[RECAP] RBC supports Ryerson faculty and student research on immigrants, diversity and inclusion

Several research projects funded by the Partnership for Change: RBC Immigrant, Diversity and Inclusion Project were featured at a recent breakfast and workshop. Researchers discussed their findings during panels focused on immigrants’ experiences in Canada.

The multi-year collaborative initiative offers funding to faculty and student action-oriented research projects that focus on themes relating to economic and social issues facing immigrants. In addition, targeted student internships are funded by through the program.

Despite the snow, a packed room listened to panels and presentations which highlighted research outcomes and policy recommendations from sponsored projects, and tapped into the researchers’ insights on immigrants’ experiences on topics like employment, mental health and social engagement. Naomi Adelson, Ryerson’s associate vice-president, research and innovation, said during her introductory remarks that to date, 80 projects have been supported through the partnership.

“RBC and Ryerson know that it’s imperative to support and promote diversity, immigration and inclusion. With a focus on outreach and knowledge mobilization, the aim of this partnership is to shape policy and practice in these areas,” she said.

Three panels of Ryerson researchers offered insights into their work.

• On the topic of immigrant employment and entrepreneurship, Prof. Samarbakhsh noted a positive trend in the numbers of people with international background sitting on boards – even if there is still a long way to go towards inclusion.
• During a panel on immigrant mental health, master’s student Jenny Liu noted that while some immigrants do face mental health stressors, her research showed that many also have a great deal of resilience as well.
• The panel on the social engagement of immigrants included discussion of ways that engagement of immigrants could be improved, including getting creative in how engagement and knowledge mobilization occurs.

After the lively discussions of all three topics, presenters from the 2017-2018 cohort of supported projects offered some insights into their projects.

• Deborah Fels and S. Fatima Lakha gave details on their project, “Student reflections on acculturative stress accommodation and coping practices: An assessment of immigrant and international student experiences.”
• Paul Moore, a sociology professor, and Jessica Whitehead, a postdoctoral fellow, discussed their work in their project “Hidden Circuits of Canadian Cinema: ‘Unofficial Multiculturalism’ and Immigrant Movie Audiences in Post-WWII Toronto.”
• Henrique Hon, a former Ryerson MBA student, presented his project, “Partnership to Support Low-Income Newcomer Entrepreneurs: Tools and Resources for Business Out of the Box.”
• Jenny Liu, a Ryerson psychology doctorate student gave an overview of her project, “Identifying Resilience in a Multicultural Community Using the Multi-System Model of Resilience.”

As the day concluded, Ryerson’s Jennifer MacInnis, senior director, applied research and commercialization noted the next call for project funding applications will be in fall 2019.

Complete list of panel participants:

• Immigrant Employment and Entrepreneurship: Laleh Samarbakhsh, a finance professor, and Horatio Morgan, a global management professor. The panel was moderated by Jennifer MacInnis.
• Immigrant Mental Health: Jenny Liu, a Ryerson psychology PhD student, Sedef Arat-Koç, a politics and public administration professor, Deborah Fels, an information technology management professor and the director of Ryerson’s Inclusive Media and Design Centre and S. Fatima Lakha, who was a postdoctoral fellow in inclusive design and media at the time of the project. The panel was moderated by Jennifer Martin.
• Social Engagement of Immigrants: Sara Edge, a geography and environmental science professor, Tom Griffin, a hospitality and tourism management professor, Myer Siemiatycki, a politics and public administration professor and Serene Tan, curriculum developer at onBoard Canada. The panel was moderated by Wendy Cukier.

The Partnership for Change: RBC Immigrant, Diversity and Inclusion Project is funded by the RBC Foundation.