Research and Learning Program

This program supports research projects that show the positive impacts of educational initiatives for First Nations students.

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About the program

The Research and Learning Program supports research projects that contribute to educational initiatives that are positively impacting First Nations students and their educational outcomes. In addition, recipients share learnings and present the findings of their research at a First Nations education event of their choosing.

The objective of the program is to increase awareness and knowledge of best practices in Indigenous education among:

It supports a regionally-driven, First Nations-defined process enabling First Nations control over project selection and funding allocations.

Guidelines for this program were initially developed in partnership with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the National Indian Education Council and are intended to help eligible beneficiaries in the development of their costed work plans.

The Research and Learning Program is one of several contribution programs, along with Innovation in Education and the Education Partnerships Program, which complement Indigenous Services Canada's (ISC) funding efforts towards First Nations elementary and secondary education.

About the activities

The program supports activities such as:

The program is a small part of broader efforts to improve First Nations elementary and secondary education. Activities are expected to support improving the overall quality of education in First Nations and to contribute to specific outcomes.

Who can apply

Eligible funding recipients:

Depending on the nature of the regional agreement, funding may be allocated to a First Nations organization to administer the program regionally or to specific projects, based on availability of funds and First Nations decisions.

Deadline

The deadline to submit a proposal was 11:59 pm Eastern time April 30, 2024. Deadlines and processes may differ based on the region, please contact your regional office for further information.

How to apply

Applicants are encouraged to submit their detailed proposals electronically. Follow the instructions in the 2024 to 2025 Research and Learning Program guidelines.

Applicants are encouraged to review these guidelines before submitting an application, particularly the eligible expenditures section.

Applicants who have access to the ISC's services portal should use the electronic form by opening a session on the portal. If you do not have access to the portal, please contact your regional office to get access to the portal.

In your proposal, remember to:

Please ensure that the form is fully complete and all mandatory fields are filled in. Attach all documents included with the proposal to the supporting documents section of the proposal form. Attached documents should be in Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel format.

Since the funding will be provided on a fiscal year basis, separate project timelines and expenditure projections must be submitted in your proposal. For example, the activities planned and expected results section in the form must include cost information up to March 31, 2025. If your project extends beyond March 31, 2025, you must:

All research projects must be completed in their entirety. This would include first the undertaking of research in learning activities and then the presentation of related findings at some form of regional or national First Nations education conference, workshop or symposium.

Submission of a proposal does not guarantee its acceptance. Funding decisions are communicated on a regional basis according to regional office or First Nations schedules. Funding amounts are based on the number of successful proposals and availability of regional funds.

First Nations organizations in British Columbia should contact the First Nations Education Steering Committee for further information about this program.

Guidelines for previous years

Proposal assessment criteria

Regionally-based First Nations organizations are engaged in and in many cases lead the selection of research and learning proposals, based on an approved regionally-based process. Contact your regional office for more information.

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