CFP Succeeding in Africa: Social Construction in Action (South Africa)

Succeeding in Africa: Social Construction in Action
July 10 – 12, 2017 in Johannesburg, S. Africa

The Taos Instiute is partnering with the Institute for Transdisciplinary Development in S. Africa for a conference that aims to create the context for both large and small group dialogue with the intent to harvest new learnings about how people – together – across disciplines and in participation with local knowledges – can co-create innovative practices to address complex challenges successfully.

Much has been researched and said about Africa’s problems and complexities and what should be done. This conference’s focus will be on what has been done – successfully. We will bring African projects, from small to mega, from all contexts and disciplines, in the focus. These success stories are going to be unpacked to establish how collaborative, transdisciplinary relationships have enabled success.

Come witness the stories, from the African continent, of collaborative, relational practices and transdisciplinary approaches as creative and innovative responses to solving complex challenges.

This conference will offer you the opportunity to engage in both large and small group dialogue with the intent to harvest new learnings about how people together – across disciplines and in participation with local knowledges – can co-create innovative practices to address complex challenges successfully.

Call for Proposals Open Until March 15, 2017

Contribute and participate in this conference by submitting your presentation proposal illustrating how collaborative, relational and transdisciplinary practices have enabled you and/or your team to achieve transformative and sustainable success in a small or large scale project within one of the following critical focus areas:

  • Education (focus areas including among others primary education)
  • Infrastructure (focus areas including among others; water; electricity; science and technology that are environmentally sustainable)
  • Health (focus areas including among others combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases)
  • Economy (focus areas including among others SME development; entrepreneurial development; sustainable agriculture, high performing organisations)
  • Government (focus areas including among others good governance, stakeholder economic development, infrastructure development, poverty alleviation, education, sport etc.)
  • Culture (focus areas including among others fundamentalism and its effects on conflict and relationships; religion, race; gender)

Pre-Conference Workshops, July 8, 2017

Morning workshop: Social Construction, Relational Theory and Change Practices
Afternoon workshop: Stepping into a Transdisciplinary world

World Conference on Pluricentric Languages (Germany)

5th World conference on pluricentric languages and their non-dominant varieties
Mainz, Germany
July 13-16th 2017

The conference is organised by the Working Group on non-dominant varieties of pluricentric languages (WGDV).

The general theme of the conference is “Models of pluricentricity: Nation, space and language“.

This time the conference will try to focus on the influence of geographic aspects on the modelling of dominant and non-dominant varieties to further advance the understanding of whether geographically contiguous varieties follow the same pathways in their affirmation as own varieties as do geographically separated ones (e.g. European and Brazilian Portuguese).

You find all necessary information on the website of the conference.
All scholars working in this field are invited to submit proposals for papers/workshops by 28 February 2017

New CID Series: Constructing Intercultural Dialogues

Constructing ICD #7Recent events suggest that the world needs more people to listen to one another and to think about what they share rather than quite so many people ignoring one another, or making false assumptions about others. We must spend more effort promoting social cohesion (that is, emphasizing similarities across group boundaries) rather than leaving uncontested the frequent assumption that all cultural others have different agendas and share few of our values.

Intercultural dialogues are often assumed to require substantial effort in terms of organization, and to involve a lot of people having multiple interactions over a long period of time. This is certainly one model. However, many people have at least brief intercultural dialogues frequently, and easily. The goal of this new publication series is to invite a wide range of people to tell the story of a time when intercultural dialogue occurred, whether it was of the short and easy variety or the long and structured variety, providing models for those who do not frequently participate in intercultural dialogues.

In either model, intercultural dialogue is jointly constructed by participants, requiring cooperation to engage in new and different ways of interacting. It is more important to start from a position of curiosity and a willingness to listen than it is to undergo formal training (although at least some instruction or guidance is always useful).

Many of the people affiliated with the Center for Intercultural Dialogue consider themselves to be interculturalists. Many have lived and/or worked in multiple countries, speak multiple languages, and/or study intercultural interactions generally, if not intercultural dialogues specifically. The goal of this new series is to harvest the knowledge gained by this group and share it publicly.

To ensure consistency, all authors are asked to follow the same outline:
• Context – How did this episode come about? Who was involved, in what circumstances and location? What started the dialogue? Where did it happen?
• Participants – Since people have multiple identities, what are the cultural backgrounds that proved relevant? Provide some detail about the participants; for example, what language(s) were they speaking? What was your role in this episode? (observer, facilitator, translator, participant?)
• Description – How did the events unfold? Thinking now about what happened, what were the key parts of the process? Any interventions? Any sticking points?
• Dialogic features – What made it dialogue? That is, how was it different from ordinary conversation, what stood out as noteworthy that might be replicated in future?
• Lessons learned – What make it work as dialogue? What things could have been done better? What lessons would you pass on to others?

