OFFICE OF ACADEMIC RESEARCH
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Official Launch: Office of Academic Research (OAR)

Yorkville University is pleased to announce the official launch of the Office of Academic Research (OAR) and its dedicated website, marking a significant milestone in the university’s commitment to developing a vibrant research community.

The newly established Office of Academic Research Website serves as the central hub for administering and advancing research and scholarly activities across our entire university community.

Recognizing that exceptional teaching is fundamentally enriched by cutting-edge research, the OAR is committed to nurturing a supportive and inclusive research environment where faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to engage meaningfully in research and scholarly activities.

The OAR acts as the primary liaison between Yorkville University and both internal departments and external partners, including research councils, industry leaders, professional associations, and funding foundations. This strategic positioning enables us to foster meaningful collaborations that drive innovation and academic excellence.

Priorities

Our office operates through three key departmental priorities that drive research excellence at Yorkville University:

  • Research Administration – Streamlining processes and providing comprehensive support for research initiatives
  • Research Development & Capacity Building – Enhancing research capabilities and fostering growth opportunities
  • Communication & Engagement – Promoting research achievements and facilitating knowledge exchange

Research Areas

Yorkville University currently focuses on three key research areas that reflect our commitment to comprehensive academic scholarship:

  • Scholarship of Professional Practice – Bridging theory and real-world application
  • Scholarship of Teaching and Learning – Enhancing educational excellence and pedagogical innovation
  • Research involved Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being – Honoring how Indigenous knowledge systems and pedagogies shape learning, support wellness, and nurture the collective futures of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners

The official OAR website is now live, providing faculty, staff, students, and external partners with comprehensive resources, funding opportunities, research guidelines, and updates on ongoing initiatives.

OAR launch
Matthew Dunleavy wearing a pink and purple polka-dot shirt under a grey blazer with red-framed glasses and a long reddish-brown beard smiling into the camera
Matthew Dunleavy

Senior Educational Developer, Faculty Excellence and Development

mdunleavy@yorkvilleu.ca 

Matthew Dunleavy (he/him) is an educational developer and scholarly teacher with over 9+ years’ experience. He immediately joins our CTEI from York University where he was an Educational Developer with the Teaching Commons; before entering that role, he served as the Program Director of the Online Learning and Technology Consultants (OLTC) Program at the Maple League of Universities (Acadia University; Bishop’s University; Mount Allison University; and St. Francis Xavier University). In 2022, he was awarded the D2L Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning by the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) for this work.