Amanda Benjamin

Education

• PhD University of British Columbia (2006)
• MA Concordia University (1999)
• BA York University (1995)

Key areas of interest

Amanda’s research examines transitions to adulthood for youth and the effects of the labour market and precarious employment on attaining successful adulthood. Amanda's recent publications include a book chapter entitled A Re-Imagination of The Transition to Adulthood: Transformative Learning and Bildung’s Function in The Lives of Youth, with Dr. Sarah B. Crymble. Another recent publication can be found in the proceedings for the annual Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education (CASAE) conference titled, Is the Ground Really Fertile? Entrepreneurship as a Labour Market Strategy in New Brunswick with Dr. Sarah B. Crymble and Kendra Haines.

Amanda is working on a variety of research projects. She is a Co-Investigator on a SSHRC Partnership Development Grant titled, Pathways to the Future: Understanding the Aspirations of First Nations Youth with colleagues at McGill, University of Manitoba and University of Victoria. She is also a Co-Investigator on a research project examining Labour Force Readiness for Aboriginal Youth funded by Atlantic Aboriginal Economic Development Integrated Research Program (AAEDIRP) with colleagues from the University of New Brunswick, St. Francis Xavier, and the University of Prince Edward Island.

Teaching

• ED 3115 Methods and Strategies for Teaching Adults
• ED 4042 Introduction to Adult Education
• ED 4012 Diversity of Inclusion in Adult Learning
• ED 4102 Transitions to Adulthood
• ED 6144 Adult Learning
• ED 6146 Advanced Methods and Strategies for Teaching Adults

Practicum/professional mentoring

• ED 3015 Practicum in Adult Education
• ED 5010 Advanced Practicum in Adult Education
• PLAR Assessor for the Faculty of Education

Professional practice, committees and volunteer work

• Board member (Secretary) Canadian Association for Studies in Adult Education

Publications

Benjamin, A., Crymble, S.B. & Haines, K. (2017). Is the Ground Really Fertile? Entrepreneurship as a Labour Market Strategy in New Brunswick. The Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education (CASAE) (p. 40-45). Conference Proceedings Toronto Ontario. May 27-31, 2017.

Benjamin, A. & Crymble, S. B. (2016). A Re-Imagination of The Transition to Adulthood: Transformative Learning and Bildung’s Function in The Lives of Youth. Anna Laros, Thomas Fuhr & Edward W. Taylor (Eds). p. 247-258. Transformative Learning Meets Bildung. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.

Haines, K. & Benjamin, A. (2016). The New Millennial Dream: The Changing Discourse on Education and Employment found in New Brunswick’s push for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education (CASAE). Conference Proceedings (p.126-132). Calgary, Alberta. May 29-31, 2016.

Benjamin, A. Domene, J. & Landine, K. (2014) Constructing the Future in the Liminal Spaces between Adolescence and Adulthood: Responsibilities, Careers, and Social Contexts. Canadian Journal of Career Development, 13(1), 47-59.

Benjamin, A. & Haines, K. (2015). Transitions to Adulthood: What Do We Know, What Do We Need to Know? The Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education (CASAE). Conference Proceedings (p. 29-33). Montreal, Quebec. June 9-11, 2015.

Benjamin, A. & Crymble, S. B. (2014). Theorizing transitions to adulthood: Exploring liminal and transformative spaces. The Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education (CASAE). Conference Proceedings (p.19-25). St. Catherine’s, Ontario. May 27-31, 2014.

Benjamin, A., White, M., MacKeracher, M., & Stella, K. (2013). The Impact of Globalization for Adult Education and Higher Education in a Have-Not Province. Brock Journal of Educational Research, 22(2), 28-40.

Benjamin, A. (2012) Listening in the Liminal: In Between Spaces in Critical Qualitative Research with Youth. In G. S. Cannella & S. Steinberg (Eds.), p.379-389. The Critical Qualitative Research Reader (CQR). New York: Peter Lang Publishing. (Invited Chapter)

Benjamin, A., White, M., MacKeracher, M., & Stella, K. (2012). Riding the River: Adult Education in a Have-Not province. The Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education (CASAE). Conference Proceedings (p.19-25). Waterloo, Ontario. May 27-31, 2012.

St Clair, R. & Benjamin, A. (2011). Performing Desires: The Dilemma of Aspirations and Educational Attainment. British Educational Research Journal, 37(3), 501-517.

Benjamin, A., Hyslop-Margison, E. & Taylor, J. (2010). Democratic Learning in US Career Education, Journal of Career and Technical Education, 25(2), 120-32.

Benjamin, A. (2009). Turning Eastside Kids into Westside Kids: Employability Skills in the B.C. Career and Personal Planning Curriculum. The Journal of Educational Thought. 43(2),151-169.

Benjamin, A. (2009). Double Bagged or Fries With That: Adolescent Perceptions Of The Job Market In Four Urban Vancouver Secondary Schools. The Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 55(2), 143-156.

Butterwick, S. & Benjamin, A. (2006). The Road to Employability Through Personal Development: A Critical Analysis of the Silences and Ambiguities of the British Columbia (Canada) Life Skills Curriculum. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 25(1), 75-86.

Research reports

Oxner, M., Moore, D., McMillan, J, Orr, J., Carter, E., Sherman, A., Landine, J., Benjamin, A., Hennessey, M., Evans, G., & McDonald R (2017). Labour Force Readiness: The Pathway for Aboriginal Youth from High School into Post-Secondary Education and Workforce Engagement. Atlantic Aboriginal Economic Development Integrated Research Program (AAEDIRP)

St Clair, R. Kintrea, K. & Benjamin, A. (2010). Review of the Evidence on the Formation of Young People’s Aspirations. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation. York: York Publishing Services.

Turok, I., Kintrea, K., St Clair, R., & Benjamin, A. (2008). Interim Report for Shaping Educational Attitudes and Aspirations: The Influence of Parents, Place and Poverty. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation. York: York Publishing Services.