Community-Engaged Research from Principles to Practice

Series Description

Research conducted in genuine partnership with communities is more relevant, more equitable, and more impactful (Wallerstein et al., 2020). This six-session virtual series from the Centre for Research & Innovation Support (CRIS) offers researchers and community partners practical, evidence-based approaches to building these partnerships, whether you are new to community-engaged research or looking to strengthen existing ones.

Through interactive presentations, case studies from U of T researcher-community partnerships, and facilitated peer discussion, faculty, their research teams, and community partners will begin or deepen their practice of the competencies central to effective community-engaged research.

The curriculum was developed by the Institute for Translational Sciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch and grounded in a validated competency framework for community-engaged research. This framework was built through a US national, evidence-based mapping process across leading academic centres, identifying the core competencies researchers and community partners need for effective collaboration (Hallmark et al., 2023). CRIS has adapted this framework for the Canadian context and for researchers across all disciplines.

Each session has a focused topic with corresponding learning objectives and can be completed as a standalone workshop. Together, the six sessions form a comprehensive foundation in community-engaged research. Faculty and their research teams who attend all 6 sessions will receive the Certificate of Series Completion.

Session Topics:

Session 1: Cultivating Community Engagement and Communication

• Date and Time: October 6, 2026, 1:00pm-2:30pm
• Session information & registration details

Session 2: Understanding Cultural & Population Variation in Research

• Date and Time: December 3, 2026, 1:00pm-2:30pm
• Session information & registration details

Session 3: Translational Teamwork & Partnerships

• Date and Time: January 2027
• Save the date: registration details to be announced

Session 4: Cross-Disciplinary Training & Leadership

• Date and Time: March 2027
• Save the date: registration details to be announced

Session 5: Reciprocity, Trust, and Ethical Practice

• Date and Time: April 2027
• Save the date: registration details to be announced

Session 6: Community-engaged Dissemination and Knowledge Translation

• Date and Time: June 2027
• Save the date: registration details to be announced

Learning Objectives:

The goal of this series is to strengthen research by deepening its connection to community knowledge, priorities, and lived experiences. Participants who complete this series will leave with:

• a stronger foundation for building and sustaining ethical, reciprocal relationships with community partners;
• greater confidence navigating the practical, cultural, and ethical dimensions of community-engaged research; and
• insight from exemplary community-engaged research initiatives across disciplines at U of T on how community engagement strengthens research design, relevance, and impact.

Intended audience:

This series is open to the University of Toronto and TAHSN faculty interested in building their community-engaged research competencies and their research teams. We welcome and encourage researchers to invite community partners to participate. Members or collaborators of the same team or project should register individually.