The University of Ottawa Faculty of Education is pleased to announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Consortium Centre Jules-Léger (CCJL), a provincial schoolboard offering special education for Francophone elementary and high school students. This partnership marks the start of a new chapter, one of collaboration and sharing. It aims to strengthen French-language education in a minority setting through practical teaching, research and professional development initiatives.
A shared vision of serving Francophones
The partnership is built on a shared vision of raising the profile of French and promoting inclusive, equitable education, adapted to the needs of Francophone students, specifically, those with special needs. Combining their expertise, the two partners wish to create a space for innovation and reflection, to meet current and future challenges regarding French-language education in minority settings.
“The partnership with the University of Ottawa is important for the Consortium Centre Jules-Léger as we seek to offer the best possible services to Francophone special needs students in Ontario. This type of partnership will strengthen research projects and allow the University and the CCJL to build together in terms of the needs of the Francophone educational community”, said Jean-François Boulanger, director of education and secretary-treasurer, CCJL.
“This type of partnership will strengthen research projects and allow the University and the CCJL to build together in terms of the needs of the Francophone educational community.”
Jean-François Boulanger
— Director of education and secretary-treasurer, CCJL
Concrete spinoffs for training and research
The memorandum calls for implementing projects such as the following:
- Potentially organizing events looking at issues in French-language special education
- Participation in joint research projects dealing with inclusion, differentiated teaching and innovative practices in minority settings
- Development of continuing education for teachers and educational support staff
- Creation of placements for Faculty of Education students in consortium establishments
“This agreement fits perfectly with the direction of the Faculty of Education strategic plan and forms the basis of a collaboration meant to be lasting, flexible and fruitful. It seeks to practically meet the needs of education professionals working in the Francophone milieu with special needs students”, said Francis Bangou, dean of the Faculty of Education.
“This agreement [...] lays the foundation for a lasting, flexible collaboration that supports education professionals working in Francophone settings with students with special needs.”
Francis Bangou
— Dean of the Faculty of Education
A flexible framework for a lasting collaboration
Initially covering three years, the memorandum of understanding establishes a flexible, respectful and evolving framework for collaboration. It will allow the two parties to explore new avenues for cooperation in response to emerging needs in the school and university environments. This agreement is also consistent with a broader desire to strengthen links between practitioners and researchers, to benefit special education professionals and students, now and in the future.
Through this collaboration based on shared expertise, innovation and support of the two parties’ educational mission, the uOttawa Faculty of Education and the Consortium Centre Jules-Léger are reaffirming their joint commitment towards the promotion and growth of language and culture in Francophone minority settings, through education, research and training of a specialized Francophone workforce.