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Dalhousie University signs Memorandum of Understanding with Leibniz Association in Germany

Posted by Media Centre on September 22, 2016 in News

Canadian and German researchers work together to improve lives of newly arrived refugees

(Thursday, September 22) Halifax, NS – A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed by Dalhousie University and Germany’s Leibniz Association. This agreement will facilitate collaboration between Dalhousie’s Children and Youth in Challenging Contexts (CYCC) Institute, and the Leibniz Association’s Leibniz Education and Research Network (LERN).

The CYCC institute hosts a Canadian Network of Centres of Excellence in Knowledge Mobilization (NCE-KM), and is committed to making a lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable children and youth. LERN is an alliance of 15 institutes in the Leibniz Association and other research partners in Germany, with a mission to combine and develop the individual institutes’ specialist knowledge in educational matters to address the challenges confronting the educational sector.

The signing of the agreement took place in Berlin yesterday and was observed by The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science.

The collaboration provides a unique opportunity for researchers from two countries strongly engaged with refugees and migration to lead world-class research focused on improving the odds of successfully integrating and resettling newly arrived refugees and migrants. The MOU is a formalization of an already strong working relationship between Dalhousie and the Leibniz Association, and will facilitate joint research, and improve the sharing of on-the-ground experiences.

“Through our partnership with the Leibniz Association, we will be able to make a significant contribution in developing a blueprint for a better international response to the ongoing refugee and migration crisis,” says Martha Crago, Vice President Research at Dalhousie University.

The relationship between Dalhousie and the Leibniz Association began in 2015. After being witness to the world’s largest mass migration, they began working together to better understand the complex challenges faced by those resettling in a new country.

“It is a wonderful example of researchers of two countries working together to compile the evidence that can improve the lives of children, youth and their families starting over in a new country after leaving a situation of trauma,” says Dr. Crago.

Representatives from both countries were participants in the September 19 United Nations' Summit on Refugees and Migrants in New York.

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Contact:

Michele Charlton
Communications Advisor
Dalhousie Research Services
(902) 494 – 4148
Michele.charlton@dal.ca

 


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