Announcement from Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada...

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

We are seeking appliations for our “Visiting Scholars Program”. Visiting Scholars are an itegral component of two initiatives at Vancouver Island University (VIU): the MA Degree in Sustainable Lesiure Management, and the World Leisure Centre of Excellence. Accordingly, the Visiting Scholar Program is designed to bring local and international leaders to VIU to engage with students, faculty, and the Vancouver Island region. The purpose of this engagment is to enrich the student experience, to share research and professional experiences, and to explore possibilities for future collaborations (such as research projects, student and faculty exchanges, study tours, etc).

VIU is dedicated to teaching, research, community engagment, and international collaboration. The faculty in the Department of Recreation and Tourism is one of the largest leisure related programs in Canada, and includes two funded Research Chairs. The Department is active in research, international activity, and community projects.

We are seeking applications from scholars with research and teaching expertise in leisure, sustainability, innovation, behavior change, commuity development, knowledge mobilization, and strategic planning, and related areas. Scholars may be either (or both) practitioners or academics who are actively engaged in the study or application of sustainable practices in leisure management. Vancouver Island University will fund up to four visiting scholars per year, budget pending. This funding will include travel to VIU, and living expenses for a two to four week visit.

The MA program in Sustainable Leisure Management (MA SLM) at VIU prepares emerging leaders to create innovative approaches for providing recreation and tourism opportunities in ways that respect and enhance communities, natural settings, and local economies (please visit our website for current description of the MA SLM and related programs: at http://www.viu.ca/rectour/). The MA SLM program is housed within the VIU Department of Recreation and Tourism, which is recognized as a “Centre of Excellence” by the World Leisure Orgnization.

The academic schedule for the MA SLM program commences each year in mid-August, with courses organized mainly in four week modules as indicated below for 2013 - 2014. Visiting scholars will participate in the delivery of one of these courses, as well as engaging in other activities outlined in the attached application form.

Please indicate on the attached application form which of these courses (and dates) are most appropriate. Course descriptions can be found at: http://www.viu.ca/slm/ProgramDescription.asp