Principles and Strategies for Community Engagement

This experiential and applied course will provide an overview of core principles and effective strategies for community engagement in community-based research. Students will learn about the opportunities and tensions of participation and community engagement in research, as well as how to tailor engagement strategies for the communities you’re working with, to meet specific project objectives across all four phases of community-based research. Topics include but are not limited to an overview of community engagement, how to build meaningful relationships across the research life span, and how to design and facilitate creative strategies to foster collaboration, co-learning and empowerment. Principles of equity, diversity, and ethics will be explored throughout. Ideal for students and professionals in non-profits, public health, and social services, this course equips you to conduct meaningful, feasible, and ethical community engagement in your community-based research project.

The course will:

1- Explore equitable community engagement across all 4 phases of community-based research.

2- Encourage students to think deeply about how to meaningfully, equitably and feasibly engage communities in community-based research and evaluation.

3- Learn about, adapt and trial creative engagement strategies for dialogue, consultation, decision-making.

4- Apply these learnings ‘real time’ to students own work with communities.

All instructors seek to uphold CCBR’s mission through the teaching of this course: “We are committed to social justice and to building communities that are responsive and supportive, especially for people with limited access to power and opportunity.”

Delivery Method: Online (Synchronous) on Zoom

Instructors: Sarah Switzer and Rashmi Narkhede

Course Length: 14 hours

Wednesday, February 3, 2027, from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM ET

Wednesday, February 10, 2027, from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM ET

Wednesday, February 17, 2027, from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM ET

Wednesday, February 24, 2027, from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM ET

Wednesday, March 3, 2027, from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM ET

• Each course: $695

• Cost for Basic Community-based Research Certificate: is $2,780 (4 courses x $695)

• Cost for Advanced Community-based Research Certificate: is $5,560 (8 courses x $695)

• As a charitable organization, CCBR is HST (tax) exempt

• A $50 discount is available when course cost paid four weeks in advance. Please ensure you use the [earlybird] code when registering to receive the discount.

• Bursary: Up to 3 bursary spots available per course (see details here)

• Bulk registration rates available (see details here)

• Students from any institution save 10%. Email general@communitybasedresearch.ca from your university email address with a picture of your student card to access the discount code

To begin registration, first enter the buyer's information. Once completed, click "Register", and you'll then be able to add the details for the participant.

• A full refund (minus a $50 administration fee) will be issued for cancellations made at least two weeks before the first class.

• A 70% refund will be provided for cancellations made up to 2 days before the first class. ​

• No refunds will be issued for cancellations or no-shows made on or after the first class.

• CCBR reserves the right to refuse registration to any applicant at its sole discretion.