Jorge Sousa

Jorge Sousa is a Professor of Adult Community and Higher Education at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Education and currently serves as Vice-Dean of Faculty Development and Faculty Affairs. He holds adjunct roles at Cape Breton University and George Brown College. His academic journey includes a PhD from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (University of Toronto), an MA from the same institution, and a BA from York University.

Research & Teaching
Dr. Sousa’s research focuses on the intersection of adult education and community development, particularly in strengthening Canada’s social economy. Key areas include non-profit governance, cooperative housing models, and public policy for community economic development. He teaches courses such as Adult Learning and Development and Directed Research Project, emphasizing participatory methodologies and community-based learning.

Administrative & Service Roles
He has held leadership roles including Acting Chair of the Department of Educational Policy Studies and Director of the Work and Learning Network. He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Nonprofit and Social Economy Research and was a speaker for the Association of Academic Staff, University of Alberta (AASUA).

Grants & Partnerships
His research has been funded by SSHRC and other bodies, focusing on topics like social economy sustainability, cooperative housing, and policy frameworks. Notable projects include the Work Integration Social Enterprises Longitudinal Evaluation and studies on public housing conversions to cooperatives.

Affiliations
He is affiliated with organizations such as the Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation (CASC) and the Social Economy Centre at the University of Toronto. His work bridges academic research with practical community initiatives, emphasizing participatory approaches.