UNESCO Chair in CBR Newsletter: July 2018

Cover Story

Community Based Research at the Canadian Congress 2018 of the Humanities & Social Sciences, University of Regina, Canada

The 2018 Congress of the Humanities & Social Sciences at the University of Regina, Canada was held from May 26 to June 1, 2018. The Congress marked the annual Canadian jamboree of academics from the many disciplines of the humanities and social sciences, ranging from Environmental Studies, Society for Church History, International Development, Non-Profit and Social Economy, Adult Education, Higher Education, Indigenous Education and more. Community-Based Research Canada (CBRC) and the Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education (CASAE) with the cooperation of the Community-Based Research Unit of the University of Regina joined forces on May 26th to offer a day-long workshop on the Promises and Perils of Community-Based Research. To read more on the workshop deliberations, click here: http://unescochair-cbrsr.org/index.php/2018/06/13/community-based-research-at-the-congress-2018-of-the-humanities-and-social-sciences-university-of-regina/ [1]

A copy of the presentation shared by Walter Lepore, UNESCO Chair’s project coordinator, at the workshop is available here: http://unescochair-cbrsr.org/pdf/presentation/Congress_Humanities_Social%20Sciences_K4C-MTP_WL_May%202018.pdf [2]

Dr. Budd Hall’s insightful blog on his reflections from the Congress can be accessed here: http://unescochair-cbrsr.org/index.php/2018/06/04/knowledge-democracy-and-the-canadian-academy-2018-congress-of-the-humanities-and-social-sciences/ [3]

UNESCO Chair Focus Areas

Knowledge Production & Mobilization

Societal Engagement in Higher Education: Pathways to SDGs

You can read the article on Page 25 of the report here: http://unescochair-cbrsr.org/index.php/2018/06/13/report-from-the-international-conference-on-sdgs-hosted-by-guni-in-september-2018-is-now-available/ [4]

Beyond Epistemicide: Knowledge Democracy and Higher Education

In his chapter, Dr. Hall pens his ideas on ecologies of knowledge, cognitive justice, knowledge democracy and the Community University Engagement (CUE) movement. For more details, click here: https://uofrpress.ca/Books/D/Dissident-Knowledge-in-Higher-Education [5]

This piece by Dr Hall is also available on the UNESCO Chair website, and you can access it here: http://unescochair-cbrsr.org/unesco/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Beyond_Epistemicide_final.pdf [6]

* To access more UNESCO Chair publications, click here: http://unescochair-cbrsr.org/index.php/resources/ [7]

Policy Advocacy

Living Knowledge Network(LKN) Conference, Budapest, Hungary, May 30- June 2, 2018

kind of training they have previously received in CBR, many of whom indicating no formal training at all. Read more here: http://unescochair-cbrsr.org/index.php/2018/07/12/living-knowledge-network-conference-budapest-hungary/ [8]

The presentation given by the K4C team at LKN8 can be accessed here: http://unescochair-cbrsr.org/pdf/LKN_UNESCO_Panel.pdf [9]

AESIS Conference, Ottawa, Canada, June 14-15, 2018

Read more on the AESIS Conference here: http://unescochair-cbrsr.org/index.php/2018/07/12/aesis-conference-ottawa-canada-june-14-15-2018/ [10]

The presentation given by Dr. Tremblay can be accessed here: http://unescochair-cbrsr.org/pdf/AESIS_Impact_Tremblay_2018.pdf [11]

SCRUTEA Adult Education Conference, July 17-19, 2018

Read more here: http://unescochair-cbrsr.org/index.php/2018/07/26/scrutea-adult-education-conference-2018/ [12]

More on the conference is available here: http://www.scutrea.ac.uk/ [13]

*To know more about the UNESCO Chair activities, refer to the ‘Programs & Initiatives’ section on the UNESCO Chair website. Access it here: http://unescochair-cbrsr.org/ [14]

Capacity Enhancement

First batch of Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) mentors under K4C graduates!

will serve as literary resources for the future mentors and also the university students who will be taking up the CBPR courses designed by the country hubs

Salish sea team prepares to welcome mentors to the region, as part of MTP 2

The K4C Global Consortium is designed to build CBPR capacity in both the global South and the excluded North. Our work within the Consortium is linked to the achievement of the UN SDGs. The residency for this cohort will be held in Victoria and Vancouver/Surrey, both communities on the West Coast of Canada linked by the Salish Sea and located on the traditional territories of the Coast and Straits Salish First Nations.

For more news on this front, keep visiting the K4C space on the UNESCO Chair website: http://unescochair-cbrsr.org/index.php/k4c-2/ [15]

* To know more about the UNESCO Chair training activities, visit the ‘Capacity Enhancement’ section of the Chair website: http://unescochair-cbrsr.org/index.php/category/capacity-enhancement/ [16]

In the News

CBRC webinar on ‘Why CBR is important for positive societal change- Towards achieving the UN SDGs’, August 22, 2018

Community Based Research Canada (CBRC) launched a three-stage webinar series in May 2018 on community based research landscape, led by global experts from around the world. The third and last webinar is scheduled to be held on August 22, 2018 on the topic, ‘Why CBR is important for positive societal change- Towards achieving the UN SDGs’. This webinar will be led by Dr. Budd Hall, Professor at University of Victoria & Chair co-holder, who will focus on the critical contributions that CBR can make to the attainment of the SDGs in Canada and elsewhere, and will also speak on the K4C Consortium. Read more about the webinar here: http://communityresearchcanada.ca/event/why-community-based-research-is-important-for-positive-societal-change-part-3-toward-achieving-the-un-sustainable-development-goals/?event_date=2018-08-22 [17]

