International partnership expands: UBCO-Exeter Excellence initiative

On December 7, UBC Okanagan and the University of Exeter renewed and expanded the institutions’ Statement of Cooperation to further strengthen the relationship and encourage cooperation in the areas of academic exchange, education and research. Building on previous collaborations, the universities have established the UBCO-Exeter Excellence initiative. This includes the creation of three funding schemes over the next three years, in the form of Initiator and Catalyst Grants and a Visiting Scholar Joint Fellowship Scheme. The grant lines will help academics at Exeter and in UBC Okanagan’s Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies (FCCS) and Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences to tackle research and/or education challenges through collaboration.

“UBC and Exeter are engaging through partnership to address some really vital, shared challenges of our time,” said Exeter’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, External Engagement, Professor Mark Goodwin. “The Excellence initiative will enable people of both institutions to work together and combine their knowledge and expertise to generate new knowledge, new opportunities for faculty and students, and bring impact to our communities.” Dr. Greg Garrard, Associate Dean Research & Graduate Studies, FCCS, who represented UBC at the agreement signing added, “it has been an absolute pleasure to visit the Streatham campus, meet with scholars undertaking innovative research, and renew UBC Okanagan’s partnership with the University of Exeter. I’m confident the joint funding we’re announcing will take our existing collaboration to a new level.”

Applications are available online and due February 9, 2022.