If you are interested in writing up a case study for this series and have previously published with the Center for Intercultural Dialogue, just write it up and send it in. If you have never published with CID, it might be best to first send a note introducing yourself, and briefly explaining what it is you would like to write about, receiving approval before you take the time to write.

As with Key Concepts in Intercultural Dialogue, this new series will not be subject to blind peer review, but rather will be accepted at the discretion of the Director. The logic is that these are not major research publications, but rather small notes intended for quick publication. No one is likely to earn tenure on the strength of such publications as these, but they have a different goal, that of sharing information rapidly and widely.

A few technical notes:
• These case studies should be based on personal experience.
• These should be written clearly using a minimum of jargon or technical terms, so that anyone can understand them, without quotes, footnotes, or references. Instead, the focus is on describing your own experience.
• Case studies should be 1-2 pages long, and will be edited and formatted to a common template prior to publication.
• Please use the section headings indicated in the outline above.
• On confidentiality: there’s no need to provide other people’s real names if that’s not essential to the story you’re telling.
• On copyright: authors retain copyright of their own work, and may publish in another format in future.
• If you have other questions, just ask.

These case studies will be published in English. However, given that translations of the Key Concepts in Intercultural Dialogue have received so many views, anyone who wishes to translate their own narrative into another language (or two) is invited to provide that as well, or to send a note explaining that it will follow. If you want to volunteer to translate others’ case studies into a language in which you are fluent, send in a note before starting, just to confirm no one else is working on the same one.

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and knowledge.

Wendy Leeds-Hurwitz
Director, Center for Intercultural Dialogue
intercult.dialogue AT gmail.com

NOTE: The series has now started, and is to be found under Case Studies in ICD in the top menu; a direct link is here.

Zhejiang U Job Ad: International Studies (China)

Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor/Professor in International Studies
Zhejiang University – College of Humanities and Social Science
Hangzhou, China
Expires: 16th March 2017

School of International Studies
The School of International Studies specialises in research fields and specialisations for the following areas: Second Language Acquisition, Pragmatics, Language Testing, Studies of Chinese as a Second Language, British & American Literature, Medieval English, Renaissance Literature, Theoretical Linguistics, Intercultural Communication, French Language and Literature, German Language and Literature, Japanese Language and Literature, Russian Language and Literature.

Qualifications and Requirements:
• Type A: The applicant should hold associate professorship or assistant professorship in a prominent international university, and have a certain influence in national and international academia with active thoughts. He/She should have the ability to make certain influential achievements in some fields.
• Type B: The applicant should be the outstanding scholar with excellent academic training. Principally, he/she should hold a doctoral degree or accomplish postdoctoral research of a renowned university or renowned discipline. He/She should have certain innovative research achievements with active thoughts as well as a great developing potential.
• The applicant is expected to be a proactive learner and work full-time at ZJU.

U Leuven Job Ad: Media Effects (Belgium)

Full time (assistant/associate/full) professor in Media Effects at KU Leuven (Belgium) at KU Leuven — University of Leuven
Deadline: March 15, 2017

REQUIREMENTS
• Ph.D. degree in Social Sciences or an equivalent diploma, with extensive expertise in the domain of Media Effects Research
• Excellent research record and very good teaching and training skills
• High-level international publications
• A vision on teaching in academic programmes

U Tübingen PhD Position & Postdoc: Comparative Social Policy

The newly established Chair of Comparative and Applied Public Policy at the University of Tübingen invites applications for two positions:

1. PhD Position in the area of comparative social policy or social rights of EU migrant citizens. In addition to pursuing her PhD project, s/he will provide limited teaching and research assistance.

Essential requirements:
• Excellent undergraduate and graduate (master level) degree (preferably political science or social/public policy)
• Interest and knowledge in the politics of comparative social policy research or migration and welfare state research
• Excellent intercultural communication skills.Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Excellent communication, presentation and writing skills in English and German are desirable.

2. PostDoc Position in the area of comparative social policy or social rights of EU migrant citizens. The PostDoc will contribute to the research within the research areas of the Chair of Comparative and Applied Public Policy. S/he will also be given the opportunity to develop and pursue her independent research and contribute to teaching.

Essential requirements:
• PhD in a social science discipline (preferably political science or social/public policy).
• Demonstrable interest and knowledge about migration and social rights.• Detailed knowledge of EU social policy, especially as it relates to EU migrant citizens.
• Experience of conducting qualitative research, including document analysis.
• Experience of managing research from the beginning stages through to publication.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Excellent computer and internet skills, including the use of online databases for literature searches: Endnote or other bibliographic software.
• Excellent intercultural communication skills.
• Proven ability to liaise with a range of different stakeholders.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent communication, presentation and writing skills in English.

Deadline for applications is 15 March 2017.

