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Visiting Scholars
Photo Credit : Shuana Niessen
Visiting Scholar from University of Exeter , United Kingdom
Dr . Fatima Pirbhai-Illich and Dr . Fran Martin
Dr . Fran Martin of the University of Exeter was invited by Dr . Fatima Pirbhai-Illich to come to the University of Regina as a visiting scholar for a period of 3 weeks from August 18th - September 6th . The invitation was extended following several meetings in Australia when Dr . Martin visited the Australian Catholic University , Sydney , where she was acting as mentor to a writing project , and where Dr . Pirbhai-Illich was a visiting scholar . Dr . Martin is lead academic for the Re-Place research group ( http :// socialsciences . exeter . ac . uk / education / research / groupsnetworks / re-place /) at the University of Exeter , within the Graduate School of Education . She has recently completed a 3-year Economic and Social Research Council funded research project " Global Partnerships for Mutual Learning ” ( http :// education . exeter . ac . uk / projects . php ? id = 450 ). Her interests in critical intercultural learning in post-colonial contexts , and critical relational pedagogies resonated with the work of Dr . Pirbhai-Illich ; hence the invitation to the University of Regina to learn , liaise , and explore the possibilities for working together . Time was spent during the 3 weeks familiarizing Dr . Martin with the work and mission of the University , meeting other academics in the Faculty of Education , putting together an application for a Canada - UK linking grant , and beginning to discuss plans for a larger Leverhulme application for an International Network Grant , involving universities in Australia and India . This collaboration supports the internationalization of the University of Regina and at the same time , as President of the International Chapter for the National Association of Multicultural Association , fulfills Dr . Pirbhai-Illich ’ s responsibilities of forging international collaborative reciprocal learning and research projects . We hope that this will be the beginning of several international collaborative projects between our two institutions .
Dr . Mere Berryman , University of Waikito , New Zealand
Visiting Scholars from University of Waikito , New Zealand Present Sharing Our Learning : Lessons From the Te Kotahitanga Experience
Through the administrative efforts of Dr . Larry Steeves , school division sponsorships , and university staff supports , Dr . Mere Berryman and Te Arani Barrett of the University of Waikato , New Zealand came to the University of Regina to present on the Te Kotahitanga Project , which is aimed at improving the achievement of Maori students in mainstream classrooms in New Zealand .
Many parallels could be drawn regarding the ways that mainstream education is failing Aboriginal students in Canada . Educational partners and faculty attended the presentations . The U of R presentations included a public lecture and program details by Dr . Berryman and Te Arani Barrett , and a presentation by Dr . Shauneen Pete , Faculty of Education . There are plans underway for more connections with New Zealand scholars .
Participants for presentation by New Zealand Scholars