The second webinar was presented by Dr. Crystal Tremblay, “exploring why CBR is an important mechanism for social change”. More on the webinar is available here: https://communityresearchcanada.ca/event/why-community-based-research-is-important-for-positive-societal-change-part-2-the-international-perspective/ [18]

Launch of the Community Campus Engage Canada (CCEC) network, June 20, 2018, Ottawa

The launch of the CCEC network brought together national NGO and research networks, community based researchers and engagement practitioners/staff from across Canada, higher education bodies and policy-funder groups. UNESCO Chair research director, Dr Crystal Tremblay is a member of the CCEC working group. Dr Tremblay was a part of the opening panel at the launch event, where she shared the global perspective on CCE and CBR and highlighted the work of the Chair. More on the event is available here: https://carleton.ca/communityfirst/2018/carleton-hosts-launch-of-community-campus-engage-canada/ [19] . More information on how to join the network can be accessed here: https://carleton.ca/communityfirst/cross-sector-work/aligning-institutions/join-the-ccec-network/ [20]

Now available: HEIRRI Training Program and Materials

The HEIRRI training programs are now available and open to everyone. Packaged in an informative and educational format, the HEIRRI training programmes present various different sides of the Responsible Research & Innovation (RRI) concept and are based on innovative and participative methodologies, following a “Problem-based learning” approach. They are designed for different educational levels: bachelors, masters, PhD, MOOC, Summer schools, train-the-trainers and secondary school teachers. You can access the training materials here: https://www.rri-tools.eu/heirri-training-programmes [21]

Just released: A framework for Engaged research; A How-to Guide

This guide is informed by an international literature review and a year-long national and international consultation (facilitated by Campus Engage) with over 350 researchers, policy makers, funding agency personnel and community partners. The Framework offers key reflective questions that correspond with research activities to reduce tokenistic engagement and advance co-created research. The guide can be accessed here: http://www.campusengage.ie/sites/default/files/resources/Framework%20for%20Engaged%20Research%20Web.pdf [22]

Now available: UNESCO REPORT on Issues and Trends in Education for Sustainable Development

This recently released UNESCO publication addresses Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), which empowers learners to take informed decisions and responsible actions for environmental integrity, economic viability and a just society, for present and future generations, while respecting cultural diversity. Topics include key ESD competencies and themes, policy, changes in the learning environment, teacher training, youth as lead actors, etc. You can read the report here: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0026/002614/261445e.pdf [23]

International Conference on Humanities & Higher Education, Nov 19 & 20, 2018

The Global University Network for Innovation (GUNi) will host an International Conference on Humanities and Higher Education: Generating Synergies between Science, Technology and Humanities, in Barcelona on November 19-20, 2018. This international meeting will debate the role of the humanities, and the interrelation between humanities, science and technology in the 21st Century with a special focus on Higher Education. More details on the conference is available here: http://www.guninetwork.org/activity/international-conference-humanities-and-higher-education [24]

A better measure of research from the Global South

Dominant techniques of research evaluation take a narrow view of what constitutes quality, thus undervaluing unique solutions to unique problems. Therefore, funders Jean Lebel and Robert McLean in their article (published in Nature) ‘A better measure of research from the Global South’, describe a new tool for judging the value and validity of science that attempts to improve lives. In this article, they argue for a fundamental change in the way applied and translational research is assessed. You can read the full article here: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05581-4 [25].

Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), Government of India launches Unnat Bharat Abhiyaan (UBA) 2.0 to facilitate rural engagement of higher education

UBA 2.0 is based on the idea that the knowledge base and resources of the premier higher education institutions of the country are to be leveraged to bring in transformational change in rural developmental process. It also aims to create a vibrant relationship between the society and the higher educational institutes, with the latter providing the knowledge and technology support to improve the livelihoods in rural areas and to upgrade the capabilities of both the public and private organisations in the society. Read more on UBA through the MHRD press release here: http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=178932 [26]

2018 SDG Index and Dashboards: Global Responsibilities; Implementing the Goals

The 2018 SDG Index and Dashboards report presents a revised and updated assessment of countries’ attempt at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It includes detailed SDG Dashboards to help identify implementation priorities for the SDGs. The report also provides a ranking of countries by the aggregate SDG Index of overall performance. You can access the report here: http://www.sdgindex.org/assets/files/2018/01%20SDGS%20GLOBAL%20EDITION%20WEB%20V8%20060718.pdf [27]

*To know more about what is happening across the world in the field of community engagement, community based research and social responsibility in higher education, click here: http://unescochair-cbrsr.org/index.php/category/in-the-news/ [28]

Talk by UNESCO Chair Holders at ACU on ‘Building Knowledge Societies to achieve the SDGs’

New Book on the Bloc:

Indigenous and Decolonizing Studies in Education

Timely and compelling, this Routledge publication features research, theory, and dynamic foundational readings for educators and educational researchers who are looking for possibilities beyond the limits of liberal democratic schooling. Edited by L.T. Smith, E. Tuck and K.W. Yang, this book helps define and imagine the exciting interstices between Indigenous and decolonizing studies and education. More on the book is available here: https://www.routledge.com/Indigenous-and-Decolonizing-Studies-in-Education-Mapping-the-Long-View/Smith-Tuck-Yang-Tuck-Yang/p/book/9781138585867 [30]

Meet the UNESCO Chair Holders @

Dr. Rajesh Tandon at the GUNi meeting of the Expert Group on Higher Education and SDGs, Barcelona, Spain, October 29 & 30, 2018

Read more about this event here: http://unescochair-cbrsr.org/index.php/events/guni-meeting-of-the-expert-group-on-higher-education-and-sdgs/ [32]

*To know more about the upcoming engagements of the Chair holders and the Chair’s team, click here: http://unescochair-cbrsr.org/index.php/events-3/ [33]