July 14, 2004 - 5:00pm
Malaspina University-College stands to receive a $2.5-million investment for new research projects in tourism and early childhood development.
Two recent funding proposals from Malaspina have received approval-in-principle under the provincial government’s Leading Edge Endowment Fund (LEEF).
The investment, if approved, would allow Malaspina to create two Regional Innovation Chairs - positions filled by selected faculty who would lead on-going community research activities.
One chair would work with aboriginal partners to design programs to strengthen and expand parenting and family supports. The second chair would organize research to increase tourism and sustainable development in rural communities. Opportunities offered by the 2010 Winter Olympics would be a special topic of investigation.
"LEEF will contribute up to $1.25 million for each chair if Malaspina can secure matching funds from the private sector," explained Liz Hammond-Kaarreemaa, Director of Research at Malaspina. "The investment would create a permanent endowment that would allow our researchers to carry out much-needed research," she added. "The entire community would benefit."
Dr. David Thomas, vice-president of instruction and research at Malaspina, said the institution is pleased that the provincial government has created the Leading Edge Endowment Fund (LEEF) to enhance B.C.’s status as an international leader in research.
"We’re also pleased that Malaspina University-College can proceed to the full proposal stage for the two regional innovation chairs," he said.
There were six regional innovation chairs available for university-colleges and colleges in the B.C. LEEF competition. "The fact that Malaspina received two of these chairs is a clear recognition of the research capability that our faculty and the institution has developed," Thomas added.
"The two research chairs will complement research already underway and further enhance Malaspina’s contribution to regional economic, social and educational development."
The Leading Edge Endowment Fund was established in 2002, in fulfillment of the government's New Era commitment to establish permanent leadership chairs across B.C. in the fields of medical, social, environmental and technological research.
Tags: In the Community
