The 2009 conference is hosted by The Science Shop, Queen's University Belfast

Working towards the co-production of knowledge: Thoughts from a Community- University Research Alliance (CURA) involving urban aboriginal peoples

The CURA program seeks to transform the relationship between universities and community sectors by requesting applicants to develop projects including three components: 1- PAR/ CBR research; 2- education and training; 3- knowledge mobilization activities/ tools/ applications meeting both the needs of academic and community partners. Through attempts to integrate these elements into a genuinely equal partnership, it is hoped to

1. Impact more broadly upon the level of engagement of communities in universities and vice-versa,

2. Enrich the university teaching and learning experience,

3. Strengthen decision-making and problem-solving capacites in community settings and

4. Better prepare students to become active members of the knowledge economy.

The presenters will reflect upon the objectives of the program by sharing their experiences and perspectives in the process so far. They will highlight the strengths of the team as well as the current and future challenges of the project.  They will cover the following questions:

• What are the critical factors enabling teaching to bypass milieu barriers?
• How are the benefits of research partnerships presenting themselves?
• How do expectations regarding a partnership’s genuine equality and sustainability intersect with the co-production of knowledge?

Theme:

Knowledge exchange, transfer or exploitation?

Presenters Name:

Julie Cunningham, Coordinator and research officer for the DIALOG network

Édith Cloutier, President of the Regroupement des Centres d'amitié autochtones du Québec

Presenters Institution:

Institut National de la recherche Scientifique, Université du Québec;

Regroupement des Centres d'amitié autochtones du Québec

Presenters Biography:

Since 1989, Edith Cloutier has been Executive Director of the Val-d’Or Native Friendship, a community development organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life of urban aboriginals in Québec.  She is President of the provincial association of Friendship Centres, the “Regroupement des Centres d’amitié autochtones du Québec.”  Since 2002, she has been a member of the Board of Directors of the “Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue” and has been the Chairperson of that Board since 2006.

For the past 20 years, she has been actively involved in representing the interests of urban aboriginal people on different First Nations Boards of Directors, Commissions and Committees.  She has been awarded distinctions for her commitment and dedication to the cause of her people.   She is also a member of the steering committee of DIALOG and is the co-investigator of the CURA project.

Julie Cunningham is coordinator and research officer for the DIALOG network. Her responsibilities include developing knowledge mobilization tools, organizing activities enhancing the DIALOG’s researchers and aboriginal partners’ collaboration and connection, and ensuring the dissemination of various types of information in order to increase the overall integration and participation of the network’s members.

 In the CURA project, she acts as a facilitator between community and university partners and she documents the processes surrounding issues of partnership and co-production of knowledge. She holds a MA in Public Administration and Public Policy from Concordia University and a BA in International studies from Université de Montréal.