The Centre for Applied Cross-cultural Research (CACR) is part of the School of Psychology at Victoria University of Wellington. The Centre was established with the mandate to respond to the challenges of globalisation, migration and growing cultural diversity by developing sound theory and research in cross-cultural psychology[1].
The Centre is Co-Directed by Professor Colleen Ward, and Professor James Liu.
The Centre for Applied Cross-cultural Research was established in 2004. Since its establishment, the Centre has been involved with contributing to the discussion of diversity and cultural issues on a national and international level. The Centre has collaborated with the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, through cooperative projects including annual Race Relations reports [2] [3] [4] [5] and Diversity Forums [6] [7]. The Centre has also been featured on the television series Asia Downunder for its research on the experience of Asian communities in New Zealand [8], and on Radio New Zealand for its analysis of multiculturalism in Europe and New Zealand [9].
CACR provides consultation and training programs, and has been commissioned by government agencies to work on various projects, including the development of a cultural competence training program for all New Zealand police staff. Delivery of the programme commenced in 2013 [10].
CACR has also worked with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to examine attitudes toward migrants, and migrant experience in New Zealand [11], and with the New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils to assess issues of diversity in New Zealand, including the effectiveness and influence of information sources provided to New Zealand immigrants [12], the issue of migrant employment in New Zealand [13], and the integration process of new migrants [14].
International
The Centre for Applied Cross-cultural Research has a global network of researchers, representing leading contributors in cross-cultural research, to develop international collaboration. International honorary members include Dr. Anita Mak, Dr. Dan Landis, Dr. Harry Triandis, and Dr. John Berry.
Research conducted by the Centre has received international interest; with both Time [15] and Science Daily [16] publicizing stories on CACR study “Money Can’t Buy Happiness” [17], and Phys.org, a leading web-based science, research and technology news service, publicizing CACR research on the role of extreme rituals in prosocial behaviours [18] .