History
HRPA launched HRRI in the mid-1990's as an independent research body funded through third party sponsorship. By the end of the decade, it became clear that this funding model was not viable and HRRI suspended operations.
As HRPA has matured, the strategic importance of its HR thought leadership role has grown. And the association has decided it is time to reconstitute HRRI with a new mandate and business model.
Mandate
HRRI will fund advanced studies in HR through scholarships. It will fund evidence-based research with practical application for HR professionals and it will award prizes for the best Ph.D. dissertation and Masters thesis in HR in Canada. It will assume responsibility for this last undertaking from the International Alliance for Human Resources Research at York University--first as the major sponsor and then for all aspects of the awards program beginning in 2011.
Over time, HRRI may also publish books, reports, papers based on research findings; and it may develop and market tools, such as presentations, videos, and study guides, to get its research-based knowledge into the hands of the practitioners who need it.
Governance and Operations
Though HRRI will still operate independently of HRPA, HRPA Board members will hold positions on HRRI's Board. Initially, to control start-up costs, HRPA staff will help fill operational roles. Leaders in the HR and academic community will be recruited to fill volunteer positions on the Board and its Standing and Sub-committees that will do much of the work of HRRI.
Funding
HRPA will provide HRRI with loans to cover start-up costs, but over time we expect the HR community to provide the bulk of financial support to HRRI. Sponsorship opportunities will present themselves, but HRRI will not depend upon them. A full-time fundraising director will be recruited.
Timing
It will take several months to get HRRI up and running. An interim Board has been appointed, by-laws drafted, but the full Board won't be in place until May. Committee job descriptions need to be written and positions filled. Documentation needs to be written, workflows defined, materials published. We expect that HRRI will fund its first scholarships this fall and first research projects early next year.
Next steps
If you are interested in applying for an award, a scholarship or a research grant, or if you wish to apply to serve on the Board or any of the Board committees, click on the appropriate link in the yellow box to the right. All enquiries will be responded to when we have the necessary information available.