UBC Initiative for Student Teaching and Research in Chinese Canadian Studies (INSTRCC)

What UBC Initiative for Student Teaching and Research in Chinese Canadian Studies (INSTRCC) does

INSTRCC is a university research initiative at the University of British Columbia, established in 2003 and housed at St. John's College in Vancouver, BC. It engages and trains undergraduate and graduate students to conduct community-based research on Chinese Canadian histories, migration, and heritage, producing digital media content, short films, oral histories, and educational resources. The initiative operates as a portfolio of programs including academic courses (ACAM 390A field study, ACAM minor program, Cantonese language program, HIST 482/483/485), public exhibitions (A Seat at the Table, Chinatown Reimagined virtual exhibition), community storytelling campaigns (Fish Tales, Richmond Growing), field trip programs (Chinatown Existing), and publications (Gold Mountain Stories series). INSTRCC partners with more than 15 museums and community organizations, including Museum of Vancouver, Chinese Canadian Museum, Burnaby Village Museum, Richmond Museum, and Gulf of Georgia Cannery, to deliver co-curated exhibits and student internship placements.

The initiative's underlying technology consists of consumer digital media tools repurposed for heritage interpretation: augmented reality tablet applications, 360-degree artifact scanning, interactive migration maps, and digital storytelling platforms. INSTRCC does not charge for its programs or services and operates as a grant-funded, donation-supported academic initiative rather than a revenue-generating enterprise. Its funding comes from UBC institutional support, external grants (including SSHRC), and community donor contributions. With approximately 5 staff members, INSTRCC is structurally a small academic unit, not a commercial organization. In 2023, INSTRCC was integrated into the new UBC Centre for Asian Canadian Research and Engagement (ACRE), continuing its community projects under the new center's umbrella. The initiative has received multiple national and regional awards, including the Canadian Museums Association Outstanding Achievement Award (2022) and the Canadian Historical Association Public History Prize (2021) for A Seat at the Table.

Name

UBC Initiative for Student Teaching and Research in Chinese Canadian Studies (INSTRCC)

Legal name

UBC Initiative for Student Teaching and Research in Chinese Canadian Studies (INSTRCC)

Website

https://instrcc.ubc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

INSTRCC is a UBC academic research initiative that trains students to conduct community-based research on Chinese Canadian history, producing digital media, exhibitions, and educational resources in partnership with museums and community organizations across British Columbia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Cultural Heritage Research

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Historical Sites (71212)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAAFAD

Cultural, Arts & Humanities Community Education (Museums/Arts Councils)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Community & Public Education Programs (Libraries, Community Centers)

SECONDARYEDAFAJAK

Immersive Collaboration Classrooms (Multiuser VR, Social Learning Spaces)

Education/Education Technology (EdTech) & Digital Learning/AR/VR/XR, Simulations & Immersive Learning

SECONDARYMPADADAL

Educational & Instructional Nonfiction

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Documentary & Nonfiction Production

Keywords

• Community-based research
• Chinese Canadian studies
• Public history exhibitions
• Heritage education programs
• Cultural heritage preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

INSTRCC engages UBC students in community-based research on Chinese Canadian histories, producing digital media, documentary films, public exhibitions, and educational resources in collaboration with museums and community organizations. Its outputs include field-study coursework, virtual and physical exhibitions on Chinatown heritage, and community storytelling campaigns. The initiative has been folded into the UBC Centre for Asian Canadian Research and Engagement (ACRE).

Product overview

INSTRCC is an educational and community engagement initiative at UBC that operates as a portfolio of programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include academic programs (ACAM 390A field study, ACAM minor program, Cantonese Language Program, History courses), public exhibitions (A Seat at the Table, virtual Chinatown Reimagined exhibition), community storytelling campaigns (Fish Tales, Richmond Growing), educational programs (Chinatown Existing field trips), and publications (Gold Mountain Stories series). The MOV Backyard Garden serves as complementary outdoor programming. These offerings work together to engage students in community-based research, preserve Chinese Canadian histories, and distribute informative materials through digital technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ACAM 390A Field Study
• A Seat at the Table Exhibition
• Gold Mountain Stories Series

