The Canadian Arab Institute (CAI) is a newly established charitable, non-partisan policy and community engagement think tank. It was founded with the aim of starting a new conversation about the life and contributions of Canadian Arabs and offering a unique perspective on public policy issues.
CAI generates original research that engages Canadian institutions and the public and helps improve understanding about the community. CAI is seeking authors to write a policy briefs on any of the following topics:
- - Professional Development of Young Canadian-Arabs
- - Campus Life of Young Canadian-Arabs
- - Young Canadian-Arab Social Values and Sense of Belonging
- - Young Canadian-Arab Identity: Navigating between Western and Eastern Cultures
We have acquired the results of a 2016 nation-wide survey that drew responses from Arab youth living in 12 Canadian cities (n = 867). This survey queried youth on a number of issues including their transnational connections, employment, campus life, and social issues. Participants in the 2016 surveys were not randomly selected and received full research ethics clearance by the University of Waterloo’s Office of Research. All quantitative data are held in Stata. In addition, focus groups were held in Toronto in 2016 discussing Professional Development and Workplace Experiences. Another set of focus groups were held in Montreal and Ottawa in the Spring of 2016 discussing topic 3 Canadian-Arab Social Values and Sense of Belonging and topic 4 Canadian-Arab Identity: Navigating between Western and Eastern Cultures, covering issues regarding identity, belonging, and cultural attitudes. All audio from focus groups have been transcribed into Word. All three focus groups had approximately 80 t0 100 participants. Both the quantitative data set and the qualitative data sets have been compiled, cleaned, and transcribed for analysis by selected researchers. Additional methodological information will be provided for interested candidates.
Policy Brief Requirements:
CAI is commissioning 4 policy briefs on the topics above. Each brief needs to be 3,000-5,000 words, written for a policy audience, summarize key research findings, recommend policy action, and meet the highest writing standards.
All briefs will undergo peer review of at least 2 experts in the field. Authors should have a PhD in related field, but a MA degree with strong references and work experience will be considered.
After successful peer review and upon satisfaction of the CAI research committee, $2,500 will be paid to the commissioned author. The committee may also request an op-ed to be written on the same policy brief and if successfully placed in a major Canadian news outlet, another $500 will be paid to commissioned author. The author will hold the title of CAI Senior Fellow and this designation must be used in the policy brief and op-ed, but not in non-authorized publications.
Application Process
Send an email to rania@canadianarabinstitute.org with the subject line [Call For Papers - last name of the submitting author], indicating your interest in submitting a paper before July 5, 2018.
Attach to the email:
- Your CV
- Sample of your work
Application Deadline and Timeline
The deadline for applications is July 5, 2018 . All applications will be reviewed and those who are selected will be notified no later than July 20, 2018. Selected applicants will work with CAI to develop the policy brief.
Final reviewed papers need to be ready by end of October 2018 for discussion at a symposium event in November 2018.
Please share this call for papers widely to your networks.