Alejandro Adem

Advocacy regarding the Government of Canada’s defence and research agenda, including policies, programs and regulations developed by the Department of National Defence, Defence Research and Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Advocacy regarding the Government of Canada’s innovation and economic development agenda, including policies, programs and regulations developed by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Advocacy regarding the Government of Canada’s health research and life sciences agenda, including policies, programs and regulations developed by Health Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Advocacy regarding immigration policies, programs and regulations related to international students, faculty, and highly qualified research personnel developed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Advocacy regarding housing strategy issues, policies and programs that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Advocacy regarding Government of Canada training, employment and skills policies or programs, developed by Employment and Social Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies, that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector with respect to their research and education activities. Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Advocacy to ensure that proposals to develop or amend federal legislation, regulations, policies or programs that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary system reflect the needs of universities and support research and education activities, including communication with public office holders in the House of Commons of Canada, the Senate of Canada and relevant departments and agencies. Activities related to the operation of U15 digital initiatives including Cognit.ca and SecureScholar.

Advocacy regarding the Government of Canada’s innovation and economic development agenda, including policies, programs and regulations developed by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Advocacy regarding the Government of Canada’s health research and life sciences agenda, including policies, programs and regulations developed by Health Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Advocacy regarding immigration policies, programs and regulations related to international students, faculty, and highly qualified research personnel developed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Advocacy regarding housing strategy issues, policies and programs that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Advocacy regarding Government of Canada training, employment and skills policies or programs, developed by Employment and Social Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies, that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector with respect to their research and education activities. Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Advocacy to ensure that proposals to develop or amend federal legislation, regulations, policies or programs that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary system reflect the needs of universities and support research and education activities, including communication with public office holders in the House of Commons of Canada, the Senate of Canada and relevant departments and agencies. Activities related to the operation of U15 digital initiatives including Cognit.ca and SecureScholar.

Support for new research and campus infrastructure. Increased funding and program design for various programs administered by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Funding or support with respect to international development cooperation (student and academic mobility, internships, research collaboration, exchanges, technical assistance). Discussions regarding possible research and development initiatives for, and investments in, partnerships with the University of Calgary. Discussions concerning potential research and development initiatives and investments related to clean energy, environmental research and climate change policy. Discussions about policy implementation regarding the academic visa process in support of international faculty recruitment with respect to changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. Budget bills in support of federal funding for post-secondary education, research, innovation, science and technology.

Discussions about financial sustainability measures for universities. Discussions about shared priorities related to universities including workforce, talent, and employment. Discussions on the Canada-India Talent and Innovation Strategy. Government of Canada - Universities Working Group roundtable discussion on research security. Discussions about artificial intelligence (AI) funding as it relates to universities. Student housing and community enabling campus infrastructure programs. Working group meeting to discuss academic contributions to the Defence Industrial Strategy. Immigration policies and programs related to international students and affecting universities. Discussions of education and international relations opportunities. Engaging in discussions on research priorities for Canadian universities. Discussions about research policy and programs, Canada-US relations, and their impacts on the post-secondary sector Discussions about international students, the workforce, and the benefits of a university degree. Discussions about the Global Excellence Initiative (GEI) and future funding commitments. Meeting to discuss science policy and programs, impact of Canada-US relations Recent policy changes and development of other policy tools including the Recognized Institutions Framework.

Working with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to improve visa processing times, the Study Direct Stream program, and lower refusal rates for international students accepted to Canadian universities Lobbying to maintain fair dealing for education. Lobbying for an explicit exception for charities, not-for-profits and/or educational institutions to Canada’s Anti-Spam Law (CASL). Increased supports for Indigenous students seeking to access post-secondary education. Harmonization of immigration policies with regard to the improvement of study and work permit processing to identify areas where policies and procedures could be strengthened. Engaging with reviews of existing legislation covering charities to clarify how they apply to educational institutions. Engage with Statistics Canada regarding postsecondary education and research data collection and analysis with particular attention to the University and College Academic Staff System survey and labour market information. Engage with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada regarding the role of universities in supporting innovation through the full suite of innovation initiatives (eg. Superclusters, economic sector tables, Innovation Canada, knowledge mobilization, digital research infrastructure etc.) Engage with Global Affairs Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and ESDC on the implementation of the government’s International Education Strategy – including the targeting and recruitment of international students and the design of the outbound student mobility program for Canadian students to study abroad. Engage with Department of Status of Women and Statistics Canada regarding data collection and policies/frameworks regarding student safety on campus. Discussions with Employment and Social Development Canada concerning international student mobility and internship programs. Discussions concerning federal budget priorities. Priority topics include: federal government's support for university research through the federal granting agencies and other government programs; support for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows; changes to the Canada Research Chairs program; university infrastructure; international research collaboration; knowledge mobilization; equity diversity and inclusion; cybersecurity; and expanding university education opportunities for Indigenous Canadians. Discuss effective strategies and programs to support student transition to the work place and access to upskilling and reskilling programs for mid-career Canadians with Employment and Social Development Canada, including the Student Work-Integrated Learning Program (SWILP) and the Canada Training Benefit.

