Institute for Studies & Innovation in Community-University Engagement

Dean Peter Keller and Dean Mary Ellen Purkis, co-chairs of the Institute along with Leslie Brown, Director.

Charlotte Charlie and Maeve Lydon with Skip Dick, Songhees Elder at the First People's House.

Linda Geggie (CRFair) and Ken Josephson (Geography) at the Sharing Food and Knowledge Forum.

Graphic Facilitator Colleen Stevenson at a Vancouver Island Community Research Alliance (VICRA) meeting.

Professors Budd Hall (UVic-UNESCO Co-Chair in Higher Education, Social Responsibility and CBR) and Michael Cuthill from the University of Queensland.

Butch Dick, Songhees Elder and creator of new ISICUE logo with Leslie Brown, Director of the Institute.

Welcome!

The Institute for Studies and Innovation in Community University Engagement (ISICUE) is a new initiative at UVic to be launched on June 3, 2013. The Institute builds on the history and context of commitment by UVic to community-engagement embedded in the Strategic Plan. It also builds on the work of the Office of Community Based Research (OCBR) which was created in 2007 and became a major catalyst for community-university engaged research and practice, locally, nationally and globally.

The Vice-President Research has renewed UVic's commitment to support the evolution of the OCBR to new structures, which includes providing services through the Research Partnerships and KM Unit and the establishment of our new Institute for Studies and Innovation in Community University Engagement.

ISICUE brings the university and community together for the well-being of communities, nations and the world

Using an innovative structure of joint community and university governance and collaboration, the Institute provides a space for the study and practice of engaged scholarship and interdisciplinary innovation. Focused on engagement, the Institute will harvest new knowledge that will contribute to solutions of community issues focused on sustainability, public policy development and improved theory and practice.

Research, Collaborative Projects, Capacity Building, Network Development

  • Evaluate theory, methods and practices for community-university engagement and advancing the best
  • Affirm Indigenous knowledge production, partnerships and engaged research
  • Demonstrate community outcomes and impacts of societal benefit locally and globally
  • Co-create and apply knowledge between UVic and multi-sector community partners
  • Facilitate community-engaged research and learning experiences for students
  • Enable faculty and student community-engagement opportunities that otherwise might not occur
  • Develop and support local, national and global collaborations and networks

Governed and funded by both university and community partners, daily operation of the Institute are delivered by Staff in association with research associates, community partners and student interns. The Board will be equal community and university representation: Co-Chairs are: Linda Hughes – CEO United Way of Greater Victoria, Sandra Richardson – CEO of  the Victoria Foundation, Mary Ellen Purkis, Dean of the Faculty of Human and Social Development and Peter Keller, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Our staff

  • Leslie Brown – Director
  • Maeve Lydon – Associate Director, Programs
  • Maureen Duncan – Community Director

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