UKCASA

Recent achivements of UKCASA

2010-11-17T12:05:00.000Z

• Nominated UKCASA representatives as proposed Chairs /Members of the Research Excellence Framework expert panels including Area Studies (Panel 27).
• Assisted an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) project through which the Council will develop a tool to match research applications with potential referees from the ESRC Peer Review College.
• Participated in a consultation with the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) on the shape of the forthcoming Research Excellence Framework (REF) sub panel for Area Studies from December - July 2010. This process involved two consultations with our member associations over several months, recommendations to HECFE, and planned responses to consultations by HEFCE. This culminated in a meeting with HEFCE’s REF Project Team Manager and UKCASA representatives in July 2010.
• The achievement of a single Unit of Assessment in Area Studies (Panel 27, of 36, Main Panel D, REF 2014) to include broad coverage in relation to RAE 2008 sub-panels 47-50 (American Studies and Anglophone Area Studies; Middle Eastern and African Studies; Asian Studies; European Studies) which received a total of 828 FTE and 3,425 outputs in 2008.
• Contributed case studies for consideration for inclusion in the HEFCE meeting on impact of humanities research, on Monday 14th June 2010. UKCASA later briefed member associations on the content of that meeting.
• Briefed members on the content of HEFCE’s meeting on the impact of Social Sciences Research held on 23rd Sept. 2010.
• Briefed members on the British Academy/ESRC meetings on impact and on the outcomes for research funding post Comprehensive Spending Review held 27th October 2010.
• Consulted member associations and briefed the British Academy on member’s experiences in relation to government changes in regulations for entrance visas to the UK.
• Advised members of the processes of application and deadlines to REF Panels, Chairs, Members and Users.
• Advised members of forthcoming changes in relation to Quality Assurance procedures and the consultation processes involved. Also advised members of forthcoming changes in arrangements for the Higher Education Academy’s Subject Centres post 2011.
• Over the last three years UKCASA has invited members to briefings by the key educational and governmental institutions involved in Higher Education and Area Studies in the UK including HEFCE, ESRC, the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council (SFC) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
• Contributed to the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) review of the Area Studies Benchmark Statement 2008.
• UKCASA has also worked together with other non member learned societies, agencies and professional associations to promote research and teaching on Area Studies.

Outcomes of the REF Impact Pilots

2010-11-16T11:39:00.001Z

The outcomes of the REF Impact Pilots are out at : http://www.hefce.ac.uk/research/ref/impact/.

Two reports have been published:

1. Findings of the Pilot Expert Panels
2. Feedback from the HEIs involved in the Pilot

Invitation to comment on future of quality assurance

2010-11-01T12:13:00.000Z

Joint statement on the future of the quality assurance system
HEFCE, Universities UK, GuildHE and the Quality Assurance Agency invite comments on the development of the quality assurance system.

To read this item in full visit: http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2010/quality.htm

ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FRANCE

2008-09-16T13:07:00.000Z

France and the Mediterranean: representations, policy, transnationalism

Thursday 3rd September – Saturday 5th September 2009
University of Portsmouth
In 2009, the ASMCF annual conference will take place at the University of Portsmouth on
the theme of ‘‘France and the Mediterranean: representations, policy, transnationalism’.
This three-day conference will seek to reassess, explore and compare the multiple dimensions
linking and/ or opposing modern and contemporary France with its Mediterranean neighbours
both today. Amongst the themes to be considered will be:
• the growing salience of post-colonial issues both in France and in North Africa
• the reassessment of French diplomacy in the Middle East
• the launch of the Union pour la Méditerranée in July 2008
• the renewed interest in the problematic Latin identity of France in a European and
global context
• French trade strategies towards its Mediterranean partners
• the cultural heritage of France in and from the Mediterranean
• transnational links between political parties across the Mediterranean area.
In line with the interdisciplinary approach privileged by the ASMCF, the organisers will
welcome papers from disciplines such as international relations, history, politics, economics,
sociology, anthropology, religious, gender, literary, cultural, film and media studies. Papers
with a comparative or transnational perspective are particularly welcome.
The conference will also bring together researchers working in the field of French studies
with their counterparts in Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, South-East European, Middle Eastern
or North African studies (the list, of course, is not exhaustive). The participation of the
Association for the Study of Modern Italy (ASMI) in the 2009 ASMCF conference will
ensure that particular attention is paid to the transalpine dimension. Other organisations
interested in sponsoring a panel are invited to contact the conference organisers.
The conference will consist of a limited number of plenary sessions and a series of panels
organised around two main themes:
• contributions focussing on the relations between France and specific areas of the
Mediterranean, such as France and the Middle East, or France and Spain.
• contributions focussing on specific themes, such as the constitution of transnational
networks (cultural exchange, police cooperation, etc...), representations of
Mediterraneans and perceptions of France and the French around the Mediterranean.
Individual papers and panels: Individual paper proposals, if accepted, will be grouped in
panels by the conference organisers. Submissions should contain the title of the presentation,
a short abstract (max. 350 words), a one-page CV with the contact details of the presenter.
Proposals for panels, which should usually consist of three presenters and a chairperson, will
be considered. Proposals should be submitted by the organizer of the panel and should
contain: the title of the panel, names and contact details (affiliation, email and postal
addresses) of the organizer, the chairperson and the presenters, a general outline of the panel
and a short (max. 350 words) abstracts for each presentation. Postgraduate students are
strongly encouraged to present papers. Papers should be no more than 20 minutes long and
may be delivered in English or in French.
Deadline: Proposals must be sent to Emmanuel Godin (emmanuel.godin@port.ac.uk) and
Natalya Vince (natalya.vince@port.ac.uk) before 1 February 2009.