Advocacy for investment in the Canadian energy sector. Advocacy to advance international collaboration to support sustainable development. Advocacy to support funding for higher education programs and research initiatives in the health sciences. Advocacy to advance Canadian leadership in key areas through long-term support for major research facilities and initiatives. Advocacy related to policies that impact international students. Advocacy to represent university interests in the allocation of land. International collaboration to support the reputation of Canadian universities abroad. Advocacy to advance Canadian leadership in priority areas, including artificial intelligence and defence, to support world-class research and the attraction and retention of top talent, including, but not limited to, specific calls for proposals. Regulations related to visitor visas to support international engagement. Support in principle for high-speed rail along the Québec–Toronto corridor and advocacy for the inclusion of a stop in Kingston. Advocacy to secure support in the budget for post-secondary education, research, innovation, and science. Advocacy to increase support for university research, including research funding and granting programs administered by the tri-agencies (SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR) and other departments and agencies. Advocacy to enhance support for university research mobilization and commercialization. Timeliness of decisions regarding Temporary Residence Visas in the recruiting of international faculty. Student assistance and financial support for higher education, sources of funding to be determined. Science and Technology Policy - Operating funding for major scientific installations and equipment from the Canada Foundation for Innovation. Regulations related to the provision of immigration advice (under section 91 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act) Military and Veteran's Health - seeking support for the national research program of the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health through Veterans Affairs Canada and the Department of National Defence. Maintenance and growth in funding for investigator-driven grants from tricouncils. Indirect Costs of Research Program - increase in support to levels of international peers, source of funding to be determined. Funding for infrastructure to support advanced research and teaching Funding for health sciences initiatives - Obtain federal funding to extend the value chain of cancer clinical trails in Canada. Sources of funding to be determined. FedDev Ontario Applied Research and Commercialization (ARC) initiative to support applied research and commercialization for SME-University partnerships

Discussions with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies regarding the role of universities in supporting federal innovation initiatives, policies and programs. Advocacy to secure federal support to develop and upgrade university infrastructure, including but not limited to research and learning facilities, digital infrastructure, and transit infrastructure. Advocacy to increase support for university research, including research funding and granting programs administered by the tri-agencies (SSHRC, NSERC and CIHR) and other departments and agencies. Advocacy to improve immigration policies and programs for university students, faculty and staff. Advocacy to ensure that proposals to develop or amend federal legislation, regulations, policies or programs that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary system reflect the needs of universities and support our research and education mission. Advocacy to enhance support for university research mobilization and commercialization activities. Advocacy to enhance student supports, including but not limited to Canada Student Grants and Loans, the Canada Graduate Scholarship Program, supports for Indigenous students, and work-integrated learning programs.

Advocate for place-based solutions to Canada’s biggest challenges, which support the region-specific mandates of public colleges and ensure local training needs are considered in policy development. Increase support to developing countries and other partner countries to build technical and vocational training capacity, strengthen skills development and education systems, and enhance Canada’s global education brand. Advocate for support for college-led research as a core component of federal research and innovation funding and policy. Discuss how colleges can support immigration programs, such as foreign credential recognition or international students, to meet Canada’s labour market needs, and share with officials impacts of policy changes on the college sector. Share with officials how colleges can support Canada’s training and workforce development needs to meet Canada’s biggest challenges. Share with officials the role of colleges and institutes in delivering high quality education for Canadians, and ensuring access to education for Canadians. Advance reconciliation through partnerships with Canada’s public colleges, institutes, CEGEPs, polytechnics, and Indigenous Institutes of Education. Promote the role and expertise of colleges in deepening Canada’s relationships with other countries. Promote the value of educational fair dealing in supporting colleges and institutes in their mandate to provide advanced skills and to enable them to better respond to the skills shortage. Increase investments and support to address colleges’ infrastructure needs to increase Canada’s training space and access in key high-demand fields that align with federal priority areas. Enable post-secondary institutions to obtain grants and loans to develop student housing projects, with additional supports for housing that supports students from vulnerable populations. Ensure Canada’s colleges and institutes have the necessary federal support to provide high-quality training for future healthcare professionals. Ensure the specific needs of institutions, including French institutions and those in minority linguistic communities, are taken into account when federal policies and programs are designed and delivered.

