Tag: multiculturalism

U Montreal job ad

The Department of Communication at the Université de Montréal invites applications for two full-time tenure-track position as Assistant Professor in (1) Digital Media and Technologies and (2) Organizational Communication.

Responsibilities for both positions
Successful candidates will be expected to teach at all three levels of the curriculum, supervise graduate students, engage in ongoing research and publication, and contribute to the academic life and reputation of the institution.

Requirements for the Digital Media Position
* PhD (or near completion) in Communication or in a related field.
* Evidence of dynamism and creativity in teaching and pedagogy.
* Research interests and relevant research experience in issues related to contemporary transformations of digital media and technologies (social media, blogs, networks, microblogging, etc.), which pervade all the spheres of Quebec and Canadian society: for instance new forms of web journalism, the latest challenges facing communications industries, various challenges related to e-commerce, political activism on the Web, or the convergence of media institutions.
*Methodological competencies: candidates with an expertise in quantitative analysis (online surveys, network analysis, online interaction analysis, social statistics) will be given preference.

Requirements for the Organizational Communication position
* PhD (or near completion) in Communication or in a related field.
* Evidence of dynamism and creativity in teaching and pedagogy.
* Research interests and relevant research experience in the processes of organizational communication. Specifically, preference will be given to candidates whose research and teaching interests focus on one or more of the following areas:
– Communication in organizational change and innovation (strategic, technological or other);
– Relations between organizations, their external partners and other stakeholders (external communication, public relations, interorganizational communication, etc.);
– Issues of communication relating to multiculturalism, power, inequalities or diversity within organizations;
– The production, circulation and management of knowledge.
* Methodological competencies: candidates with particular expertise and interest in teaching research methodologies will be given preference.

For both positions, proficiency in the French language is expected. The Université de Montréal is a Québec university with an international reputation. French is the language of instruction. To revitalize its teaching faculty, the University is intensively recruiting the world’s best specialists. In accordance with the institution’s language policy, the Université de Montréal provides support for newly-recruited faculty to attain proficiency in French.

Salary
The Université de Montréal offers a competitive salary and a complete range of employee benefits.

Starting Date
From June 1, 2013.

Deadline
The complete application, including a cover letter, curriculum vitae, copies of recent publications and research, evidence of teaching effectiveness and a statement of research and teaching interests, must be received at the address below by
November 1st, 2012, for the Digital Media position
December 1st, 2012, for the Organizational communication position

Three letters of recommendation are to be sent to the department director at the following address:
François Cooren, Director
Department of Communication
Université de Montréal
P. O. Box 6128, Station Centre-Ville
Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7
CANADA
Phone: 514 343-7819
Email: f.cooren@umontreal.ca

Confidentiality
The Université de Montréal application process allows all regular professors in the Department to have access to all documents unless the applicant explicitly states in her or his cover letter that access to the application should be limited to the selection committee.  This restriction on accessibility will be lifted if the applicant is invited for an interview.

Employment Equity Program
The Université de Montréal upholds the principles of employment equity and welcomes applications from women, ethnic and visible minorities, aboriginals and people with disabilities.  Applicants who belong to one of these groups are asked to complete the employment equity identification questionnaire posted http://www.fas.umontreal.ca/affaires-professorales/documents/quest-acces-emploi-EN.pdf and attach it to their application.

Immigration Requirements
In compliance with Canadian immigration requirements, priority shall be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Esin Sultan Oğuz

COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITY

Esin Sultan Oğuz writes: “I’m working on developing multicultural library and information services for the British immigrants in Didim (-a sea side town in Turkey). For this purpose, between July and November I’ll carry on my post phd study in UCL Department of Information Management.

If there is anyone who is interested in this subject I also want to say in the near future I want to develop an EU project on this subject. Also I’m open for joint researches and projects as well.

The project description follows:

Developing Multicultural Library and Information Services for the Foreign Population in Turkey: A Project Addressed to European Immigrants in Didim

In recent years, there has been an increase in immigration to Turkey, mostly from Europe. Although the number of immigrants to Turkey is undeniably on the rise, there is no short or long term plan to integrate a multicultural library and information services into immigrant communities, thus necessitating the current study. Moreover, the international literature is replete with studies focusing on the integration of minorities including Muslim and Turkish populations into the European library system. However, research on the converse (integrating European populations into the Turkish library system) is virtually non-existent. The latter is especially important given the growing sensitivity with respect to the four cornerstones of multiculturalism—equality, tolerance, understanding and diversity. The need for an overhaul of the Turkish library system with the aim of making it more immigrant-friendly can no longer be overlooked given the immigrant ratio in the country. As Rasmussen and Kolarik have stated, the notion of equality implies equal access to resources and services available in the community. As it stands right now, foreigners in Turkey are at a huge disadvantage with respect to equal access to resources.

The goal of this project is to assist in the development of mutual understanding and tolerance among the various ethnic, linguistic and cultural groups in Turkey by establishing a framework for a multicultural library. Clearly, such a library would be conducive to cross-cultural exchange as it would serve as a locale where both immigrants, and Turks, could share their traditions, learn more about one another, and exchange experiences. Turkish multicultural libraries could also sponsor leisure activities, continuing education courses, and provide immigrants with access to useful legal information (the latter is especially important since there are no embassies and consulates outside of Ankara and Istanbul).

Didim, a small town located in southern Turkey near Aydin, has been selected as the location for this study due to its large European (specifically British) population. The number of immigrants in Didim has consistently risen since 2000, reaching a total of approximately 4000 individuals by 2011.”

Esin Sultan Oğuz, PhD.
Hacettepe University
Department of Information Management
Ankara, Turkey
http://www.esinsultan.info

Multiculturalism as a solution, not a problem

“German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently made headlines when she pronounced multiculturalism in Germany a failure. Shortly before, a Globe and Mail editorial argued that Canadians should eradicate “multiculturalism” from their vocabulary and refocus on “citizenship.” Multiculturalism isn’t just out of style, these statements suggest – it’s dangerous for building unity in increasingly diverse societies.

Unfortunately, both analyses are dead wrong.

Social scientists can measure multiculturalism in a given society by examining the number and content of public policies and government pronouncements around cultural recognition and accommodation. Such indices show that Germany is not, and has never been, a multicultural society.

Multiculturalism can’t have failed in Germany because it was never tried. Turkish guest workers and other immigrants were never welcomed as future citizens – only as temporary labour. If Germans are now concerned about the consequences, the blame certainly doesn’t lie with multiculturalism.

These indices also group countries such as France and Norway with Germany as least multicultural, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United States as moderately multicultural, and Australia and Canada as most multicultural.

Have Canada’s past practices and policies hurt attempts to forge common citizenship out of diversity?

Absolutely not.”

For further details, see the original article by Irene Bloemraad in the Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail.