Global BU: Dr Gloria Khamkar receives Global Ambassador Programme award from University of Saskatchewan

Congratulations to Dr Gloria Khamkar, Principal Academic in Journalism from the Faculty of Media and Communication, for her success in securing a Global Ambassador Programme award from the University of Saskatchewan in Canada.

Dr Khamkar is at the start of a collaboration with Dr Monica Hwang, Associate Professor, Sociology Department, from the University of Saskatchewan and the two put forward their bid at the end of 2023. Securing these travel awards was a highly competitive process, and both of their applications were successful.

The award provides funding for both academics to travel to each university to work together to develop ideas for future research. Both have a shared interest in immigrant radio and initially plan to explore this in Toronto.

During her visit to University of Saskatchewan, Dr Khamkar will conduct knowledge exchange activities with Dr Hwang. Dr Khamkar will be teaching on the Multiculturalism course that Dr Hwang runs and conduct research seminar in-person in March/April 2024. Dr. Hwang intends to visit Bournemouth University in the summer of 2024. During these visits, Dr Khamkar and Dr Hwang plan to develop a joint research project proposal on ‘Impact of community radio on refugee community development in the UK and Canada’. This project has a potential to shape the migration policies of the UK and Canada by offering evidence-backed insights on community radio’s impact.

Dr. Khamkar’s research interests align seamlessly with the research areas of University of Saskatchewan’s Sociology Department, which holds international acclaim for its research in globalisation, immigration, transnationalism, integration, and race/ethnic relations. Dr. Khamkar’s contribution to cultural and migration studies, particularly through her research and published work on ethnic community radio for migrants, including her book “The Evolution of British Asian Radio in England” published with Springer Nature in April 2023, promises to enrich the research and teaching environment of the USAsk’s Sociology Department. Dr Khamkar is also a community radio broadcaster. She is currently leading a study on ‘Mobile Storytelling with Ukrainian Migrants in Dorset, England’ to help with their integration process, in partnership with the Ukrainian Community Dorset. The invaluable insights she would bring will be a significant asset to both the staff and student community at University of Saskatchewan.

Smilarly, Dr. Hwang’s academic expertise bridges the fields of inequality, race, and politics. Her research has focused on ethno-racial inequality, social and political trust, and civic activity. Her projects include editing and authoring “Social Inequality in Canada: Dimensions of Disadvantage,” published with Oxford University Press in February 2022 and examining the racialization processes of East Asians during COVID-19. She conducted this research during Visiting Senior Research Fellowship at the London School of Economics and Political Science (January 2022-2023). She is currently leading a study about voting options for permanent residents in Saskatoon, in partnership with the City of Saskatoon and Saskatoon Open Door Society and is analysing the economic and political integration of Ukrainian migrants who arrived in Canada after Ukraine gained political independence. These studies are funded by the Research Junction Project and by the Canadian Centre for Ukrainian Studies.

BU signed a partnership agreement with University of Saskatchewan in 2023 and the two international offices have worked over the last twelve months to match academics in areas including science, nursing and media. The Global Engagement Hub team is now working towards a study exchange agreement with University of Saskatchewan and are identifying curriculum areas where this location will be of interest to students.

If you are interested in academic collaboration for research or in developing study exchange with University of Saskatchewan, please do get in touch at [email protected]. Find out more about University of Saskatchewan here.