained for the Canada Research Chairs Program. By March 31, 2010, there were 1,834 Canada Research Chairs at 72 postsecondary institutions across Canada. Of these chairs, 30 per cent were filled by researchers recruited from abroad, including 258 Canadian expatriates. Over 22 per cent of Canada Research Chairs are in the social sciences and humanities. In 2009-10, a total of 368 new or renewed Canada Research Chairs were announced at Canadian postsecondary institutions.

Strategic Outcome 2: RESEARCH

  • As SSHRC’s largest investment, funding levels for the direct costs of research remained unchanged from the previous year, amounting to $135 million.
  • Since 2005-06, the number of applications for investigator-framed research, SSHRC’s largest program (providing $85.7 million in funding), increased by 21 per cent. The number of awards granted annually since 2007-08 has increased by 13 per cent.
  • Investigator-framed research programs supported the research of 2,700 researchers in 2009-10, producing an average of 1.5 publications per grant. At the end of their awards, researchers reported disbursing, on average, 32 per cent of their grant funding to students and postdoctoral fellows.
  • Since 2005-06, funding levels for Strategic Research Development and Targeted Research and Training Initiatives have remained largely unchanged, at $49.4 million (37 per cent of total SSHRC research funding).
  • The number of applications for Strategic Research Development has doubled since 2005-06, and the number of awards has increased by 52 per cent, due to increases for research in specific areas provided for in past federal budgets.
  • The situation among Targeted Research and Training Initiatives has been more uneven due to programs (Initiative on the New Economy) coming to an end, and up-front allocations in other areas (management, business and finance).

Strategic Outcome 3: KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATION

  • Since 2005-06, funding support for knowledge mobilization has increased by 66 per cent, to just under $36 million.
  • While spending for Research Dissemination and Knowledge Translation has increased 90 per cent since 2005-06, to just under $10 million, the number of awards granted has decreased 23 per cent, reflecting a 56 per cent decrease in the number of applications, different competition cycles, and changes in the program activity architecture.
  • Since 2005-06, the number of awards granted under the Research Networking program activity increased 19 per cent, reflecting a 54 percent increase in spending and a 27 per cent increase in the number of applications over the same period.
($ millions) Actual Spending 2007-08 Actual Spending 2008-09 Planned Spending 2009-10 Total Authorities 2009-10 Actual Spending 2009-10 Variance Between Planned and Actual Spending
Program Activities
Fellowships, Scholarships and Prizes 33.1 37.8 36.9 36.1 37.4 0.5
Canada Research Chairs 55.8 55.6 59.2 59.1 54.0 -5.2
Investigator-Framed Research 84.9 82.6 82.0 82.0 82.4 0.4
Targeted Research and Training Initiatives 22.1 22.1 21.6 22.2 22.4 0.8
Strategic Research Development 24.8 24.9 26.0 26.0 25.0 -1.0
Research Communication and Interaction 58.7 29.9 This program activity has been split into two new program activities for 2009-10 and beyond.
Research Dissemination and Knowledge Translation N/A N/A 7.5 7.5 9.6 2.1
Research Networking N/A N/A 8.2 8.2 9.0 0.8
Total Grants/Contributions/Other Types of Transfer Payments 279.4 252.9 241.4 241.1 239.8 -1.6
Comment on variance

As a result of SSHRC’s 2008-09 participation in a strategic review exercise, SSHRC’s grants and scholarships budget decreased in 2009-10.

Audit completed or planned

No audit was conducted or planned during the reporting year.

Evaluation completed or planned

Doctoral Fellowships (2008-09)
Postdoctoral Fellowships (2010-11)
Prizes and Special Fellowships (2010-11)
Canada Research chairs (2010-11)
Joint evaluation of Standard Research Grants program and Research Development Initiatives program (2010-11)
Initiative on the New Economy (2008-09)
Joint evaluation of Major Collaborative Research Initiatives and Community-University Research Alliances programs (2011-12)
Joint evaluation of SSHRC Institutional Grants and Aid to Small Universities programs (2010-11)
Other strategic research development (2011-12)
Umbrella evaluation of knowledge mobilization programs (2011-12)
Networks of Centres of Excellence—New Initiatives (2009-10)

2: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Canada Graduate Scholarships (voted)
Start Date: 2003 End Date: No end date
Description: This transfer payment program supports 1,300 doctoral students and 1,300 master’s students in the social sciences and humanities.
Strategic Outcome: 1. PEOPLE—A first-class research capacity in the social sciences and humanities

Results Achieved:

The total number of Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) master's and doctoral scholarships awarded in 2009-10 was 2,055. Of the above, 200 new master’s and 100 new doctoral CGSs were awarded in the targeted funding area of business, management and finance.