Postgraduate Poster Session: Postgraduates in the early stage of their research are invited to
present their work at the conference Poster Session. The Poster Session aims to enable
postgraduate students to participate in the conference programme, receive feedback from
specialists in an informal and friendly setting and to prepare them for presenting papers at
future conferences. If you require further information about presenting a poster at the
ASMCF annual conference, please contact the ASMCF postgraduate representative, Matthew
Moran at m.moran@ucl.ac.uk .

UKCASA AGM

2008-05-20T11:42:00.000Z

UK Council for Area Studies Associations Annual General Meeting

Tuesday, 17th June 2008

Institute for the Study of the Americas
Room 11/12, first floor, Library Building
35 Tavistock Square,
London
WC1H
11 am.

AGENDA
1. Apologies
2. Visiting Speaker: Martin Williamson, Head of Research
Analysts, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, speaking on their new foreign policy strategy and its relevance to people engaged in area studies.
3. Minutes of the 2007 AGM. (file attatched)
4. Matters Arising
5. Election of Officers
6. Treasurer's Report
7 Minutes of last ordinary general meeting of UKCASA (held Dec 2007)
9. AOB.

THE LINGUISTS UK Premiere 7-8:30pm 7th May 2008

2008-04-22T09:08:00.000Z

A Documentary by Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, and Jeremy Newberger
Official Selection 2008 Sundance Film Festival

Khalili Lecture
School of Oriental and African Studies, Russell Square, London

Researchers estimate that there are 7,000 languages spoken across the world, and half are threatened with extinction by the end of this century. On average, one language disappears every two weeks.

THE LINGUISTS follows David Harrison and Gregory Anderson, scientists racing to document languages on the verge of extinction. David and Greg’s round-the-world journey takes them deep into the heart of the cultures, knowledge, and communities at stake.

In Siberia, David and Greg seek to record the Chulym language, which hasn’t been heard by outsiders for more than thirty years. The linguists encounter remnants of the racist Soviet regime that may have silenced Chulym for good.

In India, tribal children attend boarding schools, where they learn Hindi and English, a trade, and the pointlessness of their native tongues. Similar boarding schools for tribal children existed in the US through most of the twentieth century. David and Greg travel to the children’s villages, where economic unrest has stirred a violent Maoist insurgency. The linguists witness the fear and poverty that have driven youth from their native communities.

In Bolivia, the Kallawaya language has survived for centuries with fewer than one hundred speakers. David and Greg trek high into the Andes to unlock its secret.

THE LINGUISTS is a presentation of Ironbound Films, Inc. It is produced and directed by Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, and Jeremy Newberger.

This UK Premiere screening is free and open to all. Prof David Harrison who is featured in the film will introduce it and answer questions from the audience after the showing. Seats are limited and will be available on a first-come first-served basis.

THE LINGUISTS is being shown during Endangered Languages Week 30th April to 8th May at SOAS. For more information about the film and other Endangered Languages Week activities visit our website at www.hrelp.org or email: elap@soas.ac.uk

Endangered Languages Week 2008

2008-04-22T09:03:00.000Z

30th April to 8th May 2008, School of Oriental and African Studies
Meet an Endangered Language
Half of the world's 7,000 languages are under threat from larger languages and are not being passed on to children. During Endangered Languages Week you can come face-to-face with an endangered language, learn about where it is spoken and why it is threatened, experience its culture, and pick up some basic words and phrases. Each session lasts 30 minutes and will be held at 1pm on R201 (near the 2nd floor stairs, SOAS main building).

Wednesday 30th April
Guernesias - spoken on Guernsey, Channel Islands
Guernesiais, a variety of Norman French, is highly endangered. According to the 2001 census, there were 1,327 fluent speakers or just 2.22% of the population (and 70.4% of them were over 64). This presentation will include a short language lesson, some cultural images and videos, and discuss recent examples of revitalisation measures in support of the language.

Thursday 1st May
Huave – spoken in southern Mexico
The Huave (Ikoots ‘all of us’) are a minority indigenous people of Southern Mexico comprising 17,000 people settled in four villages on the Pacific Ocean coast. Until a decade ago the Huave language (ombeayiüts ‘our mouth’) was spoken in four, quite divergent, varieties. At present only one of these varieties is still used by everybody, including children, in the village of San Mateo. In another village (San Dionisio) the local variety is obsolescent, and demands to start a revitalization project are currently emerging. In the other two Huave villages local varieties of the language have been replaced by Spanish. This presentation will illustrate aspects of Huave language and culture.

Tuesday 6th May
Talyshi – spoken in northern Iran
Talyshi is an Iranian language spoken in northern Iran near the Caspian Sea and the border with Azerbaijan. The language shows massive dialect variation and is under pressure from Persian. This presentation will discuss the language situation, and present an overview of Talyshi culture and language use.

Wednesday 7th May
Kolyma Yukaghir - spoken in Siberia, Russia
Kolyma Yukaghir is spoken by about 40 people who live in the north-eastern part of Siberia, on the banks of the river Kolyma. The language is linguistically isolated, and little is known of the history of the people who speak it. This will be a brief introduction to Yukaghir language and culture, including images, original music, and learning some basic speech patterns.

Thursday 8th May
Janonke – spoken in Guinea, West Africa
Jalonke is an endangered Mande language mainly spoken in the West African country of Guinea. The taster will give a brief introduction to the language situation and then focus on one of the areas especially elaborate in West African culture and crucial for every fieldworker and language learner to master, ie. greetings.

For more details and a full programme of Endangered Languages Week visit www.hrelp.org/elw

Quebec, Louisiana and the Heritage of French North America- 2 day conference

2008-04-18T09:39:00.000Z

To register please contact the Eccles Centre direct - details below.