U London Job Ad: Sociolinguistics (UK)

Lecturer A/B in Sociolinguistics
Birkbeck, University of London – Applied Linguistics and Communication
Deadline: March 2, 2017

The Department of Applied Linguistics and Communication in the School of Social Sciences, History and Philosophy invites applicants for a lectureship with a track record and relatively extensive experience in the research area of Sociolinguistics. We would welcome applicants with expertise in the study of sociolinguistics in multilingual and intercultural contexts.

U Nebraska Job Ad: Identity & Difference

Assistant Professor, Rhetoric of Identity and Difference
Department of Communication Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Following a system-wide hiring freeze, the Assistant Professor position for the Rhetoric of Identity and Difference at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is re-opened.  In order to ensure consideration, new applications must be received by February 23, 2017.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Department of Communication Studies seeks a tenure-track assistant professor beginning August 14, 2017, focused in Rhetoric of Identity and Difference. We seek a humanities scholar, strongly grounded in the public address tradition of rhetorical studies, focused on the relationship between civic discourse, identity, and historically marginalized groups in civic life. Scholarly expertise may include, but is not limited to, rhetorics of identity, power, and difference in public argument, discourses of gender, sexuality, race, and class in contemporary political discourse, or the role of rhetoric in enabling and constraining the development of citizens’ voice. Candidates will be expected to contribute to the department’s interdisciplinary ties and connect with strategic research initiatives/priorities on campus, depending on research foci, e.g., Women’s and Gender Studies, Institute for Ethnic Studies, Digital Humanities, and Nebraska Public Policy Center.

Minimum Qualifications:
A Ph.D. in Communication Studies is required by the time the appointment begins. Applicants must demonstrate ability to conduct an active program of research in rhetoric of identity and difference, teach undergraduate and graduate courses, advise graduate students, and provide professional service.

Applicants’ research should complement the department’s scholarly initiatives aimed at understanding and explaining the role of communication in Civic Engagement (facilitating civic engagement, mediating public controversies, and organizing for social change), Health and Well-being  (constituting individual and family health, promoting healthy behaviors, and helping persons navigate relational challenges), and Identity and Difference (creating, maintaining, and challenging personal, social, and community identity in a complex and diverse world), and share the department’s strong commitment to the synergistic integration of humanities and social science scholarship. Candidates will be expected to contribute to the department’s interdisciplinary ties and connect with strategic research initiatives/priorities on campus, depending on research foci, e.g., Women’s and Gender Studies, Institute for Ethnic Studies, Digital Humanities, and Nebraska Public Policy Center.

New Zealand National Expedition & Internship 2017

New Zealand National Expedition and Internship Program

Massey University’s National Expedition and Internship Program is open to undergraduate students from any university wishing to study, travel, and intern in New Zealand for 6 weeks in June-July 2017. The program is organised by the ACEJMC-accredited School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing, and it begins with the two week ‘Image and Identity Tour’ which takes students across both Islands to delve into how successful the brands and images of the tourism industry are at capturing the attention of people new to the country and culture. The tour finishes in the capital city of Wellington where students stay to complete a four week internship working on real world problems relevant to their degrees in Journalism, Media Studies, Public Relations, Advertising, Marketing, Communication, or related areas.

Exploration of some of the planet’s most spectacular scenery, immersion in Kiwi culture, and engagement with key industry players are all integrated with academic coursework that is worth 6-8 U.S. semester credits. In-country transport, accommodation, and tuition are all included in the program fee, and you can learn more about the itinerary, academics, internships, and student experiences on our website or connect with us on Facebook on our ‘New Zealand National Expedition & Internship’ page.

Program dates: June 12 – July 21, 2017

Application deadline: March 15, 2017

Some of  your students might also be interested in joining the Creative Expression and Digital Media cohort – another track of the National Expedition and Internship Program open to students in Theatre, Scriptwriting, Creative Writing, Publishing, Media Studies, and Digital Media Production majors.

For more information, contact: Dr. Anna Greenhow, A.Greenhow AT massey.ac.nz or Prof. Frank Sligo, F.Sligo AT massey.ac.nz

CFP Education Theory and Practices in Challenging Times (France)

Call for Papers:
Education theory and practices in challenging times: Cultivating an ethos of social justice, respect and diversity
Angers, France
13 to 16th of June 2017
Organizers: International Association for Intercultural Education (IAIE) and Université catholique de l’Ouest (UCO)

The focus of this bilingual (ENG-FRE) conference is the dynamic interplay between various societal actors at a time when social and political developments across the globe challenge the very fabric of today’s multicultural societies. The conference aims to create an active and open forum for all who are connected to intercultural education and related fields, including theorists, practitioners, and students. The forum is organized under a series of strands:
Diversity in Education
Diversity in the Workplace
Migration & Mobility: Policies & Practices
Diversity in the Media & Arts
Social Justice in Health, Education & the Workplace
Religious Diversity & Extremisms

All abstracts should be submitted by March 15, 2017.