2015 Graduate Policy Research Challenge

APPLICATION FORM

Section A – Applicant Information

Title of Graduate Policy Challenge Submission
Name of the Applicant
Program (i.e. M.Ed in Higher Education, MA in Economic Policy, PhD in Communications and Culture)
Department
Institution
Expected or actual date of graduation
Other programs attended (indicate degree, year of graduation, institution, country)
Applicant’s Mailing Address
Applicant’s Telephone
Applicant’s Email

Contact information for your faculty advisor: Note the advisor could be from any publicly-assisted university or College of Applied Arts and Technology (CAAT) in Ontario.

Name of Faculty Advisor
Title and Department
E-mail address
Institution
Mailing address

Declaration from Faculty Advisor: By signing below, I am indicating my support for the applicant. Applicants are also asked to attach a letter of support from their advisors.

Name: / Signature: / Date:

Declaration from Department Chair: By signing below, I am indicating that the applicant is eligible to enter the Challenge and has the support from the Department. Note that the applicant must be currently enrolled in the program or have graduated from their program during the 2014-15 academic year.

Name: / Signature: / Date:


Section B – Policy Brief (1,200 words)

Executive Summary

Outline the relevance of the research topic for Ontario’s postsecondary education, training and labour market policy priorities, explain the methodological approach, and indicate key findings.

Statement of Issue or Policy Problem

Define the policy problem and use publicly-available data and/or results from your own research projects to explain the problem.

Key Themes/Approaches in the Literature

Briefly discuss key themes/approaches identified in the literature. Academic style references are not required, but endnotes should be used to identify background literature used in the policy brief.

Background on Current Practice

Describe existing practices and policies in Ontario, and lessons learnt from other Canadian provinces/territories and jurisdictions.

Policy Options and Recommendation

Identify two to three policy options, outline their benefits and limitations, and provide justification for the recommended approach.

Short Bibliography

Include in the endnotes resources used in your policy brief. Note that the bibliography will not count towards the 1,200 word limit for the Policy Brief.

Online Resources

A policy brief is a short document that presents the findings of a research project and policy recommendations to a non-specialized audience using plain and succinct language. More information on the policy writing style could be found at:

•  Preparing and Presenting a Brief, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/rural/facts/96-011.htm#Introduction.

•  How to Write a Policy Brief; Canadian International Development Research Centre; http://www.idrc.ca/EN/Resources/Tools_and_Training/Documents/how-to-write-a-policy-brief.pdf.

•  Policy Stylebook, University of California; http://www.ucop.edu/ethics-compliance-audit-services/_files/policy-toolkit/pol-stylebook.pdf.

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