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Centre for Research on Social Inclusion
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CRSI cluster
Community capacity building / community development cluster
There are a number of projects within the CRSI that have a focus on capacity building and a number of research active Centre members who are working in different areas of community development and capacity building. This cluster provides a forum for researchers to make connections with one another's research and provide opportunities for cross fertilization of ideas.
Each year, we propose to design a program that will provide a coming together of ideas and practice around community capacity building and development, finding similarities and differences, and harnessing the learnings.
In the context of MQ moving towards modes of learning, teaching and research that are based on community engagement and participation, this research cluster will seek to develop productive spaces between community and academy, between effective community development and high quality research about community development.
In 2009, we propose that the cluster will invite a series of community-based and industry-based people to be part of a discussion panel engaging in a practice- and theoretically-oriented dialogue with CRSI members and students in the fields of community and development. In order to facilitate discussion, the numbers will be kept small. We are not proposing a 'guest speakers forum', but actually providing the opportunity for all present to be engaged. We will invite a cluster member to chair each session and facilitate the discussion.
This proposed program of research activity will be underpinned by research questions around understanding: What is capacity building? What are people's experiences? What has worked and what has not and why? It will:
1. Instigate connections between CRSI and communities of practice
2. Allow students to engage with practitioners to access University based resources both concrete and intellectual
3. Develop social networks beyond the University
4. Facilitate conceptual and applied understandings and experience of capacity building and community development
In the longer term, it is envisaged that through these community engagement fora we will build relationships with community practitioners with a view towards working up linkage grants resulting in mutually beneficial research.
For further information, contact Rochelle Spencer at rochelle.spencer@mq.edu.au