The Graduate Diploma in Community-Engaged Research and Evaluation aims to foster critical and ethical practice in community-engaged research and evaluation. Students who complete the program will understand and be able to apply critical conceptual frameworks to evaluation practices in social services and communities, and identify justice-oriented alternatives or improvements; understand the historical, theoretical and ethical bases of community-based research (CBR) and be able to apply and communicate CBR principles; demonstrate a capacity to undertake a research-related community engagement process; and understand, and be able to communicate and apply, knowledge mobilization (KM) concepts

Students will take courses on critical approaches to evidence and evaluation, on community-based research, and approaches to knowledge mobilization in the social sciences. A seminar course will support students to initiate an engagement process with community stakeholders, towards the refinement or early implementation of a community-engaged research or evaluation project.

The Graduate Diploma in Community-Engaged Research and Evaluation will build capacity among local practitioners in social science research frameworks and methods, and participatory community engagement processes. The knowledge and skills developed through the program will enable students to craft locally relevant research questions; strengthen programs, policies and community initiatives; and build and sustain process of community and agency learning.