Knowledge for Change (K4C) Consortium
12th FICCI Higher Education Summit, New Dehli, 2016
Knowledge for Change - India Launch
Knowledge for Change Residency - Canada
Knowledge for Change Residency - Canada
Tallories Network Leaders Conference, Veracruz, Mexico, 2017
The Knowledge for Change (K4C) Consortium is an initiative of the UNESCO Chair in Community-Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education, under the joint directions of Dr. Budd Hall (University of Victoria, Canada) and Dr. Rajesh Tandon (PRIA, India). A variety of local training hubs have been created under the K4C Consortium to design and conduct educational programs in order to develop research capacities for the co-creation of knowledge through collective action by practitioners, community-based researchers, community groups and academics. Each local hub is made up of at least a higher education institution (HEI) and a civil society organization (CSO) collaborating on strengthening individual research capacities and professional skills using a variety of teaching methods. Following a cascade training model, the K4C Consortium has developed a 21-week Mentor Training Program (MTP) based on online learning activities, a two-week face-to-face learning workshop, and a field work component to be carried out locally under the guidance of a local supervisor. The mentors trained under the supervision of the UNESCO Co-Chairs will be given a certificate under the joint seal of the UNESCO Chair CBR-SR, PRIA International Academy (PIA) and the University of Victoria (UVic). Upon successful completion of the MTP, the certified mentors are expected to play a key role in the development of the local hub, including the creation of teaching curriculum and pedagogy, and the development of research capacities in the local/regional hubs. The MTP will be offered through UVic Continuing Studies five times over 2018-2020 to build capacities for 100+ K4C mentors.
Knowledge for Change (K4C), will train next generation of mentors and leaders in Community Based Research (CBR) to a global standard developed by UNESCO Chair on CBR around the world, especially in global south and excluded north.
The critical challenges facing humanity today require new understandings and solutions. Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will require new insights and connections locally and globally. New understandings and innovative solutions have been shown to be catalyzed through co-construction of knowledge carried out in respectful partnerships with local communities. UNESCO Chair has developed global standards of curriculum and pedagogy for training next generation of researchers in CBR. Recent studies have demonstrated a growing demand for learning CBR methodology amongst practitioners and students alike, especially in hitherto excluded contexts in global south.