Towards a new architecture of knowledge: The creation of an office of community-based research at the University of Victoria

Abstract

This report by Dr. Budd Hall examines the development of a proposed Office of Community-Based Research at the University of Victoria through a 14-month participatory consultation involving faculty, community organizations, and Aboriginal community members. The report is grounded in the principles of engaged scholarship, knowledge mobilization, and participatory research. It challenges traditional views of universities as primary producers of knowledge and highlights the importance of co-created knowledge generated through partnerships with communities and civil society. Through surveys, interviews, workshops, and community dialogues, Hall identifies the structural, cultural, and ethical conditions necessary for effective university–community research partnerships. The report concludes that a dedicated community-based research and knowledge mobilization program can strengthen civic engagement, advance social justice, and support more inclusive approaches to knowledge production in higher education.