Quebec, Louisiana and the Heritage of French North America
Public Lecture and Conference at the British Library Conference Centre, London

Monday 21st April, 18.30
Public Lecture:
"French North America: a journey through Bibliotheque et Archives Nationales du Quebec"
by Lise Bissonnette, President & Chief Executive of Bibliotheque et Archives Nationales du Quebec.
The lecture will be followed by a reception.

Entrance free by prior reservation. Email eccles-centre@bl.uk, or phone 020 7412 7757

Tuesday 22nd April, 10.00-17.00
Conference:
"Quebec, Louisiana and the Heritage of French North America"
An international conference to mark the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City
Eight speakers from universities in Quebec, the USA, France and Great Britain will examine the history, literature and culture of French North America.
Registration £20 (students £5), includes buffet lunch.

Find more details and links to the full programme and printable booking form at http://www.bl.uk/eccles/events.html

LLAS Subject Centre e-bulletin April 2008

2008-04-16T15:45:00.001Z

April 2008 e-bulletin
This month's ebulletin is now available on the subject centre website at:

http://www.llas.ac.uk/e-bulletin.aspx

We would be grateful if you would forward this bulletin to colleagues and relevant mailing lists. Please do not hesitate to contact the Subject Centre if you have any queries regarding this bulletin.

Languages of the Wider World: Valuing Diversity 15th - 16th September 2008, SOAS Conference website

2008-04-16T15:41:00.000Z

*Call for papers - Deadline: Friday 2nd May 2008*

Organised jointly by the Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies (LLAS) and the SOAS-UCL Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Languages of the Wider World (LWW-CETL), this conference will bring together teachers, researchers, educational developers and policy makers to discuss practical and strategic issues relating to languages of the wider world in UK higher education.

Following the 2005 HEFCE-commissioned Report's identification of languages as strategically important and vulnerable subjects, significant funding has been released to promote and support languages across sectors, develop networks for the teaching of professional skills, and engage in research. This has led to an increased awareness of the strategic, civic and cultural importance of diverse languages and the establishment of initiatives such as Routes into Languages and the LWW-CETL.

This conference will build on the momentum by showcasing the range of work being undertaken within languages of the wider world in higher education. While each language has its own particular needs, the conference aims to identify common issues in order to facilitate collaboration, raise the profile, and make the case for increased HE provision of languages of the wider world.

Day 1 is themed 'Learning and teaching languages of the wider world: practitioner perspectives'. The format will be a series of seminars where practitioners can share and discuss good practice, present projects and initiatives, demonstrate resources, and network with colleagues.

Confirmed keynote speakers: Professor Richard Clément (University of Ottawa) and Dr Jim Anderson (Goldsmiths College, University of London)

Day 2 is themed 'Responding to the challenge of linguistic hyper-diversity' and will feature papers by, and discussion with, invited leading figures from the fields of languages and linguistics.

Confirmed speakers include: Professor Mike Kelly (University of Southampton), Professor Tove Skutnabb-Kangas (University of Roskilde, Denmark), Professor Robert Phillipson (Copenhagen Business School) and Professor Michael Worton (UCL).

Proposals for short presentations are invited for the *Day 1 seminars* on any of the following themes relating to languages of the wider world in HE:

1. Curriculum and materials development (e.g. e-learning, pedagogical strategies, ab initio teaching, managing diverse ability/prior knowledge)
2. Course recognition and accreditation (including widening participation and outreach, transition from school to university, employability and career pathways)
3. Staff training and accreditation (e.g. maintaining staff morale, training opportunities, staffing succession in teaching and research)
4. Translation and interpreting (e.g., training, career pathways)

Presentations will be 10-15 minutes plus time for discussion. The working language of the conference will be English.

To submit a proposal, please complete the attached form and send to s.holdom@soton.ac.uk. Deadline: Friday 2nd May 2008.

2007-12-12T09:57:00.000Z

If you would like to advertise subject association events and conferences on the Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies website, we now have a simple form you can fill. There is no charge and it may help you get some extra participants.
http://www.llas.ac.uk/events/promote_event.aspx

2007-05-01T10:30:00.000Z

From the Subject Centre for Languages, Lingustics and Area Studies

Please help us improve our service by completing our short questionnaire.

2007-03-01T14:36:00.000Z

East European Area Studies: Setting the Research Agenda
19-20 April 2007
The Centre for East European Language Based Area Studies will hold its Launch Conference on April 19-20th 2007 at UCL. The aim of the conference is not only to highlight the research themes which will inform the activities of the Centre, but also to initiate a dialogue with the broader user community. Given its remit the conference will address the interests of the corporate, diplomatic, NGO as well as academic communities. Speakers will be drawn from across the universities represented in the Centre and will include the participation of guest speakers and policy makers. Further Details

2007-02-26T16:26:00.000Z

Lord Falconer and Senator Hugh Segal at Canada House
Canada House
6 March 2007 10.00-12.30

This event is free, by prior registration: rsvp.papd@international.gc.ca or phone 020-7258 6332.

The seminar will explore issues of democratic accountability, patronage and corruption in parliamentary systems. Is patronage defensible in a developed democracy in the 21st century? How can parties challenge the perception that money buys influence and that politics is for sale? Is Parliament 'fit for purpose'? How can public faith in politics and politicians be restored?

Lord Falconer will reflect on his experience of constitutional reform since 1997 and in particular House of Lords reform while Senator Hugh Segal will share his experiences of Senate reform and the new Financial Accountability Act. As a former Chair of Canada's largest public policy think tank, and a prominent Conservative Senator who has written extensively on the subject of parliamentary reform, he will bring an interesting perspective to the UK debate.

