Children & Youth UCC

ren and young people, from a wide range of disciplines, including Applied Psychology, Applied Social Studies, Computer Science, Education, Geography, History, Law, Medicine, Nursing and Midwifery, Occupational Science, Occupational Therapy, Paediatrics and Child Health, Pharmacy and Sociology

The CYP cluster is an evolving network of academics, graduate students, researchers and practitioners within UCC, who aim to collaborate, promote awareness and disseminate research with and for children and young people. The network values diversity and debate within this forum

Characteristics of the network:

· Commitment to research that recognises the diversity of childhood, that values a whole-child perspective, that is concerned with agency and well-being

· Encompasses issues affecting children and young people from a ‘whole-child’ perspective, at all stages of life from infancy and early childhood to young adulthood;

· Employs a wide range of research methods, but places particular emphasis on methods that promote the active participation of children and young people;

· Is underpinned by a commitment to the principles in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child;

· Seeks to influence academic debates, professional practice and policy-making locally, nationally and internationally. Aims:

· To create a sustainable, inclusive active interdisciplinary network of researchers who are interested in collaborating around children and youth issues within UCC

· To promote collaborative, interdisciplinary research activity

· To influence policy for children and youth by engaging with researchers, policymakers, and service providers

· To disseminate research activities to diverse audiences, including practitioners, funders, policymakers, researchers and the general public

· To share experience and develop capacity for research relating to children and young people. Objectives

· To foster and develop links between research and practice in order to improve the lives of families, children and youths.

· To promote participative methodologies

· To promote under-graduate and post-graduate research with children and young people including dissemination and the development of post-graduate programmes in the area of children and youth research.

· To support practitioner research

· To promote the application of research in education

· To enhance and develop links with international researchers in this field;

· To seek funding opportunities