The Canadian Studies Research Programme at the University of Ulster began in January 2006. It was developed by a group of staff situated within the University’s Social and Policy Research Institute. In April the University sent a small delegation of staff (Professor Bob Osborne and Dr. Susan Hodgett) to explore possible collaborative linkages with Universities and Academics in Ontario Canada.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Foundation for Canadian Studies in the UK for this visit. The Canadian Studies initiative was unanimously endorsed by the university’s Social & Policy Research Institute Annual Meeting in November 2005.

 

Mission…

• To generate an interest and expertise in matters Canadian with a particular interest in Social and Public Policy.
• To benefit from the Government of Canada’s expertise in Public and Social Policy and Public Administration - particularly relating to Employment, Equity, Human Rights, Democracy, Multiculturalism, Managing Diversity and Peace and Security.
• To reflect knowledge on Canada within research and teaching at the University of Ulster and to disseminate this to a wider audience in the region.
• To welcome the broader local community and relevant organisations into events run by the programme and to work with others in areas of mutual interest.
• To act as a conduit for research expertise and information exchange between Canada and Northern Ireland.
• To extend the reach of Canadian Studies across Northern Ireland.

 Facilitating…

• Links with Canadian Universities with an expertise in Canadian and International Social and Public Policy.
• An expertise in the areas of Multiculturalism, Managing Diversity, Governance, Human Rights, Democracy, Peace and Security and Equity Issues.
• Joint research applications and publications.
• Academic and/or student exchanges.
• Doctoral Study or Post-graduate research relating to Canada, or Canadian issues and themes at the University of Ulster.       
• The promotion of teaching or comparative analysis on Canada and the UK and/or Ireland within the University’s provision.

Canada-Ulster Collaboration…

Collaboration with staff at major Canadian Universities including amongst others

• Queen’s University Kingston
• The University of Ottawa
• University of Western Ontario

Support from Canada…

The Canadian Studies Programme at the University of Ulster has been supported by:

• Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
• The Foundation for Canadian Studies UK
• The University of Ulster’s Research Office

 

Studying Canada at Ulster University

• Undergraduate Degree Modules with some Canadian content
• Doctoral Study
  • We have been successful in attracting Ph. D. programme entrants who have been funded to undertake studies of Canada within their own areas of interest.
  • Doctoral Study has been jointly supported by The Foundation for Canadian Studies UK and the Social and Policy Research Institute at UU.
  • The British Library awarded one Doctoral student a Post-Graduate Eccles Award in 2007 so facilitating study of the Library’s North American collection in London.
   

Research and Publications…

 

Recent Books

• Hodgett, Susan, Johnson, David and Royle, Stephen A. (eds.) (2007) Doing Development Differently: Regional Development on the Atlantic Periphery, Sydney, Cape Breton University Press. ISBN-13: 978-1-897009-19-2.

 Journals

• British Journal of Canadian Studies 19:2 (2007) - With Stephen A. Royle-
• Hodgett and Royle (2007) Governance, Culture and Identity in Contemporary Canada.
• Authors include
• The Right Honourable Beverly McLachlin, P.C., Chief Justice of Canada.
• Professor Fred Inglis, University of Sheffield.
• Professor Valerie Alia, Leeds Metropolitan University.
• Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, Mayann Francis.

New Research...

• Dr Susan Hodgett & Dr David Clark (Oxford & Manchester) are developing a research methodology in the area of multiculturalism, immigration and human development within Canada. Fieldwork was carried out in July 2007 in Ottawa and initial finding presented at The New School, New York City and at the University of Surrey.

• Professor JS. O’Connor has been researching - Precarious Employment: Comparative Perspectives with Professor Leah Vosko, York University, Canada. A comparison of developments in eleven countries in North America, the European Union and Australia is being undertaken.

• Professor Bob Osborne & Professor Carol Agocs (University of Western Ontario) have papers in progress on Employment Equity and Equality in a comparative context.

• Professor Arthur Aughey is researching UK policy on Multiculturalism and influences from the Canadian Policy experience.

• Dr Nick Acheson is working on an exploration of the Voluntary Sector in Ireland and    Canada and is working with colleagues at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.

 

UU Canadian Events…

Conferences 2005-08

• 'Canadian Perspectives on Globalization'
• Friday 9th December 2005
• Speakers

  Professor S. Neil Macfarlane, Lester B. Pearson Professor of International Relations, St. Anne's College, University of Oxford.

  Emeritus Professor Terry McGee, Department of Geography at the University of British Colombia.

