About : Our Research Plan

During the initial five years (2006-2011), the Centre will focus on studies in:

1. The existing ethnocultural diversity in Atlantic Canada, including long-term, historically rooted ethnocultural communities (e.g. Acadian, Aboriginal, African, Irish) as well as newer and emerging immigrant ethnocultural communities (e.g. Lebanese, refugees).
2. Existing and emerging networks and social organizations within and between ethnocultural communities in Atlantic Canada.
3. Dimensions of diversity within diverse ethno-cultures in Atlantic Canada (e.g. by gender, class, age, religion).
4. The impact of ethnocultural diversity in Atlantic Canada (economic, political, social, popular and high culture).
5. Comparative analyses of dimensions of ethno-cultural diversity in Atlantic Canada, the whole of Canada, the USA and the rest of the world.
6. Effective education and public policy for the understanding and promotion of ethnocultural diversity and the development of pedagogies and curricula of internationalization.
7. Effective transitional education for recently arrived/incoming post-secondary, secondary, primary school students (ESL and multiculturalism).

The existing 'infrastructure' that the new Centre for the Study of Ethnocultural Diversity fits directly within includes:

a. existing faculty strengths in a diversity of departments in Faculties;
b. the recently established Learning Commons and its Writing Centre, Centre for Internationalization, and Institute for Civic Engagement at Acadia;
c. the newly formed Digital Culture Laboratory at Acadia;
d. the important funding initiatives of the federal Multiculturalism and Heritage ministries
e. the important funding initiatives of the Canadian Foundation for Innovation
f. the Nova Scotian Government's new emphasis on attracting and retaining immigrants
g. the related emphasis on the recruitment and retention of international students to our campuses

In summary, this new research centre is timely, as well, because it fits with Acadia's long tradition (since the 1830s) of respect for religious and other forms of ethnocultural diversity.