Global College
Institute for Health and Human Potential
Director: Dr. Michelle Owen
email: m.owen@uwinnipeg.ca
phone: 204.786.9973
About the Director
About the Institute
2011 Summer Institute: Disability Studies: (Re)Imagining Disability
2010 Summer Institutes in Infectious Diseases
New B.A. and B.Sc. in Disability Studies
About the Director
Dr. Michelle Owen is a 
professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Winnipeg, and is the coordinator of the
Disability Studies joint program with the University of Manitoba and Red
River College. Dr. Owen joined the Global College as Director of the Institute for Health and Human Potential in April of 2011.
View the news release on Dr. Owen's appointment
About the Institute
The
adage “Health is Wealth” implies that, given good health, each individual is
capable of delivering optimum productivity. Thus, protection and preservation
of the health of our local and global citizenry are our mandate. To achieve
this mandate, we will employ whatever resources are available, ranging from
trivial to profound; and local to global.
Winnipeg is widely recognized as a national centre for disability activism and scholarship. Our city is home to both the Canadian Centre on Disability Studies and the Council of Canadian's with Disabilities. The University of Winnipeg is located in downtown Winnipeg where a high proportion of people with disabilities reside. According to the UW mission statement, accessibility and excellence are both important mandates, and it is committed to developing relationships with marginalized learners. The University of Winnipeg has a growing population of students with disabilities, and hopes to attract more in the future. The new Interdisciplinary Bachelors in Disability Studies at The University of Winnipeg is unique in that it came about as part of a community initiative. The focus of the program is the critical analysis of disability in society which includes the study of disability as a social, scientific, cultural, historical, and political construction. Winnipeg is now host to a two-year Diploma in Disability and Community Support at Red River College, a BA in Disability Studies at UW, and a Masters in Disability Studies at the University of Manitoba.
The University of Winnipeg and its Global College bring together
world-renowned scholars and researchers, along with students, professionals,
and community members to advance knowledge about disability, public health, infectious
diseases and the potential impact they can have on our local and global
communities.
The Global College's Institute for Health and Human Potential provides a
forum for critical exploration through teaching, research and community
involvement of the evolving terrain of global public health and disability.
Summer Institute 2011
Disability Studies: (Re)Imagining Disability
Professors: Michelle Owen,
Disability Studies, University of Winnipeg and
Nancy Hansen,
Disability Studies, University of Manitoba
July 4-15, 2011 | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
HRGS-2650
- Download the Syllabus (subject to change prior to course start date)
During this inaugural summer institute we will strive to (re)imagine disability! This course is designed to provide students with grounding in disability studies and promote exploration of current topics in the field. The shift from the bio-medical model of disability to the social model opened the way for disability activism and critical disability studies. Primary importance will be placed on the development of analytical skills and critical thinking.
 |
Take this course in-class or online! - lectures are videotaped in
the UofW Studio and are posted online. Class discussions and assignment
submissions are via WebCT. A high-speed internet connection is required. |
Summer Institute 2010
Summer Institute in Infectious Disease III: Impact of Infectious Diseases on Local and Global Investment and Development
Course Number: 2000 level (MULTI-2119/3)
4000 level (MULTI-4119/4.5)
7000 level (MULTI-7119/6) & (MULTI-7219/4)
Dates: June 8-12, 2009
More Information: (download PDF)
Course Description: This Summer Institute will
provide a forum for renowned local and international clinicians and
researchers in infectious diseases - as well as researchers and scholars
in policy, business and economics - to present an overview of new
knowledge at the cutting edge, to inquisitive and motivated students
and participants. Formal lectures will be complemented with round table
discussions (involving students/participants and the Instructors) on
the various areas covered. Thus, the course would also engender
dialogue on the place of infectious diseases in dictating investments
locally and globally by critically exploring the impact of a plethora
of infectious diseases on the development of many communities,
including Canadian Aboriginals.
The infectious diseases to be discussed include the three major ones:
- HIV/AIDS
- malaria
- tuberculosis;
plus many other neglected ones
(leishmaniasis, brucellosis, etc) as well as emerging diseases (human
and veterinary - SARS, Ebola, mad cow, etc).
Appropriate background
coverage (as necessary) is presented on the scientific, clinical,
epidemiological, social, and diagnostic aspects of the diseases. Health
Economics as well as issues relating to investments and the evolution
of emerging markets will be emphasized. SIIDIII will generate possible
strategies and paradigms for action to ensure that the flow of
investments into a variety of communities is not hindered by fear of
infections.
Students are expected to synthesize presented materials and
to work with a group to create, for presentation, a potentially
workable strategy applicable in one named scenario of investor and
infectious disease-endemic nation.
Instructor: Dr. Michael Eze, various guest lecturers
New B.A. and B.Sc. in Disability Studies
The University of Winnipeg is offering a new Bachelor's program in Disability Studies with B.A. and B.Sc. options effective September 2010, a first in the province of Manitoba, and among the first in Canada. More than 10 years in development, the new degrees are the result of extensive involvement by educators, disability activists and community members and bridge a crucial gap. Currently a 2 year diploma in Disability and Community Support is offered by Red River College and an Interdisciplinary Disability Studies Masters degree is available at the University of Manitoba.The UWinnipeg degrees (B.A 3 year, 4 year and Honours; B.Sc 3 year, 4 year and Honours) will be of particular interest to people with disabilities, students who want to study disability in a critical fashion, people with an interest in providing disability services, educators, caregivers and therapists. UW currently offers two introductory courses in Disability Studies and a second year course in disability theory.
“Disability Studies is an emerging and critically important field of study and creating these Bachelor degrees dovetails with our strong commitment to inclusivity, human rights and diversity,” said Dr.Lloyd Axworthy, President and Vice-Chancellor, UWinnipeg. “Our campus is located downtown where a high proportion of people with disabilities reside. Our mandate is to reach out and support traditionally under-represented students, including those with disabilities. By offering a strong undergraduate foundation in Disability Studies here in Manitoba, we are also providing a seamless springboard for those who want to continue on to the Masters level without leaving the province.”
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