An evaluation of the CGS programs conducted in 2008-09 found that the CGS programs are meeting two key goals: enhancing the quality of graduate training and increasing the number of highly qualified personnel graduating from Canadian universities. The evaluation generally supports the notion that there is a continuing need for CGS and related programs. However, the evidence was not strongly weighted to one side.

($ millions) Actual Spending 2007-08 Actual Spending 2008-09 Planned Spending 2009-10 Total Authorities 2009-10 Actual Spending 2009-10 Variance Between Planned and Actual Spending
Program Activity
Fellowships, Scholarships and Prizes 64.6 67.3 68.2 76.0 75.7 7.5
Total Grants 64.6 67.3 68.2 76.0 75.7 7.5
Comment on variance

The major difference between planned and actual spending is due to a temporary increase in funding of $17.5 million over three years to the CGS program.

Audit completed or planned No audit was conducted or planned during the reporting year.
Evaluation completed or planned

Evaluation of the Canada Graduate Scholarships program

3: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (voted)
Start Date: 2008 End Date: No end date

Description: SSHRC’s portion of this tri-agency class grant transfer payment program provides financial support to Canadian and international students who have achieved outstanding success in their studies and will pursue a doctoral program at a Canadian university in an area of the social sciences and humanities.

Strategic Outcome: 1.PEOPLE—A first-class research capacity in the social sciences and humanities

Results Achieved:

The first competition of the flagship Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program was delivered in 2009-10, with:

  • 55 doctoral scholarships awarded in social sciences and humanities;
  • SSHRC, in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), achieving harmonization of the program; and
  • SSHRC, in collaboration with Canadian universities, Industry Canada, and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, implementing a national and international promotion and branding campaign for the program.
($ millions) Actual Spending 2007-08 Actual Spending 2008-09 Planned Spending 2009-10 Total Authorities 2009-10 Actual Spending 2009-10 Variance Between Planned and Actual Spending
Program Activity
Fellowships, Scholarships and Prizes 0.0 0.0 2.8 2.8 2.6 -0.2
Total Grants 0.0 0.0 2.8 2.8 2.6 -0.2
Comment on variance:

No significant variance was observed.

Audit completed or planned:

No audit was conducted or planned during the reporting year.

Evaluation completed or planned: No evaluation was completed or planned during the reporting year.

4: Indirect Costs of Research

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Indirect Costs of Research
Start Date: 2003 End Date: No end date

Description: This transfer payment program supports a portion of the indirect costs associated with conducting academic research in institutions that receive research grant funds from any of the three federal research granting agencies. Grants are awarded to eligible institutions using a progressive funding formula based on the average revenues from research grants received from CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC.

Strategic Outcome: 4. INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT—A strong Canadian science and research environment

Results Achieved:

Since 2005-06, there has been a more than 25 per cent increase in financial support to postsecondary institutions for indirect costs of research supported by the federal government’s three research granting agencies (SSHRC, NSERC and CIHR).

In a recent evaluation, vice-presidents of research and presidents of recipient institutions reported that, since 2003-04, support for research has improved from below average to above average.

Since the program’s inception in 2001, SSHRC has allocated close to $1.7 billion in Indirect Costs grants to 124 eligible Canadian postsecondary institutions, including $324.6 million in 2009-10. The funding has provided vital support to the academic research environment in Canada.

In 2008-09, the most recent year for which data is available, eligible institutions invested along five key investment areas: 36 per cent of the Indirect Costs funds were spent on facilities; 15 per cent on research resources; 34 per cent on management and administration; 9 per cent on regulatory requirements and accreditation; and 6 per cent on intellectual property management.

Larger institutions, because they receive larger grants, seem better able to benefit from the program’s positive impacts than do smaller institutions. However, in general, small and mid-sized institutions say that, even though their grants are more modest, these funds play a key role in building their research programs, and make a big difference when it comes to their researchers’ work.

On the whole, the institutions that receive Indirect Costs funds invest them mainly in research facilities, management and administration. This distribution remains very similar from year to year, but the proportion of funds spent on regulatory requirements and accreditation does seem to be increasing over time, most likely reflecting an increase in institutions’ and researchers’ responsibilities in these areas. In contrast, the proportion of funds spent on resources seems to be decreasing.

Interestingly, the small and medium-sized institutions spent a large proportion of their Indirect Costs grants on management and administration of their research activities, while large institutions and research-intensive institutions invested almost the same proportion on facilities as they did on management and administration.

($ millions) Actual Spending 2007-08 Actual Spending 2008-09 Planned Spending 2009-10 Total Authorities 2009-10 Actual Spending 2009-10 Variance Between Planned and Actual Spending
Program Activity
Indirect Costs of Research 299.1 328.3 329.1 328.3 324.6 -4.5
Total Grants 299.1 328.3 329.1 328.3 324.6 -4.5
Comment on variance:

As a result of SSHRC’s 2008-09 participation in a strategic review exercise, the grants and scholarships budget for this program activity decreased in 2009-10.

