When asked what was most productive or valuable about this program, our 2023-2024 cohort had some great feedback to share:
The policy perspective has always been missing in my academic training. GAP provided me with such a unique and invaluable opportunity to gain relevant training!
Being able to hear from different perspectives about how policy is developed. I especially liked hearing from people who work in government, as it gave me a sense of what their priorities are, and the type of information they are looking for.
The most valuable part of this program is that I met some people who are smart and passionate about their work. I was very impressed and encouraged by my cohort.
The advice of the expert presenters.
Some recent participants sent in testimonials to share highlights from their participation in this program. Read more about their experiences below!
The GAP program has truly been a transformative experience for me. It has opened up new doors for my research and provided me with valuable insights into evidence-based policy practices in Canadian settings. Working alongside passionate lecturers and cohort students has allowed me to see the potential impact of my research in ways I never thought possible. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a dynamic and supportive learning environment.
- Ziyue Wang, PhD candidate, Department of Family Medicine, 2023-2024 GAP cohort
The Graduate Award Program was an exceptionally useful opportunity to learn and apply the skills needed to bridge the gap between research and practice. Policy-oriented communication is an invaluable skill, and I'm grateful to this program for fostering its development in myself!
- Anonymous participant
I loved the GAP program, it was thought-provoking and gave me direction as to how to make my research more policy relevant, when it seemed like a hard-to-navigate space prior. It was a nice blend of theory and practical approaches; I particularly enjoyed the concrete resources that were given/shared by the presenters (eg, websites, organizations etc.) that can be first steps in our own projects. I liked the workshops and the discussions with my peers.
- Anonymous participant
I think this was a great program that should almost be mandatory for every student, regardless of their research topic!
- Anonymous participant