Student Award

THE CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF CO-OPERATIVES invites applications for new, one-time awards. The successful applicants will be students whose thesis research is relevant to the topic of Co-operatives and Social Cohesion; who register and continue in graduate programs at the University of Saskatchewan; and who agree to participate in the university’s Centre for the Study of Co-operatives. The awards are not restricted by discipline, and both disciplinary and interdisciplinary proposals will be welcomed.

The Centre for the Study of Co-operatives (CSC) is an interdisciplinary centre for research, teaching, and outreach related to co-operatives. The centre is the base for a recently awarded Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) strategic grant on the subject of “Co-opera-tive Membership and Globalization: Creating Social Cohesion through Market Relations.” This three-year project, involving co-investigators and community partners across Canada, will examine the interconnections between co-operative membership and community cohesiveness in a variety of settings. Clusters of research will include consumer identities in large urban centres, rural regionali-zation and community identities, co-operation and Aboriginal cultures, and construction of commu-nity by means of information technologies such as the Internet. We foresee the award holders con-ducting individual thesis research that is relevant or applicable to one of these clusters, or more gen-erally to the interactions between economic relations and community identities in Canada. Prefer-ence will be given to applicants whose thesis research will specifically involve co-operatives or related membership-based organizations, and to students new to the University of Saskatchewan. Other applicants will be considered according to the applicability of their research subjects or methods to the larger project.

The university provides a unique and supportive environment for the study of community-based organizations. The Centre for the Study of Co-operatives is one of Canada’s leading institutes for research on the membership-based economy. The university also hosts the Community-University Institute for Social Research (a SSHRC-funded community-university research alliance) and many programs concerned with community, community development, community health, Aboriginal law and culture, and other relevant topics. Major university research thrusts include identity and diver-sity, Aboriginal populations, and technology and social change. Prominent scholars form a rich network with a potential to mentor graduate students in various disciplines and forms of research.

Students will have the opportunity to work with a cross-Canada interdisciplinary research team of scholars. Office space and computer workstations will be provided, and students will enjoy research support from project team members, centre fellows and scholars, and the professional staff and research resources of the centre and university.

TERMS OF AWARDS: The awards consist of an academic scholarship or fellowship covering the eight-month regular academic term (scholarship, $12,000, or graduate teaching fellowship, $10,000); these amounts include both a scholarship component and a research-assistantship component, which will involve working several hours per week. In addition, award holders will be eligible for full-time summer research assistantships at standard university employment rates (approximately an additional $8,000--$9,000 for the summer). As research assistants, students will be employees of the CSC working on research and publications related to the larger SSHRC grant, and will have opportunities to parti-cipate and interact with scholars and community partners as members of the project team. Awards are renewable for up to two years.

To hold the award, each successful applicant must be admitted to and progress within a graduate program at the University of Saskatchewan; pursue thesis research relevant to the award; and parti-cipate in the Centre for the Study of Co-operatives. The centre will help co-ordinate the student’s application to an academic program if needed.

QUALIFICATIONS: A record of excellent academic performance, including first-class grades in a relevant academic program or equivalent, is the primary selection criterion for this award. As indicated, preference will be given to students new to the U of S and to those whose research specifically concerns co-operatives.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: Applications will be accepted until the next round of awards is complete.

Please address inquiries to:

Dr. Brett Fairbairn, Director
Centre for the Study of Co-operatives
University of Saskatchewan
101 Diefenbaker Place
Saskatoon SK Canada S7N 5B8
Phone: (306) 966-8505 / Fax: (306) 966-8517
E-mail: brett.fairbairn@usask.ca
Website: http://coop-studies.usask.ca

Admission requirements for new students wishing to undertake graduate studies at the University
of Saskatchewan can be found on the website of the College of Graduate Studies and Research:
http://usask.ca/cgsr/

Funding for these awards is being provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
of Canada, the College of Graduate Studies and Research and the College of Arts and Science,
University of Saskatchewan.