The University of Calgary has been granted $500,000 to fund scholars to conduct study and research activities at the university through 2020.
The Queen Elizabeth Scholars Advanced Scholars (QES-AS) project will support a total of 15 doctoral researchers, postdoctoral fellows and early career researchers from Canada and low- and middle-income countries hosted by the University of Calgary. The total value of the project is $1 million Cdn. ($500,000 from QES-SA, and the rest in cash and in-kind from partners).
“We’re grateful for this generous award that will help us expand our international development capacity and international collaborations,” says Janaka Ruwanpura, vice-provost (international). “It greatly supports our international strategy objectives, promotes international co-operation, and enhances the international learning experiences for our students, faculty and staff.”
Program funds research and scholar exchanges across Canada
More than 450 researchers at the doctoral, postdoctoral and early-career levels will undertake global research projects at diverse universities as part of the new Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Advanced Scholars Program, contributing to improved global talent exchange between Canada and low- and middle-income countries. This expanded second round of the Queen Elizabeth Scholars program is possible thanks to a $10-million contribution by Canada’s International Development Research Centre and a $2.5-million contribution from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. The program is managed through a unique partnership between Universities Canada, the Rideau Hall Foundation, Community Foundations of Canada and Canadian universities.
Three UCalgary faculties collaborate with partners in Pan-Africa, Pakistan and Peru
The Cumming School of Medicine, Faculty of Nursing and Faculty of Science will host incoming scholars to conduct research in the fields of nursing, medicine, environment, science and technology. The program will strengthen international development partnerships and collaborations between the University of Calgary and educational and research institutions in Pan-Africa, Pakistan and Peru.
“The project is a result of the collaborative effort led by the international development team, with our international partners, and support provided by the vice-president (research) office, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Calgary International and faculties involved,” says Savera Hayat-Dade, director, programs and international development. “The impact that University of Calgary makes in the international development sector is a huge reflection of the efforts of our international partners, their knowledge, capacity and vision for the countries where they are working.”
Project partnerships and objectives
- The Faculty of Nursing will partner with the Aga Khan University, Pakistan in the area of perinatal mental health service.
- The Faculty of Science will partner with the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences to build capacity in mathematics and physics in Africa. At the same time, it will collaborate with Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Peru to undertake research on groundwater stress in Peru.
- The Cumming School of Medicine will partner with the Catholic University of Health Sciences and Bugando Medical Center in Tanzania in the area of improving maternal and child health, and specifically looking at reducing exposure to mercury and arsenic in gold mining areas in Tanzania. Their other partnership with the Aga Khan University will build skills for research and practice in cardiac sciences.
The project implementation starts in April 2017. For program information, contact Nalini Andrade, manager, international development at nalini.andrade1@ucalgary.ca.
