Month: May 2024

Queen Mary U: PhD Studentship in Linguistic Integration in Quebec (UK)

“Studentships“
Funded PhD Studentship: Linguistic Integration in Quebec, Queen Mary University, London, UK. Deadline: 24 June 2024.

Forming an independent project in its own right, this PhD studentship in applied linguistics or French (applied/sociolinguistics) will contribute to a broader Leverhulme-funded project on the ethics of linguistic integration in England, Quebec and Wales, by providing the empirical data on Quebec and contributing to the development of an innovative interdisciplinary approach that combines insight from applied/sociolinguistics and political theory/philosophy. Informed by theoretical debates on linguistic integration from these and other disciplines, your project will focus on the following specific research questions: a) How is linguistic integration conceived, practised and experienced by different parties in Quebec? b) What language-related expectations result from these conceptions and experiences? c) What is the relative legitimacy of these expectations when assessed against core liberal democratic values and principles (e.g. justice, equality, inclusivity, solidarity)? To address these questions, you will undertake a qualitative analysis of a broad sample of documentary materials in Quebec (e.g. legislation, policy documents, media debates, speeches, campaign pamphlets) and conduct (in French) semi-structured interviews and/or focus groups with policymakers, second-language teachers and adult immigrant language learners during a fieldtrip.

You will be based at Queen Mary University of London and supervised primarily by Professor Leigh Oakes of the School of Languages, Linguistics and Film. You will also benefit from input from political philosophy/theory through additional supervision by Professor Yael Peled of the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity and the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, and from participation in a rich set of group activities (e.g. four meetings per year, reading groups, conference participation, joint publications) involving the other members of the research team: Dr Huw Lewis (Aberystwyth), Dr Gwennan Higham (Swansea) and another PhD student based in Aberystwyth. This is a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, collaborative research project and a new generation of scholars committed to interdisciplinary approaches to the politics of language.

NOTE: The studentship is funded by the Leverhulme Trust and will cover 100% of home tuition fees and an annual tax-free maintenance allowance at the UKRI London rate for three years. Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is unfortunately only open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK home rate.

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 2024

EventsWorld Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, as established by the United Nations in December 2002, occurs on 21 May every year.

It “celebrates not only the richness of the world’s cultures, but also the essential role of intercultural dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development.”

On this Day, UNESCO would like to call upon everyone to celebrate cultural diversity, through which we will be able to build the intellectual and moral solidarity of humankind.

Audrey Azoulay
Director-General of UNESCO

UNESCO Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads Photo Contest 2024

Photo ContestYouth Eyes on the Silk Roads Photo Contest, UNESCO, Paris, France. Deadline: 14 July 2024.

The annual Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads International Photo Contest offers an exciting opportunity for young people from all over the world to capture their understanding of the shared heritage of the Silk Roads through the lens of their camera. As the visual arts, and in particular photography, are so often used by today’s youth as a powerful tool for communication and self-expression, images have the potential to play a significant role in raising awareness of the key issues facing our contemporary world and help promote peace and understanding. The photo contest provides an opportunity for young people to connect with one another in a digital space and share their creativity and vision for our future.

Organized within the framework of the UNESCO Silk Roads Programme, and in line with the objectives of the UNESCO Youth Programme, by UNESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector, the 2024 edition of the Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads photo contest is open for entries from 2 May to 14 July 2024. The Silk Roads are an expansive region composed of a network of maritime and land routes. Originating in East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia the Silk Roads cross the Central Asian sub-continent, the Russian steppe, the Iranian and Anatolian plateaus, and the Arabian Peninsula. They also stretch through North Africa and Northeast Africa, from Tanzania to Morocco. Additionally, they pass through Eastern and Southern Europe, before reaching France and the Iberian Peninsula.

The Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads Photo Contest is an opportunity for young people who live or have travelled within these regions to share their perceptions and further their understanding of the common cultural heritage and pluralistic identities emerging from the interactions and exchanges taking place along the Silk Roads. The contest encourages the use of photography to extend these cultural interactions and encounters in the contemporary world, to foster mutual understanding and promote peace amongst the diverse populations encompassed by the Silk Roads.

The contest is divided into two age categories: 14-17 year olds, and 18-25 year olds. For the 6th edition of the contest this year participants are invited to submit their photographs that best encapsulate the shared heritage of the Silk Roads the theme of “Life Celebrations”. The Selection Committee members will then examine these submissions and select the winners from each of the age categories. Examples of some of the very best photographs from the previous contests can be found here.

First place winners will receive a professional camera. Second place winners will receive a semi-professional camera, and the prize for third place will be a standard-model digital camera. Around 60 of the best photos from the contest will appear in a professional photo album “Youth Lens on the Silk Roads” and might be showcased in exhibitions held worldwide.

