Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships Program - Management Response Action Plan (MRAP)

Introduction

As the third evaluation of the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) program, this evaluation report builds on the two previous evaluations completed in 2014 and 2021. A targeted, rapid evaluation was conducted, covering the period from 2019–20 to 2024–25, to ensure compliance with the Policy on Results, assess longer-term outcomes, and identify lessons learned. The findings provide critical insights to guide the planning, decision-making, and implementation of the Canada Research Training Awards Suite (CRTAS).

While the Vanier CGS program has achieved notable successes and met some objectives, a recurring theme across both the Tri-agency Research Training Strategy and the Tri-agency Talent Evaluation was the need to streamline and simplify programming and processes. This was also noted by the Advisory Panel on the Federal Research Support System in its 2023 report. In response, and building on Budget 2024 commitments, the three agencies consolidated their scholarship and fellowship programs—including the Vanier CGS—into the harmonized CRTAS, launched in March 2025.

The lessons learned from this evaluation will guide ongoing enhancements to the CRTAS. In particular, the recommended actions build on work already undertaken by the Vanier-Banting Secretariat in data collection and monitoring and will further strengthen the CRTAS performance measurement strategy under development. These measures will improve the consistency and quality of performance measurement data, enhance transparency in reporting, and ensure systematic tracking of program outcomes. Collectively, they will drive continuous improvement and reinforce the CRTAS' alignment with its core objectives of excellence, equity, and impact.

The three agencies agree with the five recommended actions, and the CRTAS Management Committee will oversee their systematic implementation and monitoring to ensure sustained improvement and alignment with the suite's shared goals.

The Management Response and Action Plan (MRAP) presented below outlines the agencies' commitments to implementing these recommended actions as part of the CRTAS.

Recommended Action 1

The CRTAS needs to monitor whether the changes made to improve inclusivity, access, and diversity reduce barriers (e.g., targeted support for Indigenous trainees and Black scholars, application process for non-quota institutions).

Management Response: Agree

Action and Rationale Expected completion/
implementation date		 Responsibility for Action

The agencies will investigate, report on, and implement viable options to address existing gaps in the collection and availability of data to improve monitoring, evaluation, and public reporting of investments in research training, and the use of this data to inform and improve program design and policies. More specifically, key performance indicators will be defined and implemented in the CRTAS performance measurement strategy to track inclusivity, access and diversity among application and success rates among equity-deserving groups.

This includes:

 FY 2027-28 Chair of the Tri-agency Programs (Canada Research Training Awards Suite) Management Committee in collaboration with the Heads of Performance Measurement from the three agencies
  1. Updating the Performance Information Profile (PIP) for each agency's Talent program;
 February 2026 Chair of the Tri-agency Programs (Canada Research Training Awards Suite) Management Committee in collaboration with the Heads of Performance Measurement from the three agencies
  1. Refining the PIP for each agency's Talent program in the future.
 FY 2027-28 Chair of the Tri-agency Programs (Canada Research Training Awards Suite) Management Committee in collaboration with the Heads of Performance Measurement from the three agencies

Recommended Action 2

The CRTAS has retained specific design elements that posed challenges for the Vanier CGS Program (e.g., the quota and institutional review model). These elements should be assessed to ensure they are not limiting access.

Management Response: Agree

Action and Rationale Expected completion/
implementation date		 Responsibility for Action
The agencies support assessing program design elements to ensure equitable participation. Key actions will include assessing outcomes of applicants via quota vs. applicants via non-quota / direct applicants (including application data at the institutions). If inequities are detected, adjustments will be piloted to address elements limiting access. FY 2027-28 Chair of the Tri-agency Programs (Canada Research Training Awards Suite) Management Committee

Recommended Action 3

The CRTAS needs to establish performance baselines for the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship-Doctoral (CGRS-D). The Vanier CGS Program evaluation data can inform these baselines.

Management Response: Agree

Action and Rationale Expected completion/
implementation date		 Responsibility for Action

Performance baselines for the CGRS-D will be established to fulfill commitments under the CRTAS performance measurement strategy, currently in development, and will serve as the foundation for future measurement, evaluation, and reporting activities.

This includes:

 FY 2027-28 Chair of the Tri-agency Programs (Canada Research Training Awards Suite) Management Committee in collaboration with Heads of Performance Measurement from the three agencies
  1. Updating the Performance Information Profile (PIP) for each agency's Talent program.
 February 2026 Chair of the Tri-agency Programs (Canada Research Training Awards Suite) Management Committee in collaboration with Heads of Performance Measurement from the three agencies

Recommended Action 4

The CRTAS should ensure there is a mechanism in place to track trainees (including applicants) and link funding data across tri-agencies.

Management Response: Agree

Action and Rationale Expected completion/
implementation date		 Responsibility for Action
As the Tri-agency Grants Management Solution (TGMS) is implemented, the agencies will establish unique identifiers for all CRTAS applicants—both successful and unsuccessful. These identifiers will enable tracking and support data linkages to other Tri-agency funding programs. Implementing unique identifiers is essential for harmonizing data collection across agencies, including both secondary data (e.g., funding information) and primary data (e.g., survey responses). FY 2028-29 Chair of the Tri-agency Programs (Canada Research Training Awards Suite) Management Committee in collaboration with Tri-agency Chief Information Officers and ATIP officers

Recommended Action 5

The CRTAS Performance Measurement Strategy needs to include an end of award report along with 5-year follow ups as data sources to ensure availability of data for immediate, intermediate and longer-term outcomes.

Management Response: Agree

Action and Rationale Expected completion/
implementation date		 Responsibility for Action
The three agencies will implement the approved performance measurement (PM) strategy for the CRTAS to ensure accountability and enable ongoing program improvement. The strategy includes performance measures and data sources to achieve these goals such as: FY 2028-29 Chair of the Tri-agency Programs (Canada Research Training Awards Suite) Management Committee in collaboration with Tri-agency Heads of Performance Measurement
  1. End of Award Report
 FY 2026-27 Chair of the Tri-agency Programs (Canada Research Training Awards Suite) Management Committee in collaboration with Tri-agency Heads of Performance Measurement
  1. Career Survey: (5-Year Follow-up)
 FY 2027-28 Chair of the Tri-agency Programs (Canada Research Training Awards Suite) Management Committee in collaboration with Tri-agency Heads of Performance Measurement
  1. Career Survey: (10-Year Follow-up)
 FY 2028-29 Chair of the Tri-agency Programs (Canada Research Training Awards Suite) Management Committee in collaboration with Tri-agency Heads of Performance Measurement
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