CIRCEM directed research course

Host organizations eligible for this program provide applied research internships in areas related to the field of research of the CIRCEM. All organizations external to the University of Ottawa are eligible. This does not exclude, on occasion, the possibility of producing research in collaboration with a professor who is a member of the CIRCEM. However, supervision and coaching of the intern must be provided by a professional from the host organization.

Host organizations must provide a brief information document for each proposed research project as well as the name of the professional responsible for supervising the student. At a minimum, this person must have a master's or doctoral degree in the social sciences, management, or a relevant field. Multiple offers are accepted from the same host organization. For each project, the information provided must include:

• The name and address of the organization;
• The name and title of the person who will supervise the student (must have a master's or doctoral degree in the social sciences, management, or a relevant field);
• A brief description of the research project and its relevance to the CIRCEM;
• An explanation of how the participating student will benefit from the project;
• A list of clear and measurable commitments, tasks and outcomes that the student is expected to meet during the semester;
• Identification of any specific qualifications required from the student in order to carry out the research project.

Organizations interested in submitting a proposal for a directed research project should submit a project. 

IMPORTANT: Projects must be undertaken in French, even if the training environment may be bilingual.

The host organization must agree to meet with the participating student at regular intervals, at least once a week, to assess progress and provide guidance.

At the end of the project, the host organisation must prepare an evaluation of the student's performance, according to an evaluation grid that will be provided by the CIRCEM.

The CIRCEM will validate the final grade for each student in the course.

Throughout the research internship
During the research internship, students are committed to dedicating approximately 100 hours of work to the project (or approximately 7 hours per week). Students must coordinate with the designated supervisor to meet regularly to ensure the progress of the project. Students must demonstrate a high level of professionalism throughout the project.

Research Product
The professional designated to supervise the research internship will establish the expectations and criteria for the research report. This can take various forms (Word document, Powerpoint presentation, Excel file, etc.). The research report must be submitted to the internship supervisor by the date prescribed in the course outline.

Mid-term evaluation
Around the mid-term, students and internship supervisors will be required to complete the mid-term evaluation:

1. The student will have to self-assess using the evaluation grid provided.
2. The student and the internship supervisor will coordinate a meeting to discuss the student's self-assessment.
3. The internship supervisor will make the necessary changes to the evaluation grid.
4. The internship supervisor will send the revised mid-term evaluation grid to CIRCEM at the following email address: [email protected]. 
    

Final evaluation by the internship supervisor
At the end of the session, the internship supervisor will complete the evaluation grid provided and send it to CIRCEM at the following email address: [email protected]. 

Internship report
At the end of the project, students must prepare a short report for the CIRCEM management. This report will be part of the evaluation for the grading of the course. The grade of the course will be awarded by the CIRCEM management and must include the following documents:

1. a one-page description of the work performed.
2. a one-page evaluation describing the quality of interactions with the professional supervising the internship and a description of the skills acquired.
3. a two-page reflective text on the learning acquired and its relevance for the research carried out at CIRCEM: citizenship, citizen participation, care, immigration, democracy and political thought, biopolitical issues, minority and minoritized groups.
4. a copy of any research reports produced by the student as part of the internship.

Students must submit a copy of the research report as well as the internship report to CIRCEM via Brightspace by the date indicated in the course outline.

The CIRCEM will validate the final grade for each student in the course.

For any questions, students and supervisors can contact CIRCEM at [email protected]. 

The program is not offered during the summer term. During the fall and winter semesters, CIRCEM will call on potential host organizations to develop and host research projects for fourth-year social science students. A bank of projects will be set up and made available to students in mid-August (for the autumn term) or mid-December (for the winter term).

Interested and qualified applicants (see admission requirements) will then be asked to submit a form including their eligibility criteria (latest transcripts) and a letter of intent relating to the projects available, not exceeding 250 words in length. Each motivated person can identify a maximum of two projects, specifying his or her first and second choices. CIRCEM will then prepare a student list, taking each person's preferences into account.

The CIRCEM management will be responsible for the initial matching of research projects and follow-up with students. The host organization will have to approve or reject the proposed pairing on the basis of the registrant's file. Further interaction may be required to ensure a better match between the interests of the academics and the needs of the host organization. Once the match has been approved by the host organization, the student will be offered a place on the directed research course.