Friedrich Schiller U Jena: Intercultural Communication, Migration Studies (Germany)

“Job

Professorship in Intercultural Communication with a Focus on Migration Studies, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany. Deadline: 9 June 2024.

The applicant (m/f/d) should have an excellent, relevant doctorate in the field of intercultural communication, in particular from a social or cultural science perspective or in related disciplines (e.g. sociology, political science, social or cultural geography). He/she should be able to represent the field of migration research/migration studies with a focus on intercultural communication in an outstanding manner, both in terms of expertise and methodology. The fundamental willingness to develop a second focus in the area of diversity and social diversification processes in research and teaching compatible with intercultural research is expected and is a prerequisite for the tenure track procedure. He/she/they should show potential for successful international publication activities as well as for highquality teaching in our Bachelor’s degree programmes “Intercultural Business Communication” and “Intercultural Music and Event Management” as well as in the Master’s degree programme “Intercultural Human Resources Development and Communication Management”, including its international doubledegree variants. The language of instruction is primarily German.

City U Macau: Head of Office of Global Affairs (China)

“JobHead of Office of Global Affairs, City University of Macau, Macau, China. Deadline: 30 May 2024.

Job description: 

  • Assist the senior management in steering the development of the University in global affairs (mainland and international) systematically according to its vision & mission;
  • Responsible for the University’s global strategies, global education, study abroad and exchange programs, and the University’s institutional development and partnerships;
  • Liaise collaborations and partnerships with international universities and corporations;
  • Responsible for the management of University regulations, guidelines and procedures for establishing global partnerships, exchange programs, academic research collaborations;
  • Responsible for the coordination of the university’s external exchange resources, effectively implement and manage agreements and MOUs, dual/joint programs, student or academic exchanges, alliances and activities with external entities;
  • Managing University’s “Global Consortium of Metropolitan Universities”;
  • Responsible for international visits by university delegations;
  • Responsible for other University affairs as assigned.

UNESCO International Forum on the Futures of Education 2024 (Republic of Korea)

EventsUNESCO International Forum on the Futures of Education, Suwon – Gyeonggido, Republic of Korea, 2-4 December 2024.

(So far, very little information is available describing this event, beyond the announcement of the date, and that it will be in person rather than online. What has been published is information about what has led to the event.)

In November 2021, the International Commission on the Futures of Education issued a report titled “Reimagining our futures together: A new social contract for education” following a two-year worldwide consultation and reflection facilitated by UNESCO. This Center was one of the organizations consulted; see the report of our conclusions. Basically we argued that they needed to include intercultural dialogue as one of their goals.

CID Poster 14: 10 Ideas

The full UNESCO report, Reimagining our Futures Together, is available as well.

CIDOB: Programa Talent Global 2024 (Spain)

Fellowships

Programa Talent Global Junior Visiting Fellowships, Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB), Barcelona, Spain. Deadline: 30 June 2024.

The Banco Sabadell Foundation and CIDOB (Barcelona Center for International Affairs) launch the fourth edition of the Programa Talent Global with the aim of promoting quality research by young researchers, through a paid research stay and two awards for applied research. The “Junior Visiting Fellowship” seeks a young researcher of up to 30 years old who has demonstrated their research capacities to join CIDOB’s research team for a six-month paid research stay.

Themes
– Technological revolutions and their impact on international relations
– Challenges in sustainable development, climate change and global inequality
– New global geopolitical dynamics
– Geoeconomics and trade relations
– Gender and international relations

CFP International Review of Sociology: Precarity and Peacebuilding

“Publication

Call for papers for a special issue of the International Journal of Sociology on Precarity and Peacebuilding: Sociological Insights into Global Challenges and Local Responses. Deadline: abstract only, 30 May 2024.

Special issue editor:
Tamanna M. Shah (Ohio University)

The concept of precarity, primarily examined within the economic and labor domains, symbolizes the instability and vulnerability faced by individuals and communities across various societal dimensions. This special issue aims to reframe precarity within the sociological discourse of peacebuilding, exploring how precarity not only influences but also intersects with efforts to build peace in regions marred by conflict and instability. It aims to extend the conversation beyond economic conditions to include cultural, political, and social factors that contribute to precarity and impact peacebuilding processes. The issue is motivated by an understanding that precarity transcends geographical and cultural boundaries, presenting a global challenge that requires sociological insight and innovative policy responses.

This special issue calls for submissions that unpack the complex dynamics of conflict, peace, and instability through a sociological lens. It will examine existing policies and social movements, identify best practices, and explore innovative approaches to peacebuilding to make recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and civil society actors working in conflict-affected areas. These recommendations may include policy reforms, grassroots initiatives, community-based interventions, and advocacy campaigns aimed at addressing the root causes of conflict, promoting dialogue and reconciliation, and building sustainable peace from the ground up. By situating the discussion within varied geopolitical contexts – from armed conflicts and political violence to economic crises and social unrest – this issue aims to contribute to positive social change, enhance resilience, and promote peace and stability in precarious contexts around the world.