• 'Diversity, Multiculturalism and Immigration: Lessons from Canada?'
• Monday 4thDecember 2006
• Speakers
  • Canadian High Commissioner to the UK, HE. Mr. Jim Wright.
  • Professor Keith Banting, Queen’s University, Kingston.
  • Professor Will Kymlicka, Queen’s University, Kingston.
  • Professor John McGarry, Queen’s University, Kingston.
  • Professor Naomi Alboim, Queen’s University, Kingston. Professor François Rocher, University of Ottawa.
  • and local speakers. 

• 'Area Studies and the Globalized World, British Library, London'
• Tuesday 27th February 2007
• Organising Committee - Dr Susan Hodgett (UU), Professor Phil Davies (British Library) and Dr John Canning (Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies).
• Supported by the Government of Canada
• Speakers
• John Ralston Saul (Canadian Pen)
• Professor Lord Antony Giddens (London School of Economics)
• Professor James Dunkerley (University of London)
• Professor Itesh Sachev (School of Oriental and African Studies/ British Association of Canadian Studies)

• 'Challenges to Globalism'
• Wednesday 21st February 2007 a Joint Conference with Queen’s University
• Speakers
  • John Ralston Saul
  • Professor Robert Wade (London School of Economics)

 

• 'Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue - Where Next for Public Administration in the UK?' - Public Administration Committee Conference, Stormont Hotel Belfast
• 3-5th September 2007
• Speaker
• Edward Goldenberg, Senior Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister of Canada, 1993-2003.

• Canadian Studies Research Programme (FORTHCOMING)
• Social & Policy Research Institute, University of Ulster & Centre for Canadian Studies, Queen's University Befast.
• "Governance, Administration and Democracy"
• University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Room 2F06, 1.40-5pm, Wednesday 20th February 2008

Programme

13.45 The Quiet Crisis in the Government of Canada: Demographics, Human Resources Policy, and Management Reform - David Johnson, Cape Breton University, Nova Scotia.

14.30 New Professionals and New Professionalism: Intergenerational Change within the Canadian Federal Public Service – Andrew Malloy, Cape Breton University, Nova Scotia

15.30 Private Neighbourhoods and Civility?: Hierarchies of Governance, Ecological Fractionation, and the Question of Alterity – Ivan Townshend, University of Lethbridge, Alberta.

16.15 Community development and the challenges of a bottom-up strategy: Rural Development Agencies in Prince Edward Island – Stephen A. Royle, Queen’s University Belfast.

• Canadian Research Seminars 2005-07

At the University of Ulster

• Professor Ailsa Henderson, Wilfrid Laurier University, 24th Februray 2006 - “National Identity and Political Attitudes in Canada and the UK: a comparison of Scotland and Quebec.”

 

• Professor Ralph Matthews, University of British Columbia, 8th November 2006 - "Social Capital and Sustainable Communities.”

 

• Professor Mike Prince, University of Victoria, 4th May 2007 - “Social Policy and the Politics of Differences: A Canadian Perspective.”

 

• Professor Bill Hunter, University of Ontario Institute of Technology 5th December 2007 - “Ending religion based education: the recent experience in Newfoundland”.

 

• Alan Trench, Research Fellow School of Law, Edinburgh University 31st January 2008 - “Ottawa does make a difference: the impact of the Conservative federal government on intergovernmental relations”.
• Professor Phil Davies, De Montfort University and British Library 15th February 2008 - “Canadian Studies, the Eccles Centre & the British Library – some of the opportunities.”

 

Elsewhere

• Professor Bob Osborne has spoken at Dalhousie University, University of Western Ontario, the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, the Quebec Human Rights Commission and Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.

   

• Dr Susan Hodgett has spoken at Dalhousie University, University of Ottawa and the University of Birmingham, School of American and Canadian Studies

News

• Visit of the High Commissioner for Canada to the UK - 3rd December 2006
• His Excellency the Canadian High Commissioner to the UK, Mr James Wright with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard Barnett.

 

• Delegation from the Canadian Senate -  23rd May 2007

• Led by the Honorable Noel Kinsella, Speaker of the Candian Senate
• Senator Dan Hays, Leader of Opposition
• Senator Lowell Murray, Ontario
• Senator Janis Johnson, Manitoba

 

• University of Ulster Delegation on board HMCS St. Johns at Belfast - 31st May 2007 met the

 

• Minister of Foregin Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Mr Peter MacKay and

 

• HE. Mr. Jim Wright, Canadian High Commissioner, London

 

• President of the British Association of Canadian Studies - Dr Susan Hodgett, Director of Canadian Studies at the University of Ulster takes office as President of British Association of Candian Studies on 8th April 2008.