In a world of super-diversity, of migratory movements and social, political, economic, and technological upheavals, the Portuguese language has taken on a global position. This reality is clearly manifested on the internet, in large part due to the constant growth of the Lusophone communities around the world and the intensification of local and diasporic relationships. Today, perhaps more than ever, Portuguese language is a unifying factor and a predominant source of identity in those countries where it is an official language, as well as their expatriate communities.  In addition, the interest in the Portuguese language is visible in its value as a transnational language in the global economy, a value evidenced in the growing demand in Asia and Latin America.

The Lusophone world has created several congregational structures at various levels (The International Institute of Portuguese Language, the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries, the Observatory of the Portuguese Language, to name a few), which have produced synergies and movements between its transnational communities, thus contributing to Lusofonia´s rising international visibility.

This international conference seeks to gather researchers from various fields interested in the Lusophone world, whose research falls within York University’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies mission - namely, within the disciplines of Social Sciences and Humanities, though not exclusively.

This conference will take place in one of the world’s most multicultural cities, where several communities from Lusophone countries and regions, such as Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Macau, and Goa, co-exist harmoniously within the Toronto’s cultural fabric. York University’s iconic Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies is the largest in Canada. This is one of the two Canadian universities that offer a degree in Portuguese & Luso-Brazilian Studies (BA or Honours Minor), which will celebrate ten years of existence in 2018. York University also hosts the Canadian Centre for Azorean Research and Studies (CCARS), the Associação de Estudos Lusófonos/Lusophone Studies Association and Projeto de História Luso-canadiana/Portuguese Canadian History project.

This conference aims to promote interdisciplinary dialogue about the following themes: 1) the revaluation of the status and role of the Social Sciences and Humanities in university curricula; ii) the internationalization of Lusophone studies; iii) the presence of language and Lusophone cultures in various professional/disciplinary areas; iv) the teaching of foreign languages in higher education, especially Portuguese; v) the relationship between universities and local communities; vi) the interaction between businesses and universities as creators of professional opportunities within the Lusophone world; vii) experiential education and its role as promoter of synergies among surrounding communities; viii) new methods of teaching and learning, and pedagogical projects (flipped classroom, active, collaborative and meaningful learning/teaching; inter-comprehension); ix) teaching of culture, history, and Lusophone literatures; x) youth/student involvement and/or engagement in academic and social initiatives.