2007-02-26T16:16:00.000Z

John Paul Jones: America's First Sea Warrior
Talk by Joseph Callo

Tuesday 6 March 2007

Talk followed by book-signing and reception.

Scots' born John Paul Jones, became a hero of the American War of Independence and is credited as the founder of the American Navy. His eighteenth century exploits in the North Sea, especially as captain of the Bonhomme Richard, brought a distant war home, as he sheltered in France, and took American vengeance on English ships. Joseph Callo discusses his biography of this trans-Atlantic living legend of the sea.
Location: Conference Centre, St PancrasPrice: £6.00 (concessions £4.00) Supported by the Eccles Centre for American Studies.
Book online through the Eccles Centre webpage http://www.bl.uk/ecclescentre

2007-02-14T10:25:00.000Z

AREA STUDIES AND THE GLOBALISED WORLD CONFERENCE

Tuesday 27 February 2007
British Library Conference Centre, London £25 (£15 for postgraduates)
The British Library (Eccles Centre), the Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies , the UK Council for Area Studies Associations (UKCASA) and the Canadian High Commission in London have joined to organise this conference. Keynote speakers are Lord Giddens (London School of Economics) and Canadian social philosopher John Ralston Saul. A full programme and downloadable registration form is available at http://www.llas.ac.uk/events/llaseventitem.aspx?resourceid=2616
10.00 - 10.30 Registration and coffee
10.30 - 11.15 Europe and Globalisation Keynote speaker: Lord Giddens London School of EconomicsAuthor of Runaway World: How Globalization is Reshaping Our Lives
11.15 - 12.45 Higher Education panel Chair: Michael Kelly (Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies, University of Southampton)Panel: Itesh Sachdev (SOAS); Elspeth Jones (Leeds Metropolitan University); David Sadler (Director of Networks - Higher Education Academy)
12.45 - 13.30 Lunch
13.30 - 14.15 Area Studies, globalisation and British Library resourcesMatthew Shaw and Dorian Hayes
14.15 - 15.00 The collapse of globalism: the way the world is turningKeynote speaker: John Ralston Saul Essayist and NovelistAuthor of The Collapse of Globalism and the Reinvention of the World
15.00 - 15.30 Tea
15.30 - 17.00 Area studies, globalisation and 21stC diplomacy Chair: Iwan Morgan (Institute for the Study of the Americas)Panel: Frank Pieke (University of Oxford), John Dumbrell (Durham University), Yasir Suleiman (University of Edinburgh

2007-02-08T15:34:00.000Z

The Canadian Metropolis

Conference organised by the London Conference for Canadian Studies, Le Groupe de recherche et d’études sur le Canada francophone (le GRECF), and the Urban Studies Group of the British Association for Canadian Studies.
Friday 16th and Saturday 17th February 2007

Whole conference (two days, including lunches, teas, coffees, and reception) £ 40 (£ 20 for concessions: registered students, unemployed and retired)
Friday 16th February only (including lunch, coffee, tea, reception) £ 25 (£12.50 for concessions)
Saturday 17th February only (including lunch, coffee, tea)£ 25 (£ 12.50 for concessions)

The aim of this conference is to combine social science, architectural and cultural studies perspectives on the analysis of contemporary change in major Canadian cities, exploring the connections between diversity, multiculturalism and cosmopolitanism on the one hand and economic change, creativity and urban regeneration on the other.

For full programme please contact Dr Richard Dennis directly by email ( r.dennis@geog.ucl.ac.uk

2007-01-17T15:08:00.000Z

AREA STUDIES AND THE GLOBALISED WORLD CONFERENCE

Tuesday 27 February 2007

British Library Conference Centre, London (£25 in advance)

UKCASA has joined with the British Library (Eccles Centre), the Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies and the Canadian High Commision in London to organise this conference. Keynote speakers are Lord Giddens (London School of Economics) and John Ralston Saul, Novelist and Essayist. A full programme and downloadable registration form is available at http://www.llas.ac.uk/events/llaseventitem.aspx?resourceid=2616

2007-01-17T15:03:00.000Z

2006-12-18T13:16:00.000Z

UKCASA AGM
Monday 15th January 2007.
35 Tavistock Square
London 1.15 (lunch), 2pm start
Guest speaker: Tony McEnery, Director of Research at the AHRC
Please note that there are two UKCASA posts due for election at the AGM. Nominations should be e mailed to Susan Hodgett sl.hodgett@ULSTER.AC.UK by 10th January.

2006-12-13T14:31:00.000Z

CALL FOR PAPERS

CONFERENCE: ‘IDENTITY FORMATION’

WEDNESDAY 4 APRIL 2007

GUEST SPEAKERS:PROF. CHARLES FORSDICK & PROF. ADRIAN ARMSTRONG

SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES, LINGUISTICS & CULTURES
THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

Sponsored by The University of Manchester, The Society for French Studies and
The Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies

This will be the first ever conference to incorporate all the discipline areas in the School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures at The University of Manchester. This exciting inaugural event aims to be all inclusive and embrace all languages; it will treat the notion of ‘Identity Formation’ in literature, art, film and media studies under three main themes:

1. The role of philosophy/ideology in the formation of identity:

- this addresses how the individual acts/forms his identity as a result of his philosophical ideas/ideological beliefs.
- it could include the philosophical ideas and values of, for example, the Enlightenment; the Counter-Enlightenment; Irrationalism; Existentialism; Post-Structuralism; Post-Colonialism etc.
- it could include the ideologies and identities of a particular class or gender of people, nation, or race in society or a historical era.

2. Diasporic and transcultural identities:

- this could include the notion of “becoming” identities; of identities being interchangeable; the concept of hybridity; and the effects of migration on identities.

