IMELDA

Marcelle and Louis Desrochers Institute for Heritage Studies and Transdisciplinary Research on Francophonies

Introduction

The challenges we face presently are global and transcend both national borders and traditional academic boundaries; we must adapt our research and teaching methods accordingly. The new Marcelle and Louis Desrochers Institute for Heritage Studies and Transdisciplinary Research on Francophonies (IMELDA) aims to meet these new research challenges and the new expectations of francophone communities in Western Canada without renouncing the main objectives of the two former research institutes of the Faculté Saint-Jean (Institut d'études canadiennes and Institut pour le Patrimoine de la francophonie de l'Ouest canadien).

The trans in transdisciplinary signifies between, across and beyond disciplines and compartmentalized approaches, for a better understanding of the complexities of the world. It also refers to collaborations between university and community stakeholders. It is also an expanded definition of heritage to include intangible heritage, and research in this area.

The vision and mandate of the new institute are aligned with two elements of For the Public Good, the University of Alberta's Strategic Plan:

Objective 9 (ii)

"Highlight and strengthen the role of Campus Saint-Jean as an institution reflecting and strengthening the linguistic duality of Canada and a Francophonie multiethnic from around the world."

Objective 12

"Build a Portfolio of Distinctive Research and Teaching Areas Where the University of Alberta is or Will be Recognized as a World Leader."

The vision and the mandate of the new institute are aligned and with orientation 2 of the strategic plan of Campus Saint-Jean (2016-2021), "to strenghten the culture of research and creation - interdisciplinarity and visibility of research".

Vision

The Institute is dedicated to the promotion and development of research and studies in the fields of Heritage and Francophonies from a transdisciplinary perspective.

The Institute wants to redefine, preserve and radiate the tangible and intangible heritage of Western Canada by combining the traces of the past with the present, and seeks to get out of yesterday's constraining silos to better meet the challenges of tomorrow.

View the recording of the launch of IMELDA below