It should be noted that the number of internships offered over a given period may be less than the number of people interested. Qualified applicants who are unable to secure an internship in a given term will be able to apply for a subsequent term. However, students can only carry out one internship in their fourth year. Also, international students can participate.

Fall 2026 – Winter 2027

The following organizations (or partner projects) participated in CIRCEM’s FSS 4950 (formerly 4550) directed research course during the last academic sessions and are likely to participate again in 2026–2027. The list of organizations confirming their participation for the Fall 2026 and Winter 2027 sessions will be confirmed to students during the matching interviews offered to them after they have completed the registration form and if they are eligible for the course.

Association of Francophone Colleges and Universities of Canada (ACUFC) - (https://acufc.ca/acufc/#apropos): The ACUFC is a federally incorporated society under the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act. Its primary mission is to increase access to post-secondary education in French and to promote the vitality of the Canadian Francophonie.

Outaouais Interdisciplinary Social Law Clinic (CIDSO) -
(https://www.uottawa.ca/faculte-droit/droit-civil/cidso/a-propos): founded in 2020 by a multidisciplinary team of professors from the University of Ottawa and the Université de l’Outaouais, the clinic’s project stems from research findings showing the increasing judicialization of people living with mental health disorders and/or experiencing homelessness.

National Arts Centre (NAC) - (https://nac-cna.ca/fr/about): Canada’s National Arts Centre is a multidisciplinary and bilingual hub for the performing arts. As a presenter, creator, producer, and co-producer, it offers a diverse artistic program across all its programming areas—NAC Orchestra, Dance, French Theatre, English Theatre, Indigenous Theatre, and Popular Music and Variety – and nurtures the next generation of artists and audiences across the country. It also offers educational activities and events open to the public through the various spaces in its buildings.

ComPaS - Department of Criminology at the University of Ottawa (Sandra Lehalle) - The Department of Criminology and the Hull Detention Centre are currently collaborating to develop French-language training for ComPaS (Knowledge Sharing Community) course facilitators. The ComPaS course is based on the Walls to Bridges program, which has been offered across the rest of Canada since 2011.

Concilivi - (external https://www.concilivi.com/fr/north_eastlien) - Concivili aspires to be the leading organization in Quebec in the field of work-life balance. Our mission is to positively influence employers to implement work-life balance measures adapted to the new reality of work and the needs of employees.

Élections Québec - (external https://www.electionsquebec.qc.ca/francais/north_eastlien) - Élections Québec is an organization dedicated to ensuring the integrity, transparency, and reliability of elections and promoting Quebec’s democratic values.

Exeko - (external https://exeko.org/frnorth_eastlien)  
Exeko uses intellectual and artistic creativity to foster inclusive and empowering social change. Exeko offers innovative and collaborative approaches to create the conditions necessary for the inclusion and intellectual empowerment of individuals.

Fondation Dialogue - (http://fondationdialogue.ca) - Fondation Dialogue engages in a sustainable dialogue within the Francophonie and with all of Canada’s diversity through various means. To achieve its objectives, the Dialogue Foundation focuses on five strategic priorities: stable and diversified funding, visibility and recognition, programming centered on open dialogue, capacity building for its members, and strategic collaborations and partnerships.

Franco-Ontarian Youth Federation (FESFO) - (external https://www.fesfo.ca/north_eastlien): FESFO informs, raises awareness, and mobilizes thousands of young people to ensure that their voices and needs are heard by various decision-makers.

Institut du nouveau monde (INM) - (external https://inm.qc.ca/north_eastlien): The Institut du nouveau monde is an organization dedicated to increasing citizen participation in democratic life by contributing to the development of civic skills, strengthening social bonds, and promoting democratic institutions.

Lab22 - (external https://www.lab22.org/north_eastlien): Lab22 is a laboratory for social and environmental innovation. It aspires to co-create innovative solutions that will have a positive and lasting impact on the community. Lab22 is particularly focused on reviving an eco-responsible school in Quebec.

Quebec Network for Social Innovation (RQIS) - (https://www.rqis.org): The RQIS’s mission is to provide a platform for sharing and mobilizing knowledge and experiences in social innovation in Quebec. The RQIS serves as a hub, a developer of expertise, and a facilitator of knowledge sharing.