'Glocal' Event to Focus on Communication, Social Change
May 21, 2014 - News Release
Middle East video activism. Women and community radio in Bangladesh. Activism and climate change.
These and other topics will be highlighted during the “Guelph Seminar on Communication for Social and Environmental Change” being held this week at the University of Guelph.
Billed as a “global classroom,” the event will bring together experts from Canada and abroad to discuss communication forums from radio to new media in promoting human rights, social justice and sustainable development.
This global gathering – the second of four seminars being held around the world this year -- will take place May 22-23 on the Guelph campus.
“You’ve heard of the global university. This is the 'glocal' classroom,” said co-organizer Prof. Helen Hambly, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD).
The event will feature a live webcast and broadcast of seminar sessions to local and international audiences.
Participants will include experts from Guelph and three partner institutions: Flinders University in Australia, Stellenbosch University in South Africa and Malmö University in Sweden.
Session topics will include the “glocal” classroom; journalism in human rights, development and social change; social entrepreneurship in remote First Nations communities in Ontario; and communications technologies for rural and remote community development.
During an on-air “world café,” U of G alumni and grad students will discuss their research and experiences with community radio and social change issues.
The event will allow organizers to test an integrated global classroom for teaching communication and development studies, said Lynne Mitchell, director of U of G’s Centre for International Programs (CIP). Seminars are also taking place this year in Sweden, Australia and South Africa.
Hambly said the event will also highlight Guelph research and teaching expertise in communities -- one of four “pillars” in the University’s BetterPlanet Project fundraising campaign wrapping up this year.
“We have a long history in extension and communications for community development,” she said.
This event is supported by CFRU 93.3, Desire2Learn, CIP, Open Learning and Educational Support, SEDRD and the Ontario Agricultural College.
For more information, visit http://glocalclassroom.wordpress.com/.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, 519-824-4120, Ext. 53338, lhunt@uoguelph.ca; or Kevin Gonsalves, Ext. 56982, kgonsalves@uoguelph.ca