3. Narrative identity:

- this addresses identity as a result of narration, which can be analysed by looking at the parts that constitute it - in particular plot, time and place.
Guest Speakers:

Guidelines for Abstracts and Papers

Please follow these instructions carefully:

- Abstracts [and papers] should be in English and no longer than 150 words.

- All citations in both the abstract and the paper should be given in English.

- Abstracts should indicate clearly which of the three panels they correspond to; please put the title of the panel you are applying to as the e-mail's subject.

- Abstracts must be simply pasted/written into the e-mail and not attached as a Word [or other] document. Please also indicate the proposed title for the paper at the start of the abstract.

- Please state whether you will require PowerPoint/an overhead projector for your paper.

- The papers are to be 20 minutes in length and no longer, with approximately 10 minutes for questions.

- Abstracts should be sent to langsconference@yahoo.com

- The submission deadline is 15 January 2007.

Conference Registration:

- Please send your name, faculty, institution and contact telephone number to langsconference@yahoo.com Please enter the title ‘Registration’ in the subject field of the e-mail. You will then receive an official registration form to complete and return with the fee of ten pounds. The deadline for registration is 25 February 2007.

Registration fees include refreshments, lunch and a reception in the evening.
The registration fees are non-refundable due to administrative costs.

- Enquiries should be addressed to Louise Crowther, on the committee, at: langsconference@yahoo.com

Please enter the title ‘Enquiry’ in the subject field of the e-mail.

We look forward to seeing you at this exciting and inaugural event.

2006-11-28T10:25:00.000Z

Call for Papers: The Canadian Metropolis
Date: 16 and 17 February 2007
Venue: Canadian High Commission, Trafalgar Square, and at the University of London.

Conference organised by the London Conference for Canadian Studies, Le Groupe de recherche et d’études sur le Canada francophone (Le GRECF), and the newly-formed Urban Studies Group of the British Association for Canadian Studies.

To be held at the
The conference will focus on practices, processes, policies and representations of contemporary culture, economy and society in Canada’s major metropolitan centres. We invite papers especially on the themes of sustainable cities, creative cities and cosmopolitan cities.

Offers of papers, including a 150-word abstract, should be sent as soon as possible, to Dr Richard Dennis, Department of Geography, UCL, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK, r.dennis@geog.ucl.ac.uk. LCCS has limited funds to waive the conference fees of speakers, but cannot normally pay for travel and accommodation.

The Canadian Metropolis/Métropoles canadiennesColloque organisé par le London Conference for Canadian Studies, Le Groupe de recherche et d’études sur le Canada francophone (Le GRECF) et le Urban Studies Group (nouvellement créé) de l’Association britannique d’études canadiennes, et qui aura lieu au Haut-commissariat du Canada, Trafalgar Square, et à la University of London, London, le 16 et le 17 février 2007. Le colloque portera sur les pratiques, processus, politiques et représentations de la culture, l’économie et la société contemporaines des métropoles canadiennes. Nous invitons surtout des communications qui traitent des thèmes suivants: la ville verte, la ville créative, la ville cosmopolite.

Contact (pour soumettre une proposition 150 mots) : Dr Richard Dennis, Department of Geography, UCL, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK, r.dennis@geog.ucl.ac.uk. LCCS a des fonds limités pour pouvoir supprimer les frais d’inscription des conférenciers, mais ne peut rembourser ni les frais de voyage ni l’hébergement.

2006-09-26T14:59:00.000Z

UKCASA meeting

The next meeting of UKCASA will take place on 11 October 2006 at the Institute for the Study of the Americas.

2006-09-26T14:44:00.000Z

Area Studies and the Globalised World
27th February 2007
British Library Conference Centre
Fee £27
Keynote speakers are Lord Giddens and John Ralston Saul.

This conference is a partnership between the British Library Eccles Centre, UKCASA, Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies and the Canadian High Commission in London.

A full programme is available on the LLAS website.

2006-03-13T12:02:00.000Z

AMERICA'S AMERICANS: THE POPULATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Monday 8th - Tuesday 9th May
The British Library Conference Centre, Euston Road, London

Featured speakers: William Frey (University of Michigan & The Brookings Institution) & Rhodes Cook (The Rhodes Cook Letter, America Votes)

Panels of US & UK academics will feature research on Latinos; Native Americans; Integration & Assimilation; LIves and Lifestyles; The Impact of Recent Population Changes

The full conference programme can be found via the Eccles Centre webpage: http://www.bl.uk/ecclescentre; and booking details at http://americas.sas.ac.uk/events/8MayRegForm.pdf
Conference fee £30 (students £15)

This conference is sponsored by the Eccles Centre for American Studies at the British Library, and by the Institute for the Study of the Americas.

2006-03-08T12:51:00.000Z

'New Blood' needed in language-based area studies
An ESRC report, 'A demographic review of the UK social sciences' authored by Dr David Mills, University of Birmingham has identified language-based area studies as a 'priority area' that needs to bring in 'new blood' to ensure its future health. The report can be downloaded from the ESRC website

2006-03-08T12:38:00.000Z

TEACHING AREA STUDIES IN THE AGE OF THE INTERNET - seminar
5 May 2006
Senate House, University of London

CALL FOR PAPERS: DEADLINE 31 March 2006

Papers are invited in any aspect of the theory and/or practice of Internet use in the teaching of area studies. Please send a 150-200 word abstract of your paper to John Canning at : j.canning@soton.ac.uk by 31 March 2006.
Further information about this event can be found at : http://www.llas.ac.uk/events/llaseventitem.aspx?resourceid=2505