Marjorie Boulton Fellowships 2024 (USA)

FellowshipsMarjorie Boulton Fellowships, Esperantic Studies Foundation, Washington, DC. Deadline: 1 June 2024.

The Esperantic Studies Foundation (ESF) announces its 2024 competition for research fellowships in all fields of the humanities and social sciences, particularly as they relate to interlinguistics, linguistic justice, intercultural communication, Esperanto, and related phenomena. Interdisciplinary work is welcome, and primary disciplines might include, but are not limited to, linguistics, sociology, history, anthropology, communication, or media studies. Open to candidates worldwide, with a preference for candidates in North America and the global south, the fellowships may be held concurrently with other awards or fellowships and are non-renewable. These fellowships honor the legacy of the late Marjorie Boulton, a prolific author of plays, poems, and prose in Esperanto. ESF, a non-profit organization that works for linguistic justice on a global scale, values inclusion and diversity. ESF does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, language, national origin, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation or gender expression.

Awards of $10,000 USD may be given in each of two categories: Doctoral and Post-doctoral research. See below for eligibility requirements.

Category 1. Doctoral Research for students engaged in or about to begin their doctoral dissertations. Eligibility: Applicants must be admitted to candidacy for a research doctoral degree at an accredited university, in good standing in their programs, and considering or embarked on an original research project that will make a significant contribution to the field.

Category 2. Post-doctoral Research for scholars who have recently completed their dissertations, to support related research and publication. Eligibility: Applicants must be no more than five years beyond receiving the Ph.D and propose an original, significant research project; it can be either an extension of the dissertation or a new program of research.

CID Competition/Publication: Student Voices (Deadline June 2024)

“Student Voices

The Center for Intercultural Dialogue invites students to apply for the opportunity to be published in Student Voices.

Students (at any level, high school to doctoral students) may submit entries at any time; they will be judged several times a year. All entries submitted will be reviewed, and the best ones prepared for publication. This is not a competition with just a few winners; all entries passing review will be published. The students whose work is accepted for publication will be given profiles on the website. The first winner’s essay was published in September 2023: Rohak Jain, a high school student at Interlake High School in Belleview, wrote The Virtues of an Open Mind: Making Room for Flexibility in Intercultural Dialogue.

The goal of the competition is to invite a wide range of students to tell the story of their own experience with intercultural dialogue, or what they have learned about intercultural dialogue, or what they want to share with others. As made clear on our website, intercultural dialogue is jointly constructed by participants, requiring cooperation to engage in new and different ways of interacting. This series is designed to publicly amplify the voices of students who have engaged in intercultural dialogues. Those dialogues do not have to have been successful; we can learn as much from things that go wrong as when things go right.

You may describe a time when intercultural dialogue occurred, providing a model for those who do not frequently participate in such dialogues, or write a letter to the editor arguing for the inclusion of training for intercultural dialogues in education; you may explain how to facilitate digital intercultural dialogues based on either personal experience, or write an opinion piece explaining what changes when intercultural dialogue is the norm rather than conflict. Think about the following as beginning points:

Consider a time when you noticed cultural differences.

  • How were the differences resolved?
  • What impact did this have on you?
  • Did it matter whether this was face-to-face communication or digital?
  • What lessons did you learn?
  • What would you do differently in future?
  • What advice do you have for others?

Each student can select their own topic to write about, however, it must emphasize intercultural dialogue. The context framing the dialogue discussed can include: family, friends, or relationships; the economy; education; politics, etc.

Potential formats can include: the narrative of a personal experience; a letter to the editor, an op-ed piece for a newspaper; a letter to someone; a short essay. Whatever the format, these should be written (as opposed to filmed, or recorded). If anyone wishes to include images (sketches, diagrams, cartoons) accompanying the text, that would be great. But what you write should be brief, no more than 2 pages in length.

As with all publications on this site, accepted submissions will be made available for free as printable PDFs which can be downloaded, printed, and shared (as is, without changes), without cost, so long as there is acknowledgment of the source.

Criteria for acceptance:
• Clear descriptive title
• On topic
• Clearly articulated thesis
• Original and creative thinking
• Good writing

There will be several deadlines per year, to accommodate different schedules. The next deadline is June 30, 2024.

Essays should be submitted in English. Anyone wishing to also publish a translation in another language should say so. Students retain copyright to their own work but give CID the right to publish it for them. Submissions should be in the form of a Word document, and sent to the CID email.