What is scholarly activity?

Scholarly activity is the process in which research or creative work is conducted, peer-reviewed, and publicly disseminated.

At SAIT, we define scholarly activity with the following seven criteria:

  1. has an impact on students (direct and/or indirect)
  2. results in output and leads to an outcome
  3. is measurable and observable (using quantitative and/or qualitative indicators)
  4. requires both knowledge acquisition and knowledge transmission
  5. requires critical review by a variety of polytechnic stakeholders (for example, colleagues, industry, academic experts, and the academic community at large)
  6. advances subject-matter expertise and/or pedagogical expertise
  7. contributes to a body of knowledge and/or academic discipline and/or industry practice.

What we do and the results we produce create concrete outcomes and impact our identifiable, long-term changes. Scholarly outcomes and impacts take many forms, which include but are not limited to:

  • publishing in books, print journals or electronic journals
  • presenting at conferences to academic groups, agencies, or industry experts
  • improving pedagogy or the implementation of improved teaching practices
  • having a new or improved product, technology, or process become an industry standard
  • having a creative work be recognized in its field by experts

Scholarly activity benefits SAIT researchers by increasing their expertise and visibility within their field. It also benefits the field of study by contributing to the body of knowledge. It helps student success by continually evolving our innovative applied education environment in teaching, learning and applied research.

Faculty research

SAIT proudly supports student success and advancement of knowledge through Academic Services.

From application to graduation, Academic Services provides services and resources designed to help learners reach their full academic potential, foster lifelong learning, and contribute to student achievement and retention.

Academic Services delivers academic core courses in communications, critical thinking, career preparation, leadership, ethics, sociology, psychology, computer fundamentals, mathematics, physics and statistics.

Academic core courses are part of the curriculum for most SAIT career programs and are designed to give students the fundamental skills they need to succeed.

Our primary objectives are:

  • engage in scholarly activity and/or conduct scholarly research related to SAIT's approved programs of study
  • broaden the range of research and scholarship being done at SAIT to be more closely aligned with Ernest Boyer's model, which includes applied research, discovery research, the research of integration, and the scholarship of teaching and learning
  • assist in identifying best practices in scholarly activity and research within SAIT's teaching-intensive environment
  • participate in developing SAIT's research strategy, ensuring the incorporation of a more expansive view of scholarly activity and research at SAIT
  • explore opportunities for collaboration within SAIT and with colleagues at other teaching-intensive institutions.

Academic Services faculty research profiles

The research and scholarly activity conducted by instructors in Academic Services reflect the nature of their backgrounds and the courses they teach.

The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree is an industry-recognized program designed to meet the growing demand for baccalaureate degree-level accounting professionals.

The BBA offers career-minded students the opportunity to develop the practical accounting skills and theoretical knowledge employers highly desire. Areas of study include core business and accounting courses, ethics, communication, research and more.

This program is designed to align with the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada professional accounting association. Graduates from the SAIT accounting degree will meet all the core business and accounting courses needed to apply to the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP) to become a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA).

School of Business faculty research profiles

The Bachelor of Science in Construction Project Management is a management-based course of study degree that will prepare students for leadership roles in the construction industry. The degree combines core construction management courses, specialty courses, and general education courses. Addressing the increasing demand for professionals in the construction industry, the program will provide participants with structured management and leadership techniques that will provide the basis for broader management decisions and on-site leadership in construction operations.

Overview of the objectives and research themes applied research program are threefold:

  • create and develop opportunities for multi-disciplinary research projects that address the challenges in all construction project management sectors
  • engage learners in applied research and hands-on activities in partnership with industry
  • position SAIT as a centre for excellence in construction project management.

Each theme addresses the needs and challenges of public and private sector interest in construction projects.

The faculty members of BSc CPM are currently working on identifying funding support for the following projects:

  • deconstruction and reusability of building materials in general construction projects
  • eco-efficiency strategies in construction project management using BIM
  • a CPM perspective for the performance evaluation of P3 projects
  • geospatial interactive application for effective management of material, machinery, and equipment in pipeline construction projects
  • developing an interactive Web-based geospatial application to manage the construction of water supply and habitat projects in conflict and post-conflict areas (case study Sudan)
  • developing a geospatial application for effective emergency response
  • life cycle assessment, reusability, and recyclability of building materials in Alberta
  • economic and environmental feasibility of reusing and recycling of drywall building materials in Alberta construction projects
  • a framework to maximize the benefits of using BIM through the life cycle of construction projects
  • a gap analysis of the use of wood building materials in Alberta’s major construction projects
  • a lightweight, sustainable, and earthquake-resistant housing design for northern Pakistan.

School of Construction faculty research profiles