Advocacy regarding science, technology and innovation policy frameworks with a view to addressing climate change and enhancing Canada's research and innovation capacity. Enhanced supports for activities related to commercialization and knowledge mobilization of university research results Discussions with federal officials to encourage the development of a public policy framework that responds to the needs of post-secondary education and research. Discussions with designated public office holders in support of regulation development informed by research.

Social innovation projects to better understand Canada's changing social landscape Proposal to develop new science and technology funding initiatives related to institutional research strengths Canada's Science and Technology Strategy as it relates to financial support for Science and Technology initiatives Canada's innovation strategy and initiatives as they pertain to agriculture, ocean and blue/green economy opportunities in the post secondary sector.

Communications regarding federal housing policies and government initiatives to support student housing development. Communications with various designated public office holders regarding health programming and investments to further health research and population health outcomes. Federal Research Granting Councils (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR): 1) Communication with various designated public office holders to inquire on the status research funding programs; and 2) Communications to various designated public office holders to advocate for continued and increased granting council funding for the sector. Communications with various designated public office holders regarding jobs, creating skills development and work-integrated learning. Communications with various designated public office holders regarding investment in science and technology Communications with various designated public office holders regarding international education and to discuss policy changes to immigration that impact students and faculty. Communications with various designated public office holders regarding adaptation and mitigation of climate change, and other environmental policies. Communications with various designated public office holders for increased investment in sector infrastructure. Communications with various designated public office holders for increased funding to the Research Support Program of SSHRC, NSERC and CIHR.

Communicating with the federal officials on developing global partnerships, in education, in research and innovation, and in entrepreneurship activities 1) Communication with various designated public office holders to inquire on the status research funding programs; and 2) Communications to various designated public office holders to advocate for continued and increased granting council funding for the sector. (SSHRC, NSERC and CIHR) Communications with various designated public office holders regarding energy policy, innovation, and new technologies. (Policies or Programs) Communications with various designated public office holders regarding investment in sector initiatives related to Arts and Culture (primarily the antisemitism institute would fall under this category) (Policies or Programs) Communications regarding federal housing policies and government initiatives to support student housing development. Communications with various designated public office holders regarding health programming and investments to further health research and population health outcomes. Communications with various designated public office holders regarding jobs, creating skills development and work-integrated learning. Communications with various designated public office holders regarding investment in science and technology Communications with various designated public office holders regarding international education and to discuss policy changes to immigration that impact students and faculty. Communications with various designated public office holders regarding adaptation and mitigation of climate change, and other environmental policies. Communications with various designated public office holders for increased investment in sector infrastructure.

Advocacy related to university engagement in Canadian priorities in artificial intelligence, data systems and related computing science and energy subjects, including but not limited to specific calls for proposals. Advocacy for university initiatives related to Canadian priorities across the defence spectrum, including initiatives relevant to both Defence and Veterans' Affairs, among other federal departments. Advocacy to enhance support for university research mobilization and commercialization activities. Research security, with respect to international research partnerships Discussions with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies regarding the role of universities in supporting federal innovation initiatives, policies and programs. Discussions regarding research and development initiatives and federal support related to energy and environment, and climate change research, innovation, commercialization, talent and knowledge mobilization. Discussions regarding official language funding amounts and mechanisms. Discussions about the Copyright Act and details of its implementation in a post-secondary setting. Advocacy to secure support in the budget for post-secondary education, research, innovation, and science and technology. Advocacy to secure federal support to develop and upgrade university infrastructure, including but not limited to research and learning facilities, digital infrastructure, and transit infrastructure. Advocacy to increase support for university research, including research funding and granting programs administered by the tri-agencies (SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR) and other departments and agencies. Advocacy to improve immigration policies and programs for prospective and current university students, faculty, and staff. Advocacy to ensure that proposals to develop or amend federal legislation, regulations, policies or programs that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary system reflect the needs of universities and support our research and education mission. Advocacy to enhance student supports, including but no limited to Canada Student Grants and Loans, the Canada Graduate Scholarship Program, supports for Indigenous students, and work-integrated learning programs. Advocacy to advance Canadian leadership in priority areas to support world class research, talent attraction and retention, and knowledge mobilization. Advocacy related to reconciliation efforts, including but not limited to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action

Science & Technology Strategy - promotion of enhanced measures to increase research in science and technology Indirect Costs Program - support for enhanced provisions Increased support for commercialization of university research results Federal Research Granting Councils and agencies funding of research, academic pursuits, and publication or dissemination Centres of Excellence - promotion of increased funding for establishment of Centres of Excellence in research Budget - promotion of increased funding of research and academic pursuites