Research at the Leading Edge of Art + Design
At ECU, research-creation in art, design and media responds to the complexities of the communities we work with at local, national and international scales. Our faculty, students and staff engage in research that explores some of the most pressing questions of our time through creative, critical and community-engaged inquiry.
Practice-based Research
ECU supports research through coordinated access to facilities, expertise and research funding. Our community of faculty, students, visiting researchers and external partners works within a state-of-the-art environment shaped by advanced studios, digital labs and material-based innovation spaces that support practice-led and interdisciplinary inquiry.
Our research advances new insights and outcomes through of research-creation, material innovation and professional practice, leading to real-world solutions, high-impact scholarship and international collaboration. Research at ECU also expands opportunities for graduates to gain essential skills, research experience and advance their own research.
Student Opportunities + Collaborations
Graduate and undergraduate students benefit through direct involvement in research projects under the leadership and guidance of researchers and faculty supervisors.
Students have opportunities to participate in projects as Research Assistants with faculty, industry partnership and internships, and to explore their own research interests with the mentorship of our specialized faculty.
Research Office
The Research + Industry Office (RIO) supports faculty in every stage of their research. From supporting the development of grant applications, forging new partnerships and administering complex projects, RIO helps ensure success of ECU’s research community.
Along with ECU’s Research Ethics Board, the office also provides guidance on ethics compliance and promotes a thriving culture of creative and scholarly research at ECU.
‘23-28 Strategic Research Plan
The 2023–28 Strategic Research Plan sets the direction for research at ECU over the next five years. It establishes guiding principles, themes, and objectives that strengthen our capacity for innovative practice-based research and cross-sector collaboration.
The plan also outlines how we will expand training opportunities, build partnerships and align with national research priorities.
Our Research Labs + Centres
Our research labs + centres bring together faculty, students and partners to explore pressing issues through collaboration and experimentation. From sustainable materials and health design to media innovation and social change, these groups highlight ECU’s research strengths and create pathways for real-world impact.
Canada Research Chairs
The Canada Research Chairs program strengthens ECU’s capacity for socially engaged, interdisciplinary, and innovative research. Our CRC appointments attract leading faculty researchers to engage in high-impact projects across creative disciplines.
We are also committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion through our CRC EDI Action Plan, ensuring transparency and accountability in recruitment and renewal.
Partnerships
Emily Carr University partners with industry, non-profits and community organizations on research aimed at solving problems, providing valuable insights and new perspectives, and generating novel innovations. From sustainability and Indigenous knowledge to media innovation and social impact, our partnerships connect faculty, students and external collaborators to drive meaningful change
Whether through applied research projects, collaborative initiatives, or multi-partner research initiatives, ECU offers flexible models for real-world impact.
Useful Info + Links
Ethics + Integrity
The Emily Carr University Research Ethics Board (ECU-REB) promotes a high standard of ethics and integrity in research and scholarship. All university-affiliated research and scholarship involving human participants requires review and approval of the ECU-REB prior to the start of research activities involving participants.
Our research empowers new means of production, employment, creative and aesthetic expression, and culminates in a wealth of opportunities for our graduates.
Funding for Research
We are thankful to the government agencies that encourage academic research with funding opportunities through the Research Support Fund and Tri-Agency programs. Our researchers have access to SSHRC. Industry partnerships are supported by NSERC and NRC, IRAP funds. CFI and BCKDF funds have made research infrastructure available to our researchers and their project partners. MITACS provides opportunities for our students to collaborate with industry in research projects.
If you are interested in finding out more about research funding opportunities or are looking for industry partnerships, please contact research[at]stg-ecuad-staging.kinsta.cloud
Industry Partnerships
As an international leader in art, media, and design, Emily Carr University welcomes opportunities to connect our students, faculty, and network with external partners from diverse communities and environments.
We pride ourselves on a collaborative approach to learning that is co-created by our faculty and students. Our partnerships follow the same ethos: we consistently partner on innovative, cutting-edge research projects that creatively tackle today’s most interesting challenges.
Find out more about our partnerships here.
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