CBU’s Faculty in Education Receive Research Funding

Cape Breton University faculty in the Department of Education gained support from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) for three separate research projects, securing a total investment of $65,225 through Partnership Engage Grants.

Dr. Carolina Bergonzoni received $23,999 to enhance accessibility to Sydney’s arts scene, with a project titled Dancing Voices: An Audio Described Show. The ultimate goal is to increase opportunities for the Blind or Low Vision (BLV) community to engage with the arts. Dr. Bergonzoni, Assistant Professor in Education, says the project was brought to life thanks to an enthusiastic partnership with the Highland Arts Theatre Association (The HAT), a popular arts venue in downtown Sydney.

“The HAT is the perfect partner for this project, as they are committed to making live performances accessible to everyone, especially in rural areas like Cape Breton Island,” Dr. Bergonzoni says. “During this research project we will devise, write and provide Audio Description (AD) for a musical theatre production, produced by the HAT, in the Fall of 2025.”

Dr. Bergonzoni says this research is happening at a crucial time, as Nova Scotia aims to be fully accessible by 2030. “Considering that about 1.5 million Canadians identify as BLV, and another 5.5 million have eye conditions that could lead to blindness, this is an essential step toward ensuring that access to the arts is recognized as a human right,” she adds.

Dr. Katie Tremblay, Assistant Professor of Curriculum Studies in the Department of Education, was successful in her application to conduct a qualitative needs assessment of Cape Breton Victoria Regional Centre for Education (CBVRCE) K-12 music educators, with an award of $16,568.00. The main goal is to use the results of this assessment to determine relevant and meaningful professional development opportunities for music teachers.

This project will explore current practices of K-12 music teachers in the CBVRCE through small group, qualitative interviews that will inform a needs-based assessment. Dr. Tremblay explains that the landscape of music education has been changing to address the needs of a diverse group of students and teachers in the K-12 classroom.

“Teachers are increasingly engaged in conversations about EDIA, decolonizing practice and sustainability in the music classroom,” says Dr. Tremblay. “For teachers to be responsive to their students’ needs and interests, they need opportunities to participate in professional development that supports their ongoing practice while honoring their lived experience and music education expertise.”

CBU’s Dean of Education and Health, Dr. Ellyn Lyle, received $24,658.00 to examine the experience of international students in Canada through her project, Should I stay, or should I go now? Drivers of post-graduation mobility decisions of international students in rural university settings. At the end of 2023, Canada hosted more than one million international students, an increase of 200 per cent over the last 10 years. Dr. Lyle will undertake this project in partnership with the Canadian Bureau for International Education, a national organization that promotes and supports international education in Canada, and colleagues at Western University in Ontario.

“The aim of this research is to develop a survey tool that explores institutional and community factors that influence on international students’ retention, integration and employment in Canadian rural communities,” Dr. Lyle explains. “Using the lens of humanizing education, we seek to explore what universities, municipalities and community organizations are doing to support students’ decisions to remain in the rural communities following graduation, and with what effect. This fills an important research gap for our partner organization in evaluating the drivers that influence international students’ decisions to leave or remain in their rural setting after graduation.”

Congratulations to CBU recipients of SSHRC’s Partnership Engage Grants!