Guest Lecturer: How to Conduct Participatory Action Research (PAR), Melis Cin, Lancaster University, 28 November 2023.
Melis Cin's expertise, as a feminist researcher, and academic advisor of FEJUST Chair, centres on the intricate connections between education and international development. Her academic pursuits deeply explore the various aspects of education, with a particular emphasis on its role in promoting gender equality and contributing to peacebuilding efforts. What makes her work noteworthy is its challenge to traditional policies and practices through the application of a critical, intersectional, and decolonial feminist analytical framework.
In her research, Cin employs socially engaged art interventions as a methodological approach, aiming to uncover the unique aspects of peace within both formal and informal educational settings. She actively contributes to shaping and implementing peace education initiatives in areas affected by conflict. Importantly, her research seamlessly integrates arts and humanities methodologies into the broader discussion on international development.
A distinguishing feature of Cin's work lies in the application of arts methods within marginalized populations in the Global South. This innovative approach is designed to raise awareness, catalyze changes at the community level, and facilitate public discussions on critical political and social issues relevant to these communities.
Melis Cin has also applied her feminist expertise to the realm of EU studies. Notably, she held the position of co-holder for the Jean Monnet Module on Women’s Development and Europeanization of Gender Policies, hosted at Istanbul Ticaret University from 2017 to 2020. As an output of this project, she co-edited the publication titled 'Feminist Framing of Europeanization: Gender Equality Policies in Turkey and the EU. ' This book was reviewed by Dr. Hanna L. Muehlenhoff, a leading scholar in the field of Gendering EU Studies.
Through sharing her extensive experiences from various projects, Melis Cin gave training to students associated with the FEJUST Chair. Her expertise extends to guiding students in the use of participatory action research techniques, employing videography and photography to collaboratively generate knowledge alongside the involved communities. This comprehensive approach underscores Cin's dedication to fostering inclusive and community-driven research methodologies within the realm of international development. For those interested in exploring more on PAR, please follow Dr. Cin’s lecture held on 28 November 2023, which attracted 57 participants.
EN