2006-03-08T12:30:00.000Z

BOLOGNA PROCESS - Seminar
Senate House, University of London
12 May 2006
This seminar will report on the latest developments in the Bologna Process relating to the 'framework of qualifications' and will explore some of the key issues relating to the implementation in the UK and across Europe. The event will have a particular focus on the Humanities and will include reports on the latest discussion on this issue at European level.
It will be of interest to senior managers, international officers, curriculum developers and subject practitioners in the Humanities. The seminar will be free of charge and registration should be made via the online form on the Subject Centre website at
http://www.llas.ac.uk/events/eventregfrm.aspx

2006-02-21T10:32:00.000Z

AHRC Survey
The University of Bristol has been awarded a one-year grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to find out how arts and humanities scholars currently use ICT in their research and what their needs for the future are. Your views will make a difference as there is to be a review of the AHRC strategy programme in 2006 which will address research community needs; data from this survey will inform that review.
The survey is at http://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/ahrc/survey

2006-02-21T10:29:00.000Z

CALL FOR PAPERS: Deadline - FRIDAY 3 March 2006
HE ACADEMY INTERDISCIPLINARY TEACHING AND LEARNING GROUP
'Disciplines in Dialogue II : Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning'
Birmingham
13-14 July 2006
Abstracts (200 - 250 words) for this conference should be submitted to Carol Churchouse at cfc@soton.ac.uk by Friday 3 March 2006.
For more information and registration form go to: http://www.llas.ac.uk/events/llaseventitem.aspx?resourceid=2459

2006-02-21T10:20:00.000Z

Minutes of the UKCASA AGM, 20 January 2006 have now been sent out on the jiscmail list.
During this meeting Dr Susan Hodgett, University of Ulster was elected as the new secretary of UKCASA, succeeding Professor Dick Ellis, University of Birmingham. Those present at the AGM thanked Dick for his role in getting UKCASA started and his efforts over the past two years. As founding Chair of UKCASA Dick will continue to advise the current committee and council.

2005-10-20T08:57:00.000Z

GLOBALIZATION: A VERY CANADIAN PERSPECTIVE

8 December 2005
Room LT122, Ashby Building, Stranmillis Road
Queen’s University Belfast
4.00pm-7.30pm
Speakers: Professor Terry McGee, Dr Anthony Gristwood, Professor Walter Epp, Professor Neil MacFarlane

Further details: Susan Hodgett sl.hodgett@ulster.ac.uk

2005-10-19T15:00:00.000Z

Sharing good practice in teaching Area Studies: enhancing the student experience
14 November 2005, CILT, London

When examined from the point of view of the student, it is apparent that area studies courses offer many opportunities and challenges for both students and their teachers. In this workshop, five teachers of area studies explore ways in which they have developed courses and pedagogies that enhance the experiences of their students in acquiring knowledge and developing appropriate skills in their chosen area study.

Full details can be found on the LLAS website

2005-10-19T14:42:00.000Z

European Research Students' Conference

London, Monday 14 November 2005

This one-day conference is aimed at research students of all levels who are engaged in the field of EU-related studies. This event offers an ideal introduction to the UACES community as well as an opportunity to meet fellow academics & researchers who are engaged in related fields of European research.

The conference is open for any student to attend, whether or not they are a member of UACES.

Lord Kerr of Kinlochard, (Honorary President of UACES & Imperial College London) will give the Conference Keynote Speech on ‘what academics can learn from practitioners and vice versa’.

Philip Hall, (Head of the European Secretariat in the UK Cabinet Office) will also speak on the UK Presidency of the European Council.

A Roundtable on ‘how to get your work published’ will also bring together a number of key figures in the field of publishing.

For the full conference programme and registration details please go to www.uacesstudentforum.org or www.uaces.org

(Deadline for registration is Monday 7th November)

2005-10-19T14:37:00.000Z

Languages-based Area Studies

The ESRC, the AHRC, and HEFCE invite prososals for 5-year collaborative Centres under this £22 million initiative.
Details can be found on the ESRC website

2005-09-27T10:13:00.000Z

Notice of next UKCASA AGM
The UKCASA AGM will take place on 20th January 2006

2005-09-19T15:23:00.000Z

Call for papers
Sharing good practice in teaching Area Studies: enhancing the student experience
14th November 2005
CILT, London
For details visit
http://www.llas.ac.uk/events/llaseventitem.aspx?resourceid=2396

2005-09-19T15:17:00.000Z

Call for papers
Subject Centre LLAS/CILT Conference Crossing frontiers: languages and the international dimension
6th-7th July 2006
University of Cardiff
This two-day conference is jointly organised by the Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies and CILT, the National Centre for Languages, in partnership with key subject associations in languages and related studies in higher education: UCML, SCHML, AULC and ALL.
The conference will be of interest to all those concerned with the learning and teaching of languages in higher education both in the UK and internationally. It will also be of relevance to those involved in other sectors which border on higher education such as secondary schools, FE and adult education.
For more detals visit http://www.llas.ac.uk/events/llaseventitem.aspx?resourceid=2406

2005-09-19T13:39:00.000Z

British Academy Visiting Fellowships
The Academy's new Visiting Fellowship scheme, launched in 2005, enables early-career scholars from overseas to apply directly to the Academy, in conjunction with their UK hosts, for research visits to the UK of between two and four months. The main purpose of the visit should be to enable the visitor to pursue research.
For more information visit: http://www.britac.ac.uk/funding/guide/intl/visfells.html

2005-09-19T12:07:00.000Z

Cartooning the USA: America through the Pen of Political Cartoonists
18 October 2005, 10.00-17.00
British Library Conference Centre
Email eccles-centre@bl.uk or phone 020 7412 7757
£15 (£10 for students) including lunch

2005-02-15T14:41:00.000Z

The UKCASA website is now online at www.ukcasa.ac.uk, thanks to the hard work of our web developer here in the Subject Centre.
I realise that some of the infromation is already out of date, notably some of the contact details, but I will sort that out in due course.

