Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Bridging Divides Research
Our vision is rooted in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) as critical components of excellence in leadership, governance, and innovative research practices.
We are committed to dismantling structural barriers within academia and the research disciplines of Bridging Divides hat have long hindered the full participation of individuals from underrepresented groups.
Our vision is anchored in four pillars:
- Co-creation with all stakeholders, including HQP, researchers, staff, and immigrant populations;
- Data-driven, evidence-based strategies informed by scientific research and best practices;
- Intersectional lens addressing diverse experiences of discrimination and systemic racism;
- Commitment to continuous learning through community outreach.
While EDI values are central to research on migrant integration, they must also be purposefully integrated into hiring, leadership, and research processes. This requires ongoing reflexivity, and a commitment to improving practices and creating lasting change in academia both in Canada and internationally.
We recognize that innovation and breakthrough thinking are driven by a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas. Our ultimate goal is to cultivate a research ecosystem which demonstrates increased inclusion of underrepresented researchers and students; improved retention rates of HQP; enhanced engagement and work satisfaction for all BD researchers and staff; and an innovative research program with outputs that highlight EDI at their core.
This page provides a curated list of resources to assist our researchers and HQP in integrating and prioritizing EDI in research design and practice. The list is not exhaustive and will be updated regularly. If you have suggestions for additional resources, please email us at bridging.divides@torontomu.ca.
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) uses EDI as an overall term that encompasses two approaches: EDI in research design and EDI in research practice.
- EDI in Research Design (EDI-RD)
EDI in research design involves designing research so that it takes EDI into account through approaches such as intersectionality, gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) anti-racist approaches, and disaggregated data collection and analysis that includes consideration of diversity and identity factors such as, but not limited to, age, culture, disability, education, ethnicity, gender expression and gender identity, immigration and newcomer status, Indigenous identity, language, neurodiversity, parental status/responsibility, place of origin, religion, race, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status. - EDI in Research Practice (EDI-RP)
EDI in research practice involves promoting diversity in team composition and trainee recruitment; fostering an equitable, inclusive and accessible research work environment for team members and trainees; and highlighting diversity and equity in mentoring, training and access to development opportunities.