Audit completed or planned:

Internal Audit of the Indirect Costs Program (2009)

Evaluation completed or planned: Evaluation of the Tri-Agency Indirect Costs Program (2009)

5: Networks of Centres of Excellence

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Networks of Centres of Excellence
Start Date: 1997 End Date: No end date

Description: This federal class grant transfer payment program is administered jointly by the three federal research granting agencies, in partnership with Industry Canada. It supports research in complex areas of critical importance to Canadian universities and hospitals, in partnership with private and public sectors. The networks funded through this program are multidisciplinary and multisectoral partnerships that stimulate leading-edge, internationally competitive research in areas critical to Canadian economic and social development.

Strategic Outcome: 3. KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATION—Facilitating the use of social sciences and humanities knowledge within and beyond academia

Results Achieved:

In 2009-10, SSHRC continued to work towards deepening the social sciences and humanities’ involvement in the Networks of Centres of Excellence’s four main programs: the Networks of Centres of Excellence, the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research, Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence, and the Industrial R&D Internship Program.

New Networks of Centres of Excellence resulting from the 2009 competition include: GRAND (Graphics, Animation and New Media), which has strong and diverse social sciences and humanities research elements; Carbon Management Canada, which has almost 20 social sciences and humanities researchers; and NeuroDevNet, which also has strong social sciences and humanities elements related to health.

In addition, an information session on the Networks of Centres of Excellence was held in late 2009 as part of the promotion of interagency and interdisciplinary research at the annual SSHRC Leaders conference.

($ millions) Actual Spending 2007-08 Actual Spending 2008-09 Planned Spending 2009-10 Total Authorities 2009-10 Actual Spending 2009-10 Variance Between Planned and Actual Spending
Program Activity
Research Communication    

This program activity no longer exists for 2009-10

Research Networking 0.0 0.0 11.8 11.8 11.8 0.0
Total Grants 0.0 0.0 11.8 11.8 11.8 0.0
Comment on variance:

No variance was observed.

Audit completed or planned: No audit was conducted or planned during the reporting year.
Evaluation completed or planned: No evaluation was completed or planned during the reporting year.


Internal Audits and Evaluations

Internal Audits (Current Reporting Period)
1. Name of Internal Audit 2. Internal Audit Type 3. Status 4. Completion Date
Grant and Fellowship Budget Process Review Advisory Completed September 2009
Audit of the Enterprise Awards Management System Assurance Completed February 2010

All audit reports are or will be posted in the Publications section of SSHRC's website, at www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/about-au_sujet/publications/audit-verification-eng.aspx.

Evaluations (Current Reporting Period)
1. Name of Evaluation 2. Program Activity 3. Evaluation Type 4. Status 5. Completion Date
Evaluation of the Initiative on the New Economy 2.2 Targeted Research and Training Initiatives Summative evaluation Completed August 2009
Summative Evaluation of the Metropolis Project, Phase II: Knowledge Transfer Activities and Impacts 2.2 Targeted Research and Training Initiatives Summative evaluation Completed May 2009
Doctoral Fellowships Program Review Report 1.1 Fellowships, Scholarships and Prizes Program review Completed January 2010
Evaluation of the Tri-Agency Indirect Costs Program 4.1 Indirect Costs of Research Summative evaluation Completed July 2009
Cluster Evaluation of the Standard Research Grants Program and the Research Development Initiatives Program 2.1 Investigator-Framed Research Summative evaluation In progress September 2010
Summative Evaluation of the Canada Research Chairs Program 1.2 Canada Research Chairs Summative evaluation In progress March 2011
Joint Evaluation of the Postdoctoral Fellowships Program and Prizes and Special Fellowships 1.1 Fellowships, Scholarships and Prizes Summative evaluation Planned March 2011
Other Strategic Research Development 2.3 Strategic Research Development Summative evaluation Rescheduled March 2012
Evaluation of the Sports Canada Joint Initiative 2.2 Targeted Research and Training Initiatives Summative evaluation Cancelled NA
Evaluation of the International Opportunities Fund 2.3 Strategic Research Development Summative evaluation Cancelled NA
Evaluation of SSHRC’s Participation in BOREAS: Histories from the North—Environments, Movements, Narratives 2.3 Strategic Research Development Summative evaluation Cancelled NA
Summative Evaluation of the Networks of Centres of Excellence—New Initiatives 3.2 Research Networking Summative evaluation Completed September 2009
Evaluation of the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research Program 3.2 Research Networking Summative evaluation Completed September 2009

All evaluation reports are or will be posted in the Publications section of SSHRC's website, at www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/about-au_sujet/publications/evaluations-eng.aspx.