Office of International Research

The Office of International Research (OIR) is pleased to welcome Richard Cormier (B.Comm. C.G.A.) as financial officer. Rick brings to McGill 20 years of management and accounting experience from the private and public sectors. He will assist faculty to prepare and manage international project budgets, develop funding strategies and advise on financial procedures and regulations.

McGill is a founding member of the Universitas 21 network for international higher education. Recent expansion to Sweden and Germany brings the network to 18 leading universities in 10 countries.

Network activities will eventually include student and staff exchanges; sharing of best practices and courseware; mutual accreditation; and joint commercial ventures. Universitas 21 is in the process of incorporating and anticipates substantial partnerships with the private sector.

The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada has completed its survey on internationalization in Canadian universities. Results from 71 institutions indicate that the primary rationale for internationalization is to prepare graduates who are internationally knowledgeable and interculturally competent; however, while university executives are strongly committed to internationalization, this commitment is not yet fully shared by faculty members, students and administrative staff. The full report will be available from AUCC in January 2000.

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has introduced a new (and optional) formula for compensating agencies for project overheads on unsolicited international projects. McGill receives over $8 million per year for such projects. The Office of International Research will determine whether the new formula offers any advantages over the one currently used by the university sector.

The following government Web address is an excellent source of information on other countries, for McGill faculty and students working abroad: www.e-thologies.com

Funding opportunities

Information on the following programs is available from the Office of International Research (Tel: 4197). All applications must be signed by the applicant and department Chair, and reviewed by OIR prior to submission. Deadlines are for receipt of applications by the funding body. McGill deadlines are a few days earlier.

Canadian studies

Canadian Studies Seminars Deadline December 17, 1999

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada will provide modest grants (approx. $7,500) to Canadian universities so they can involve foreign academics in seminars on Canadian studies. The awards help defray the costs of hosting the foreign 'Canadianist.'

International Council for Canadian Studies (ICCS) - Program for International Research Linkages Deadline December 31, 1999

Grants (up to $8,000) are available to help teams from Canada or abroad to organise Canadian Studies seminars or activities. For details see: http://www.iccs-ciec.ca/info/awards/e-pirl.html.

2000-2001 Visiting Lectureship in Canadian Studies Deadline January 10, 2000

The Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute offers a Visiting Lectureship in Canadian Studies in India during 2000-2001. The award covers travel and living expenses for 3 weeks in early 2001. Themes: Political Economy or Canadian Social Policy. For information: http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~sici/Can_Studies.html.

Visiting Professors Program 2001/2002 (Deadline to be confirmed)

The Halbert Centre for Canadian Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem offers support of $20,000 through its Visiting Professors program. For details call the Office of International Research, or contact Merle Goldman at mgoldman@cfhu.org (Tel: 1-888-432-7398).

Quebec programmes (ministry of education)

Details on the following Quebec programs are available from the Office of International Research, or from the Web at http://www.meq.gouv.qc.ca/ens-sup/ENS-UNIV/Coop.htm. Deadlines are italicized.

• Quebec-Canadian Provinces Programme (supports Faculty travel). January 31, 2000

• Merit Fellowships for Graduate and Post-Graduate Studies (support for graduate students from Latin American and Central/Eastern European countries). January 31, 2000

• Merit Fellowships for Study or Scientific Research Visits (supports 1-3 month visits by foreign researchers). January 31 & May 31, 2000

• Québec-Italy Programme (supports Faculty travel). January 31, 2000

• Quebec-France programme (supports four-week visits of Quebec faculty members invited to France to initiate links or to promote new collaborations). February 29, 2000

• Merit Fellowships for Post-Doctoral Research (supports foreign postdocs). April 15, 2000

• Québec-Flandre Programme (supports Faculty travel). April 2000

The Fonds pour l'internationalisation de l'education is a new responsive Quebec initiative (no deadline or application form). It will support modest initiatives, including missions abroad for project development, participation in Team Quebec missions, or to receive foreign delegations. For application information contact the Office of International Research.

Russia

University of Calgary / Gorbachev Foundation - Public Policy Project Deadline March 1, 2000

Support (up to $130,000 over 3 years) for projects with Russia that contribute practical solutions to problems in public policy, with a special interest in design and implementation of projects relating to essential social services. For details see: http://www.math.ucalgary.ca/ucgf/

CIDA youth internships deadline: december 10, 1999

The Canadian International Development Agency offers youth internships of $15,000 to provide recent graduates with work experience abroad (e.g., on McGill's international projects).

For information and application materials contact the Office of International Research, 3550 University Street, Tel.: 4197; Fax: 6878; E-mail: fcarrier@ums1.lan.mcgill.ca or dconway@ums1.lan.mcgill.ca.