MARIA JOSEP CASCANT SEMPERE
PDI-Ajudant Doctor/A
Knowledge area: SOCIOLOGY
Department: Sociology and Social Anthropology
Despatx/Office 3D08, facultat de ciències socials / faculty of social sciences
Biography
Studies
- Degree in sociology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bachelor's Degree Extraordinary Award (1999-2003)
- Erasmus grant - 1 year at the University of East London, UK (2001-2002)
- Master in gender at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Sussex University, UK (2005-2006). Fieldwork in Angola (2 months).
- PhD in international development at the IDS, Sussex University, UK (2012-2016). Fieldwork in Nigeria (6 months).
- Predoctoral scholarships: La Caixa (Master in UK); Mutua Madrileña (PhD in UK).
- Working languages. Advanced in English, French and Portuguese; bilingual in Spanish and Valencian.
Research
- 1st six-year term certificate of research (by the Spanish government) – 2017-2022
- Co-Principal Investigator Art83 at the University of Castelló, 2022-2023 – "Citizen participation in rural areas of Castelló" (Valencian Government, partnership, €20,000)
- Principal Investigator at the Open University, visiting fellow, UK, 2020-2022. Studies: “Citizen participation in fragile countries, Myanmar, Nigeria and Zimbabwe” (UKAid, competitive, £224,773) and “Feminist Agroecology in Sao Paulo Brazil" (British Council, competitive, £162,762).
- Full-time researcher in London in the research department of the NGO Christian Aid, 2016-2020. Studies: “Tax discrimination against female vendors in local markets in Nigeria” (Gates Foundation, competitive, £ 10,000); “Substitution models for coca in Peasant Reserve Zones in Colombia” (Christian Aid, own funds, £15,000) ; "Factors that contribute to the improvement of public services in remote areas of Sierra Leone” (UKAid, competitive, £15,000)
- Research member. Studies: "International municipal cooperation in the Valencian Community" with the University of Valencia (Valencian Fund); "Inequalities and youth emancipation - a global comparison" with Oxfam and the University of Lleida (Catalan Government).
- Research interests: citizen participation, democracy and public services; inequality and poverty; international development; participatory action research; university democratisation and university-civil society collaborations.
Outreach and international experience
- Spain - Coordination of the "Strategic Plan of International Development 2024-2026" for the University Jaume I of Castelló, Vice-Rectorate of Equality, 2023.
- Spain - Courses on citizen participation for civil servants of the Valencian administration, UV, UJI, 2023.
- Various - Research officer and freelance consultant with NGOs and unions, 2006-2012 (6 years). Training and research experience in 23 countries, including Central America, Burundi, Colombia, Philippines, Ghana, India, Morocco, DRC, and Sierra Leone.
- South Africa - Research & Evaluation Officer, Development NGO SARN, 2008 (1 year) – creation of evaluation framework on popular education, multilingual in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish (financed by the Open Society Institute, dvv, ActionAid)
- Portugal - Research officer for the Feminist NGO UMAR, 2007 (1 year) – employment discrimination against women in fishing in the Azores (financed by the Fisheries Department, Government of the Azores)
- Burundi - Research Intern in the NGO CONCERN, 2006 (3 months) – study on catch-up classes in primary education in a postconflict context.
- Belgium, France & Portugal - Research Intern in popular education and gender equality with youth and feminist associations, 2003-2005 (2 years).
- Professional scholarships: Leonardo in Belgium (6 months); EU volunteering in France (1 year); Eurodysée in Portugal (6 months).
Teaching
- 2023-2024. Lecturer, University of València – teacher training, social work, sociology and politics, master in international development, postgraduate course in citizen participation
- 2022-2023. Lecturer, University Jaume I of Castelló – teacher training, audiovisual communication
- 2020-2022. Associate lecturer, University of Valencia – teacher training, social work, secondary school teacher training master
- 2012. Assistant lecturer, IDS, Sussex University, UK – master in participation, masters in international development
- 2008-2011 & 2020-2023. Assistant lecturer, Technical University of València – master in international development
- Teaching/thesis interests: political sociology; activism and social change; international development and decoloniality; poverty and inequalities; sociolinguistics; sociology of education; sociology of communication.