Community Development

Research in Community Development is exploring approaches to creating social and economic change at a broadly defined community level.  In particular, scholars are examining the potential of  the community economic development, co-operative, and non-profit sectors, often in cooperation with the public and private sectors to strengthen our communities.  

North-South Cooperation in Community-University Engagement

In his role as Secretary of the Global Alliance on Community Engaged Research Professor Budd Hall is working with a coalition of international networks including the Global Universities Network for Innovation, The Talloires Network and the PASCAL International Obeservatory on policy developments in the field of community-university engagement. Read more

The Co-Creation of an International MA in Community Development

In 2009, the School of Public Administration at the University of Victoria and the Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA) in New Delhi, India embarked on a partnership to jointly develop and deliver an MA in Community Development-International. The experiences from this partnership are being explored by Assistant Professor Lynne Siemens and colleagues in a paper entitled "Creating the World We Want: The Co-Creation of an International MA in Community Development," which will be presented at the upcoming CU Expo in Waterloo, ON. Read more

Framework for Success in the Constrained Rural Environment

Many rural communities and their residents are examining the potential of entrepreneurship and small business development to create employment and sustain themselves as they face structural changes in natural resource-based industries which underpin their economies. In a recent article Assistant Professor Lynne Siemens explores the primary resources upon which a rural small business owner can draw to be successful in a constrained rural environment. Read more

Food security and sustainable local food production

Energy and food prices increases and climate change concerns are rapidly bringing food security issues at the forefront of communities and governments’ policy agendas.  Assistant Professor Lynda Gagné is working with local governments and non-profits on developing economic strategies and governance models that will support the expansion of sustainable local food production and contribute to increasing food security. Read more

Social Movement Learning

Professor Budd Hall is continuing a multi-year stream of work on learning in the context of social movements. He is currently working with colleagues from Edinburgh University on contemporary theory and practice of learning and social movements.