It is the University of Toronto’s goal to create a research community that is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, access and Indigenous perspectives. In creating such a community, the University aims to build a culture of inclusive, research excellence. We recognize that the creation of a more equitable, diverse and inclusive research environment is not only a moral imperative—it is necessary to attract and retain a broad cohort of the best and brightest researchers, and to create a climate in which all researchers achieve their full potential.
Equity, diversity, inclusion, access and Indigenous perspectives are resources for excellence: research is stronger when everyone is welcome in our classrooms, in our labs, in our fieldwork and in our research partnerships.
U of T Committments, Initiatives and Support
- The Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation offers programming to discuss topics involving equity, accessibility and inclusion in the classroom:
- The Division of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation have assembled resources to support equitable, diverse and inclusive research environments including a series of webinars and modules. These resources could be used to embed equity throughout students’ research experience.
- Answering the Call: Wecheehetowin: Final Report of the Steering Committee for the University of Toronto Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada outlines a series of research-related recommendations:
- As part of their response to Answering the Call, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives has compiled resources to support ethical Indigenous-related research including resources to support student research.
- Indigenous Research Network: is an Institutional Strategic Initiative (ISI) that responds to recommendations in Answering the Call including for the University to formalize networks of Indigenous scholars; to mobilize Indigenous faculty and staff as a collective; to create opportunities for Indigenous scholars to collaborate and engage with Indigenous communities in respectful and culturally sensitive ways; and to recognize and support the distinctive nature of Indigenous research and research practices.
- Indigenous Education Network: is a group of students, faculty and community members who share a common commitment to and passion for Indigenous education and research.
- Anti-Black Racism Task-Force Final Report outlines a series of research-related recommendations.
- Black Research Network: is an Institutional Strategic Initiative (ISI) that responds to the recommendations in the Anti-Black Racism Task Force Final Report and The Scarborough Charter. It aims to increase visibility for U of T Black scholars’ research accomplishments; sustain a cross-divisional, interdisciplinary, network of Black scholars; and facilitate robust research engagements across the University of Toronto and internationally.
- Connaught Major Research Challenge for Black Researchers program: as part of the response to the Anti-Black Racism Task Force Final Report, this program aims to address and develop solutions to major research challenges faced by Black Researchers. Challenge teams will initiate collaborations that may seed subsequent external funding opportunities, nurture partnerships, establish new research-oriented academic programs, and provide unique training opportunities.
- The Antisemitism Working Group: planned in early 2020 and began its work in December 2020. The Working Group is part of the University of Toronto’s commitment to addressing forms of racism and discrimination faced by members of its community.
- The Anti-Asian Racism Working Group: planned in early 2022 and began its work in April 2022. The Working Group is part of the University of Toronto’s commitment to addressing forms of racism and discrimination faced by members of its community.
- The Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office (ARCDO) offers professional development courses to increase faculty, staff and librarian’s understanding of their roles / responsibilities and key strategies to advancing racial equity, diversity and inclusion at U of T.
The University of Toronto is committed to ensuring undergraduate students see themselves represented in research opportunities and feel encouraged and able to participate. There are a number of resources that have been created to support the recruitment of students from equity-deserving and Indigenous communities.
- Advancing Equitable & Inclusive Experiential Learning Opportunities: A Five-Stage Framework, the Faculty of Arts & Science: although focused on experiential learning more generally, this guide shares key questions and considerations to create opportunities that are accessible, inclusive and engage students in meaningful ways.
- Hiring and Retaining Diverse Students: A Toolkit: in collaboration with other Canadian universities, the Centre for Career Exploration & Education has developed a series of self-paced employer-facing modules that share effective strategies and approaches for equity-centred hiring, onboarding and retention practices.
- Unconscious Bias Training Modules, Toronto Initiative for Inclusive Excellence: this training was created in partnership with the Division of the Vice President & Provost, the Faculty of Arts & Science, the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, and the University of Toronto Mississauga. The first two Unconscious Bias Education Modules introduce and provide examples of how Unconscious Biases can arise from stereotypes and result in discrimination. These modules provide an important first step in foundational education and will be followed by modules exploring personal actions and systemic changes that are required to create more equitable and inclusive learning and working environments.