2004-12-01T15:16:00.000Z

Education and Skills Secretary, Charles Clarke has today written to the
Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) seeking advice on how to protect higher education courses of national strategic importance.
He has asked HEFCE to consider the following as courses of national strategic importance:
* Arabic and Turkish language studies and other Middle Eastern area studies, former Soviet Union Caucasus and central Asian area studies - this is mainly for strategic security and inter-cultural awareness reasons, as highlighted by the recent British Society for Middle East Studies Report;
* Japanese, Chinese, Mandarin and other far eastern languages and area studies - for business and trade purposes, as highlighted by, among others, the UK-Japan 21st Century Group;
* Science, technology, engineering and mathematics - chiefly for maintaining the UK's excellent science base and ensuring our national productivity;
* Vocationally oriented courses of particular interest to employers in industries that are of growing importance to the UK economy; for example, the cultural and creative industries, and e-skills; and
* Courses relating to recent EU accession countries, especially those in Eastern Europe and the Baltic.

2004-10-28T11:07:00.000Z

Area Studies Colleagues are reminded about the free Disciplinary identity of Area Studies event that takes place on 29 November at CILT, Covent Garden, London.
Speakers are Colin Brooks, Jonathon Gibson, Carl Griffin, John Canning, Kuo-cheng Huang, Jeremy Leaman and B. Chandramohan. Please register via the Subject Centre website or e-mail llas@soton.ac.uk

2004-09-28T09:14:00.000Z

Professor Judie Newman, University of Nottingham has been appointed chair of RAE Panel L convering American Studies and Anglophone Area Studies, Middle Eastern and African Studies, Asian Studies, European Studies.
Professor Nigel Vincent, University of Manchester, will chair Panel M covering Russian, Slavonic and East European Languages, French, German, Dutch and Scandinavian Languages, Italian, Iberian and Latin American Languages, Celtic Studies, English Language and Literature, Linguistics

http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2004/raechairs.asp

2004-08-11T14:19:00.000Z

From the Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies
Disciplinary identity of Area Studies
Date: 29 November 2004
Location: CILT, London
Call for papers

Global forms of knowledge and their advocates will not generate the funding for area studies unless the necessity for area-specific knowledge is clearly and
widely understood. But instead of building its own intellectual foundations in the university, the intellectual benefits of area studies have gone into the disciplines, including language teaching. (Ludden 1998).
Area Studies courses are widely taught in UK Higher Education, and multidisciplinary Area Studies Associations continue to thrive yet practitioners generally see themselves primarily as historians, political scientists, geographers, linguists etc. and not as Area Studies specialists. This raises questions about the support provided by the Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies.
The Area Studies Project involved six partner Subject Centres from the arts, humanities and social sciences. The nature of disciplinarity and notions of interdisciplinarity and multidisciplinarity were soon identified both optimistically as opportunities or more pessimistically as threats to current disciplines.
This conference aims to discuss the nature of Area Studies and its value to its composite disciplines, its contribution to teaching and research and most importantly whether Area Studies itself is, or can become a discipline.
Contributions may include, but are not limited to:
Area Studies: a discipline?
Links between teaching and research in Area Studies
Institutional structures of Area Studies
Area Studies and government policy
Bringing Area Studies into disciplines.
Contribution of disciplines to Area Studies.
International perspectives on Area Studies
Issues of identity for staff and students.
Please send proposals for papers to: John Canning j.canning@soton.ac.uk by Friday 1 October 2004. The Subject Centre will pay travel expenses within the UK for papers accepted.
Register for this event at http://www.lang.ltsn.ac.uk/events/llaseventitem.aspx?resourceid=2166
Further reading
Ludden, D. 1998. Area Studies in the Age of Globalisation http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~dludden/areast2.htm

2004-07-21T09:56:00.000Z

RAE 2008
From R J Ellis, Secretary (UKCASA)
After talking with HEFCE it has become apparent that the best time to request a visit from one of HEFCE's RAE team to talk to UKCASA about RAE2008 would be in early/mid January.
Strategically, if we chose to arrange things so that this meeting coincided with UKCASA's AGM, then this would help in terms of HEFCE's perception that this would be a key meeting between HEFCE and the Area Studies Community. If we approached the RAE team shortly after the team's establishment in September 2004 with a firm date for such a meeting, then it has been suggested to me that this might be the best approach. HEFCE regard a good turn-out as critical.
Accordingly, I suggest we pencil in Friday 14 January 2005, starting at 1.00 (sharp -- to leave sufficient time) to have a meeting with one of the HEFCE RAE team, and then move on to a crisp AGM. This would entail bringing forward the date of the AGM a little, but as I understand it, this would be the best approach.
Whilst only one representative from each Area Studies Association (ASA) can have the status of that Association's representative on UKCASA, we have agreed that more than one person from each ASA could attend (with 'non-voting', auditor status to the extras). Shall we say a maximum of two from each ASA?
I will announce the venue soon, but the meeting will need to be in London.
On this occasion, I will take silence to signify consent to this approach, if you all don't mind, but do email me if this will pose problems!
Benaeth this email I have pasted in some information on the nomination procedure for the RAE panels. I hope this is useful. Because it is heavily formatted, it may be distorted in email transmission, but I have already provided everyone with the web address for this information.
Best
R. J. Ellis Secretary, UKCASA
www.rae.ac.uk/nominations can be visited to obtain the Rae nomination form.
Main panel composition and recruitment
1.      Advertisements will appear shortly in the specialist press inviting applications for appointment as main panel chairs. We envisage that these will be people with a significant personal record in research at the highest level; with previous experience in quality assessment, in research management or leadership across a broad disciplinary field, and in leading groups of their peers to shared decisions.
2.      Main panels will be made up of:

