WUSC (World University Service of Canada) is a Canadian global development organization working to catalyze positive education and economic outcomes for young people, with a focus on women and displaced populations. WUSC manages the Student Refugee Program (SRP), the world's longest-standing refugee education pathway, which since 1978 has resettled nearly 3,000 refugee students to Canada through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program, working with 100+ sponsoring post-secondary institutions and 1,200+ volunteers.
WUSC seeks a Consultant (individual, organization, or firm) to conduct a national SRP Tracer Study. The purpose is to provide evidence of the changes the SRP has contributed to and to inform strategies for expanding the program in Canada. Objectives include examining critical factors driving positive academic, social, and economic outcomes for SRP students (with focus on extended financial support beyond the first 12 months of sponsorship); assessing short- and long-term changes for resettled students, families, and communities; investigating how different sponsorship funding models affect student success and program sustainability; identifying operational successes and systemic challenges; and formulating strategic recommendations. The study is national in scope, covers the program lifetime (1978-present), and analyzes data in both English and French.
Key deliverables: an inception report (methodology, tools, research questions, analysis plan, work plan); a draft report of preliminary findings; a validation/interpretation workshop; a final report incorporating WUSC feedback; and a presentation of key findings. The study will sample over 80% of the 3,000 SRP alumni (traced six months after end of sponsorship). Duration is a maximum of 8 months, expected September 2026 to March 2027.
Required qualifications: proven experience in social sciences/humanities, higher education, refugee resettlement or a related field; primary research methods (interviews, focus groups, surveys) and culturally sensitive research design; ability to synthesize findings for non-academic audiences; excellent English writing/communication (French a significant asset); strong project management; qualitative research experience (KIIs, FGDs, ethnographic observation); commitment to equity-oriented research; and experience conducting research in Canada.
HOW TO APPLY:
Submit a letter of interest; a detailed technical proposal demonstrating understanding of the ToR (consultant capacity/qualifications and relevant experience, proposed approach and methodology including ethical standards, gender equality and quality assurance, a timeframe/work plan, and team composition and level of effort); a financial proposal with a detailed cost breakdown not exceeding $50,000 (itemized consultancy fees, data collection expenses, administrative expenses, validity period, and expected payment plan/method); CVs of all proposed staff; names and contact information of three references; a copy of a previous report of similar work; and a consulting firm profile (if applicable). Accommodation requests may be sent to hr-rh@wusc.ca.
https://wusc.bamboohr.com/careers/367