CEWIL Resource Hub: Applied Research Projects

Students participating in applied research projects solve workplace problems in partnership with community organizations or industry. Solutions to these problems are typically generated through consulting, design, community-based research, or some combination of all three.

Students partner with a municipality to solve a recreation-related planning issue and write a report with recommendations.

Students conduct research with an on-campus service provider to recommend operational improvements. 

Students propose projects based on their research interests and are paired with faculty members whose research aligns with student proposals.

Students across five courses in the Bachelor of Business Administration program present solutions to a complex problem faced by an external client. 

Computer Science students partner with industry projects to solve research problems, prepare a research paper, and present their findings to the broader community.

Relevant Literature

• Fernando, E., Jusko-Friedman, A., Catton, P., & Nyhof-Young, J. (2015). Celebrating 10 years of undergraduate medical education: A student-centered evaluation of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
• Determinants of Community Health Year 2 Program. Journal of Cancer Education, 30, 225-230.
  Ryser, L., Markey, S., & Halseth, G. (2013). Developing the next generation of community-based researchers: Tips for undergraduate students. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 37(1), 11-27.
• Anderson, S. G. (2002). Engaging students in community-based research: A model for teaching social work research. Journal of Community Practice, 10(2), 71-87.

You can view more relevant literature on applied research projects by visiting WatCACE's WIL research portal.