Led by Canada's federal research funding agencies, Dimensions is an initiative designed to provide a mechanism that post-secondary institutions can adopt to increase research excellence, innovation and creativity across all disciplines through increased equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI).
The Dimensions program will enable post-secondary institutions to increase EDI within their research ecosystems, and help foster transformational change at Canadian post-secondary institutions by identifying and eliminating obstacles and inequities experienced by marginalized and under-represented people. Increased EDI in the research ecosystem helps to support equitable access to funding opportunities, increase equitable and inclusive participation, and embed EDI principles into research design and practices.
Institutions can be recognized at the level of one of the four stages of the Dimensions recognition program, which are intended to reflect the journey of carrying out EDI work:
- Stage 1 — Foundation
- Stage 2 — Construction
- Stage 3 — Consolidation
- Stage 4 — Transformation
Dimensions is founded on the Dimensions Charter, which was endorsed by UBC in 2019. The charter outlines principles that institutions commit to, to foster increased research excellence, innovation and creativity within the post-secondary sector across all disciplines, through greater EDI.
As one of the participants in the pilot stage of the program, UBC has the opportunity to be among the first in Canada to be formally recognized by the Tri-Agencies for their efforts to advance EDI in the research ecosystem. In addition, the pilot-participant institutions helped co-develop the program’s design and delivery by providing relevant feedback to the Tri-Agency Dimensions team.