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Burnaby Village MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive-year collaboration since 2018 with student internships, project development highlighting Chinese Canadian history in Burnaby. Projects include smell stations, visitor surveys, interpretive exhibits on Chinese Canadian farmers, and digital repository development.
• Museum of VancouvercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-curated A Seat at the Table exhibition, activated MOV backyard garden space, student docent programs, and multimedia exhibit creation. Partnership includes public programming events and student-led tours.
• Chinese Canadian Museum Society of BCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint hosting of A Seat at the Table exhibition, collaboration on Chinatown Existing field trip program, and community engagement initiatives.
• Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese GardencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Chinatown Existing field trip program development, educational programming collaboration, and MUSE Society consortium.
• Gulf of Georgia CannerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFish Tales story-gathering campaign to expand Chinese Canadian representation, video series proposal for community-based storytelling.
• Richmond MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration since June 2020 to develop digital and traditional educational programming exploring Asian Canadian and Chinese Canadian stories in Richmond.
• Urban Bounty RichmondcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRichmond Growing social media campaign collaboration to showcase local gardeners and BIPOC food system stories.
• MUSE SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINSTRCC is a founding member of MUSE Society consortium with Hua Foundation, Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC, and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden for collective action in Chinatown.
• Punjabi Market CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPunjabi Market tour collaboration and documentary support for cultural heritage preservation efforts.
• Asian Canadian and Asian Migration Studies (ACAM) ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINSTRCC is one of the community engagement initiatives working with ACAM program, preparing students for community-engaged projects locally and globally.
• Asia Pacific Foundation of CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACAM 390A community partnership providing student internship opportunities.
• Vancouver Heritage FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACAM 390A community partnership providing student internship opportunities.
• Vancouver Island UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for first-ever summer global seminar to Vancouver Island (Food, Farms, and Funerals course).
• Cross Cultural Walking ToursminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCWT walking tour program in collaboration with cultural heritage organisations connected to Vancouver's Strathcona neighbourhood. INSTRCC students learn about cross-cultural community relations.
• City of Vancouver Chinatown Transformation TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Chinatown Reimagined project bringing together experts and community leaders for Chinatown revitalization discussions.
• Chinatown Legacy Stewardship GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Chinatown Reimagined community forum and virtual exhibition development.
• Wuyi UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Cangdong Cultural Heritage Month Academic Lecture Series and Kaiping tour program with Dr. Selia Tan.
• Cangdong Heritage Education CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeritage education collaboration in Kaiping, China, supporting roots-searching programs and cultural heritage development.
• Chinese Canadian Museum Society of BCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership on Lunar New Year #OurLNY2021 virtual celebration with social media giveaways and Chinese Canadian-themed content.
• PCHC-MoM (Progress with Heritage Chinese Canadians)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirtual storytelling workshops collaboration documenting family histories using digital media.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Museum of History: National museum with a Chinese Canadian heritage collection and broader migration programming. Represents the largest incumbent player in the heritage space where INSTRCC's content could be distributed.
• Royal BC Museum: Provincial museum with broad cultural and natural history mandate including Asian Canadian programming. Larger incumbent in the same BC museum ecosystem where INSTRCC operates.

Direct peers

• Burnaby Village Museum: Five-year INSTRCC collaboration partner developing Chinese Canadian history exhibits and student-led programming. Operates as a community-focused open-air museum with comparable educational programming.
• Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden: Cultural institution partner on the Chinatown Existing field trip program and MUSE Society member. Operates adjacent educational programming around Chinese Canadian culture in Vancouver.
• Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC: Co-publisher of INSTRCC's Gold Mountain Stories Series and fellow MUSE Society member. Focused on the same Chinese Canadian archival and storytelling mission in British Columbia.
• UBC Museum of Anthropology (MOA): Sister UBC institution combining museum operations with academic research and community engagement. Operates with a similar university-museum hybrid model and Indigenous/community co-curation practice.
• Chinese Canadian Museum: National museum dedicated to Chinese Canadian history and a core INSTRCC co-curation partner on A Seat at the Table. Shares mission of preserving and exhibiting Chinese Canadian heritage through community-engaged programming.
• Museum of Vancouver (MOV): Long-standing INSTRCC partner that jointly hosted A Seat at the Table. Comparable in producing community-engaged exhibitions and student docent programming in Metro Vancouver.
• Hua Foundation: Vancouver-based community organization and MUSE Society co-founding partner with INSTRCC. Shares the mandate of community-led Chinese Canadian cultural preservation and runs overlapping Chinatown programming.
• Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives (UBC): UBC-based research centre focused on Asia-Pacific issues including migration. Sister academic unit with overlapping research themes and similar university-anchored operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCA50j4p6sz2BH0NipO48XKw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ubc-instrcc
• Instagraminstagram.com/ubcacre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about UBC Initiative for Student Teaching and Research in Chinese Canadian Studies (INSTRCC)