ARCHIVED – Summative Evaluation of the Metropolis Project Phase II: Knowledge Transfer Activities and Impacts

Management Response

Key Finding	Response	Action	Accountability	Implementation Timeline
Have the Metropolis Centres successfully integrated key policy issues identified by federal funding partners into their research plans?
1. Metropolis Centres have had limited success in integrating federal partners’ policy issues into research plans.	The Memorandum of Understanding of Phase II specified 11 policy-research priorities to govern the Centres’ research. These were adhered to. More specific requests from the federal partners were met with varied responses according to the capacity of the Centres and the research proposals they received from their affiliates. The arm’s-length relationship between the government and the universities is a factor.	In Planning for Phase III, Metropolis consulted extensively federal funding partners and reached a consensus on six policy priorities on which the Metropolis Centres should focus their research.	Metropolis Secretariat	Phase III – begun in 2007-08
		These federal policy-research priorities were clearly defined in the Memorandum of Understanding between Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and Citizenship and Immigration Canada for Phase III of Metropolis (2007-2012).		Completed by implementation of Phase III
		All of the research funded by the Metropolis Centres must have a direct link to one of the six policy-research priorities.		In place since beginning of Phase III, continuing
		A DG-level National Metropolis Committee was created to bring together senior management and Centre directors to discuss Centre and Secretariat performance. This committee also decides the policy topic for the Annual Metropolis Research Competition.		Begun, meets quarterly
		For Phase III, Metropolis has introduced additional means to bring officials and Centre staff together for discussions of research priorities within the MOU framework. These included annual research planning meetings, the National Metropolis Committee itself, and policy-research symposia.		Begun at launch of Phase III
Have the Centres, the Secretariat and the Federal Consortium operated as effective knowledge “brokers”?
2. Overall, there was some success in knowledge brokering. The success was due to informal activities among the partners in the Metropolis Project –there was no formal knowledge brokering function built into Phase 2 of the Project.	Knowledge brokering was conducted in Phase II, although not under that specific term. Knowledge transfer function greatly enhanced in Phase III.	Additional administrative bodies were created for Phase III to better respond to this desire for formal knowledge brokering. The National Metropolis Committee mentioned above is a prime example.	Metropolis Secretariat	Phase III – begun in 2007-08
		The Metropolis Interdepartmental Committee continues to bring federal partners together at level of director.		In effect throughout Phase III
		The role of Priority Leader was created to synthesize research findings from all five Centres of Excellence for each policy-research priority. Literature reviews syntheses disseminated through annual reports for each priority area. Report formats developed in consultation with policy officials.		Begun in 2007-08
		In order to effect more targeted knowledge transfer, Secretariat operations are now structured to reflect the six policy priority areas. Each analyst is responsible for tracking the research for a specific policy priority and maintaining formal liaison with policy branches of federal funding partners.		Begun in 2007-08
Do federal policy-makers access/use Metropolis research and do departments support accessing and using the research in policy-making?
3. Overall, policy-makers access and use Metropolis research and survey respondents find the research products useful. However there is limited support/time in departments for accessing and using Metropolis research products.	Metropolis agrees with this finding. Seeks continuous improvement.	Federal funding partners are required to submit knowledge transfer plans to manage uptake of Metropolis research in their own departments. The Secretariat works with R&E to develop the knowledge transfer plan for each client group at CIC.	Metropolis Secretariat, R&E Branch	Begun with Phase III with continuous enhancements throughout the funding period
		Secretariat has introduced a number of enhanced knowledge transfer vehicles such as “Brown Bag Presentations”, “Armchair Discussions”, the “The Bridge”, and the “Feature of the Week” and “Ask the Experts” sections on the website.	Metropolis Secretariat	Begun in 2007-08
Is the Metropolis Project producing research products that are relevant to government policy makers?
4. Metropolis research products were relevant to the majority of policy-makers. However, some case study participants and interviewees expressed concerned about the policy link.	Metropolis agrees with this finding. Seeks continuous improvement.	Metropolis Secretariat liaison staff meets regularly with policy branches to stay current on their evolving policy priorities. Increased involvement in policy development through active provision of research, interpretation of research for specific policy purposes, and drafting of documents for such activities as Medium Term Planning.	Metropolis Secretariat	Begun in Phase III
		For each policy priority area, research planning meetings with Centre research leaders and federal policy officials held annually to discuss research and knowledge transfer priorities for the year.		Begun with Phase III
		Policy Priority Leaders produce an annual report of activities and a literature review that synthesizes research done in each of the six policy priority area.		Begun with Phase III
		To ensure that Metropolis is responding to policy-makers needs, each Secretariat knowledge transfer activity is evaluated by the participants.		Enhanced with Phase III
		Themes of Secretariat publications reflect specific demand from federal partners who often provide funding; themes of conference plenary sessions reflect the 6 priority areas identified by federal policy partners.		Begun with Phase III and continuing
Macro (including pan-Canadian), comparative and longitudinal studies were identified as a priority for Phase 2 of the Metropolis Project. Have they been conducted?
5. Metropolis Centres conduct some macro, comparative and longitudinal studies. The majority of survey respondents indicated satisfaction with the extent to which the Centres conducted these types of studies.	Metropolis agrees with this finding.	National Research Competition was created to enhance research of national scope. Research topic approved by NMC	Metropolis Secretariat	Begun in 2007-08
		Joint Committee meetings between directors and the Metropolis Secretariat continue to discuss opportunities for collaboration between centres.		Begun in 2007-08
		The Phase III Memorandum of Understanding to encourage collaboration between Centres of Excellence on projects.		Completed prior to Phase III
		International comparisons are also drawn from the International Metropolis Project and highlighted in international publications such as Canadian Diversity and the Journal of International Migration and Integration and in the annual conferences.		Continuing
		Annual research planning meetings identify opportunities for cross-Centre collaboration		Begun in 2007-08
Has Metropolis research knowledge informed or influenced the development of government policy?
6. There is some evidence that Metropolis research has informed government policy-making.	Metropolis agrees with this finding. Seeks continuous improvement.	Metropolis Secretariat staff proactively establish relations with departmental contacts; continue to play a bridging function between researchers and policy-makers.	Metropolis Secretariat	Begun in Phase III
		The Metropolis Secretariat is more involved in departmental processes such as Medium-Term Planning by providing research input and regularly provides input to branches’ policy work.	Metropolis Secretariat	Begun and continuing
		Knowledge transfer plans now require active role of policy officials in using Metropolis research. Research Knowledge Transfer Directorate of Research and Evaluation Branch has a role in this process.	Secretariat and Research Knowledge Transfer Directorate of R&E Branch	Begun and continuing

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Date modified:: 2010-02-22