UNBC Named a Research University of the Year

October 29, 2008
For only the second time, the University of Northern British Columbia has been named one of Canada’s “Research Universities of the Year” in a report that will be published in the National Post and the Ottawa Citizen. UNBC is second among all small universities, up from its third place showing last year.
 
The survey, produced by Research InfoSource Inc, is comprised of two main components:
  • A listing of Canada’s top 50 research universities, presenting the amount of sponsored research income each university received in the 2006-07 fiscal year. UNBC placed 37th overall.
  • A scorecard that includes research funding received, the number of faculty, and the success of faculty in having research results published in academic journals. UNBC placed second in its category, which is comprised of 17 small universities in Canada.
 
“UNBC performs at a level much higher than our size would suggest and this is fundamental to our ability to attract the best faculty and students,” says Interim UNBC President Charles Jago. “But there’s a bigger story here. Between 2002 and 2007, UNBC saw the second-largest rate of growth in research funding among ALL universities in Canada, and tops among BC universities. This is an amazing success in a country where research investment has been concentrated in the biggest cities. Research is helping this region make the transition to a knowledge-based economy and these results released today are vindication for all of those founders and citizens who understand the value of what a research university brings to this region.”  

The results of the Research InfoSource analysis will be published in the National Post on Friday, November 7. Click here for a preview of the results.
 
Earlier this year, UNBC surpassed the $100 million mark in research funding received to date. In the 2007-08 fiscal year alone, the value of research funding received was $17.7 million. Some of the University’s research programs have explored aboriginal environmental health, the genetic factors behind cancer and other diseases, the mountain pine beetle, climate change, the provision of health services in northern and rural communities, factors that affect quality of life, and air quality.

Contact:
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622