W. Duffie Vanbalkom

Duffie VanBalkom came to the University of Calgary in 1998 as the Associate Vice President (International) and Executive Director of the International Centre. He previously served as Dean of Education at Bishop’s University, and conducted research and/or taught in six universities in three countries. His international experiences have taken him, in various capacities, to over three dozen countries. He has served on a number of national and international boards, primarily in the field of international development.

Dr. VanBalkom’s scholarly interests focus on the role of education in international development, and particularly in post-conflict contexts. Within these settings, he studies the role of curriculum, leadership and communication in conflict and peace.

Current Projects:

“Schools and Inter-ethnic Peace Making: Multiple Case Studies in the Former Yugoslavia” (SSHRC).

PhD
McGill University

BA
Concordia University

Dr. VanBalkom provides support to a number of international agencies, ministries and governments in developing countries, as they manage educational reform initiatives, including:

• The United Nations Institute of Training and Research (UNITAR)’s Afghan Fellowship Program
• The Royal Education Council of Bhutan’s establishment of a new Teacher Education Institute, focused on GNH
• The University of Pristina, Kosovo

VanBalkom, W.D. & Beara, M. (2012, in press). Making or breaking the peace: The role of schools in peace making. In Olivera Simic, Zala Volcic & Catherine Philpot (Eds.). Peace Psychology in the Balkans: Dealing with a Violent Past while Building Peace. New York, NY: Springer.

Jaques, L. & VanBalkom, W.D. (2011). International Social Development Projects. In Lynn Healy & Rosemary Link (Eds.) Handbook on International Social Work. (chapter 62). London: Oxford University Press.

VanBalkom, W.D. & Eastham, S. (2011). Education and Development: Twelve considerations for Transformative Practice. In W. D. VanBalkom (Ed.). “Education and International Development” a special edition of International Education. Vol. 40(2), 22-39.

VanBalkom, W.D. (2010). “Educational Transformation with a New Global Urgency”. In Perspectives on Education: Voices of Eminent Canadians LEARNing Landscapes, Vol.3(2), 147-154.

VanBalkom, W.D. (2010). “Learning Centered University Engagement as a Transformative Process.” International Journal of Arts and Sciences. Vol. 3(11), 503-510.