·       The chair ·       The chairs of each of the sub-panels in the main panel grouping ·       One or two international assessors ·       Where possible and appropriate, other people with specific expertise and observers.
Additional members
3.      We would welcome the nomination of international assessors as additional members of main panels. International nominees should be practising researchers with a very high level of knowledge of and expertise in research across a broad discipline area internationally, including substantial experience in at least one country outside the UK. They should be people whose judgement is likely to command the respect of the HE community across their broad disciplinary field.
4.      We would also welcome nominations for people to be additional members of the main panels on the basis of their experience in using and commissioning research conducted in higher education while working at a senior level in business or the public sector.
5.      We may invite observers from key stakeholder groups to attend main panel meetings. Observers may provide informal advice to panels but will not share their responsibility for determining quality profiles. The funding bodies’ chief executives will decide which groups will be invited to send an observer.
Sub-panel composition and recruitment
6.      Sub-panels will be made up of: ·       the chair (who will also serve as a member of a main panel) ·       a group of assessors, not normally exceeding 15 members ·       in most cases one or more observers (nominated by invited stakeholder bodies and not participating directly in the assessment process). 7.      Sub-panel chairs will be appointed by the funding bodies’ chief executives, after considering nominations received and taking advice from main panel chairs and from those who served as panel members in 2001.
8.      Sub-panel members will be appointed by the chief executives after taking advice from the sub-panel chair in each case. Sub-panel members will mainly be practising researchers of suitable personal standing and expertise. As in past exercises, we hope that continuity will be assured by the re-employment of panel members who served in previous RAEs. Wherever possible, at least a third of the members of each sub-panel should have previous RAE panel experience. In deciding sub-panel membership the chief executives will have regard to the desirability of ensuring that the overall body of members reflects the diversity of the research community, including in terms of age, gender, ethnic origin, scope and focus of their home institution, and geographical location.Criteria for appointing sub-panel members

·       Sub-panel members will all be appointed on the basis of their personal experience and expertise, not as representatives of any group or interest. The great majority will be practising researchers.
·       The membership of each sub-panel should command the respect of the relevant research community. The sub-panel’s collective expertise should ensure good coverage of the principal fields of work within the UoA.
·       Where possible and appropriate, sub-panels should include individuals with significant experience of a broad research environment, including experience of commissioning and using research in business or the public sector, of conducting research linked to practice, or of overseas research organisations.
·       The diversity of the research community in the relevant field should be reflected in the sub-panel membership.

Name of nominating body Contact name
Postal address
Telephone number E-mail address Full name and title of nominee Has this person agreed to be nominated?       (yes )   ( no ) E-mail address of nominee
Main panel, sub-panel or specialist field for which nominated Name of institution, or name and address of company at which nominee can be contacted Role for which nominated (select one) International representative (main panel) Additional main panel member Sub-panel chair Sub-panel member Research user/practitioner (sub-panel) Specialist adviser Please summarise the reasons for this nomination addressing each of the following headings: 1.      Area(s) of research expertise 2.      Current role and other recent posts of relevance 3.      Major esteem indicators (e.g. major grants/prizes awarded, editorial posts, chairmanship of subject bodies) 4.      Relevant experience of research management and quality assessment 5.      Relevant experience of using and commissioning research or as a practitioner (where applicable)

2004-03-04T09:14:00.000Z

To: Area Studies colleagues

The UK Council of Area Studies Associations has made contact with the RAE managers at hefce in order to ensure that the Area Studies community is fully represented in the forthcoming consultations. We expect the first phase of consultation, on panel structure, to begin shortly. A second phase of consultation, on panel membership, is not to be expected until any structural questions have been dealt with.
At all stages we shall keep UKCASA members informed of the process, and shall be drawing on the Area Studies community for views and expertise. We want to ensure that the parallel efforts of UKCASA and the individual Area Studies Associations give full and effective voice to Area Studies as the next RAE is developing.

Philip John Davies
Chair, UK Council of Area Studies Associations

2004-02-09T08:56:00.000Z

The following were elected as officers of UKCASA at the first committee meeting held at Senate House, University of London on 6 February 2004:

Chair: Professor Philip John Davies (De Montfort University/ British Library)
Vice-Chair: Professor Mike Smith (Glasgow Caledonian University)
Secretary: Professor Dick Ellis (Nottingham Trent University)
Treasurer: Dr Tony Chafer (University of Portsmouth)

2003-11-08T16:47:00.000Z

A new umbrella for the Area Studies community
UKCASA (United Kingdom Council of Area Studies Associations) was formed on 5 November 2003 at an open meeting at CILT. 16 Area Studies Associations have come together to form the council, the aims of which are as follows:

To promote, support and defend Area Studies programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate level in UK Higher Education Institutions.
To provide a voice for Area Studies in dialogue with different government agencies across the UK.
To develop a collaborative community amongst Area Studies Associations and practitioners.
To promote interdisciplinary research and teaching about specific regions of the world.

Professor Dick Ellis, Nottingham Trent University and Dr Peter Matanle, University of Sheffield, were elected as founding chair and vice-chair respectively. A second meeting will be held in London on 6 February 2004 at which officers of the association will be elected.

UKCASA represents an exciting opportunity for Area Studies in the United Kingdom. A website for UKCASA will be launched in the New Year.

For further details contact John Canning, Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies, Modern Languages, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, Tel +44 (0)23 8059 5407, Fax +44 (0)23 8059 4815. e-mail j.canning@soton.ac.uk