On 6 November 2023, the Goethe University Frankfurt and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI) announced another significant addition to their existing scientific cooperation in the field of childhood research: The two universities signed a cooperation agreement to establish the ‘Center for Childhood and Child Welfare in Context’.
The collaboration builds on a long-standing partnership characterised by extensive research, support for early career researchers and excellence in university teaching. Notable joint initiatives include an international study on the well-being of children, other empirical studies on the rights, interests and needs of children and adolescents, as well as research on violence and neglect in families or educational institutions in both Germany and Israel. The two universities have also been holding an annual German-Israeli Master’s seminar since 2016.
The main aim of this latest research cooperation is to deepen and expand academic and scientific cooperation in both childhood as well as social science research. The new ‘Center for Childhood and Child Welfare’ will focus on a number of topics, including the implementation of children’s rights, dealing with structural bottlenecks such as a shortage of skilled workers, and experiences with displacement, among others. In addition, the centre will also research issues related to professionalisation, quality, digitality, digitalisation, global warming and biodiversity. Another one of its aims is to help ensure children and adolescents have a voice in research, and to examine age as a social category.
Scientists from a wide array of different disciplines – such as childhood and family research, educational science, pedagogy, migration research, social work and healthcare – from both universities will be involved in the centre, which sets out to deliver an innovative contribution to global childhood research and promote networking in this field.
Source and additional information: Hebrew University of Jerusalem