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Cambridge Canadian Studies Initiative (CCSI)

Cambridge Canadian Studies Initiative (CCSI)

Canadian Studies at the University of Cambridge

The Cambridge Canadian Studies Initiative (CCSI) was established in 2004 by an interdepartmental group of Cambridge faculty with Canadian links and research interests. Funding has been provided by the Foundation for Canadian Studies and the Government of Canada. The primary purpose of the CCSI is to promote Canada-related research and teaching in Cambridge, and to foster research links between Cambridge and Canadian institutions. It aims to create a new focal point for Canadian Studies at the University of Cambridge.

The CCSI was widely welcomed as reestablishing an institutional presence for Canadian Studies at Cambridge after the end of the Samuel Reichmann Fellowship in Canadian Studies, funded by Paul Reichmann from 1989 to 1999.

Through the work of Dr Michael Bravo and an interdepartmental committee of scholars with Canadian links and research interests, the new CCSI was created with the support of the Canadian High Commission in London and the Foundation for Canadian Studies.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the CCSI is to promote the development of research and teaching with Canadian content at Cambridge, and also to promote the development of productive research links between Cambridge researchers and academics in Canada.

The first step in this effort is to identify the Cambridge faculty who already conduct such research or maintain links with Canada. The 'Featured Faculty' page of this site highlights an initial sampling of these researchers.

The CCSI also seeks to inform the Cambridge academic community of the range of funding opportunities, awards, and programs that exist to help them develop their Canada-related research and contacts. The 'Funding & Awards' page of this site contains a list of such resources, many of which have been underutilized by Cambridge researchers in the past. The page also contains information for Cambridge postgraduate students who seek to study in Canada, and for Canadian graduate students who wish to study at Cambridge.

Ultimately, the goal of the CCSI is to establish Cambridge as a significant site of Canada-related research and teaching. By drawing attention to existing activity and creating opportunities for further development, the CCSI aims to make a long-term contribution to the vitality of Canadian studies and Canadian links at Cambridge.

Activities

The CCSI inaugurated its activities with a well-received public lecture on 26th May 2004. Thomas Berger, well known for his human rights advocacy in Canada and around the world, spoke to a large and diverse audience on the subject of 'The Idea of Canada in the 21st Century.'

The CCSI also founded a program of Postgraduate Traveling Fellowships in 2004. Under the program, Cambridge postgraduate students have visited Canada and conducted research. One of the aims of the program is to allow young researchers to develop lasting research links with Canadian counterparts.

The CCSI is now in the process of establishing a Visiting Fellowship to allow academics from Canadian universities to visit Cambridge and engage in collaborative research or teaching. When the program is in place, it will be advertised on this site.

Cambridge Canadian Club

Important cooperation has also taken place between the CCSI and the Cambridge Canadian Club (CCC), a student-run organization. The CCC has over 100 active members and a contact list of over 400 Canadians in Cambridge. The two groups have worked together to advertise Canada-related events at Cambridge, and a member of the CCC Executive Committee has joined the CCSI Steering Committee to provide an ongoing link between the organizations. A major annual event for the CCC is the High Commissioner's Dinner.





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