First Annual Undergraduate GDS Conference: Critical Perspectives on Colonialism and Development in Postcolonial Societies

The first undergraduate Global Development Studies (GDS) conference was a lively and enriching event, featuring insightful student presentations, a remarkable keynote address, and a delightful coffee and snack break. The conference brought together UVic students eager to exchange knowledge and engage in scholarly discussions across the Humanities, Law, and Social Sciences, all with an interdisciplinary approach to studying global development.

The event thoughtfully reflected on the impacts of colonialism and its ongoing iterations in the postcolonial period, exploring themes such as human rights, globalization, neocolonialism, and environmental issues. Research papers and poster presentations, both in-progress and completed, focused on the experiences and daily lives of enslaved and colonized peoples, as well as postcolonial societies, contributing to and expanding existing knowledge on global development. Participants were also encouraged to explore other themes related to the (post)colonial world.

The gathering was a fun and engaging experience that fostered meaningful academic connections and a shared passion for global development studies.

students that presented and the acting director, Jutta Gutberlet, looking and smiling at the camera.