Goethe University Frankfurt and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI) have recently announced a significant step in their ongoing scientific collaboration in the field of childhood studies. The two esteemed universities formalized their collaboration in this field by signing a cooperation agreement to establish 'The Center for Childhood and Child Welfare in Context'.
Expanding Collaboration
The long-standing partnership between Hebrew University and Goethe University Frankfurt is characterized by extensive cooperation in research, encompassing a great variety of disciplines from plant, sciences, social sciences and law, to computer science and Jewish Studies. It also includes a new student exchange agreement. The present collaboration in the field of childhood studies is based on extensive research, support for early career researchers, and excellence in university teaching. Its initiatives include the International Study of Children’s Well Being, activities of the International Society for Child Indicators, and joint research on child sexual abuse inquiries in both Germany and Israel. Additionally, an annual German-Israeli master’s seminar has been conducted since 2016.
Give Children A Voice
The primary goal of this research cooperation is to deepen and broaden the academic and scientific collaboration in childhood and social science research. The newly established Center will focus on critical topics such as children's well-being, rights, welfare, vulnerability, violence, abuse, and neglect. In addition, it will explore questions related to professionalization, quality, digitality, digitalization, global warming, biodiversity, and the environment. The aim is to give children a voice, address issues of precarity and vulnerability, and examine age as a social category.
Multidisciplinary and International
The Center will engage academic researchers from various disciplines, including childhood research, family research, educational science, pedagogy, migration research, social work, and healthcare from both universities. The ultimate goal is to become an integral part of the international childhood studies community and enhance global networking in this field.
"This collaboration between The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Goethe University Frankfurt is a testament to our shared commitment to advancing research in childhood studies. By joining forces, we aim to provide a brighter and more secure future for children worldwide. Through our combined expertise and dedication, we can make a real difference in understanding and improving the lives of children and families." - Professor Asher Ben-Arieh, Dean of the School of Social Work and Social Welfare from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
"I am delighted to see our two universities pool their respective strengths and potential even more in the field of childhood research, which is so important to our society. The Center for Childhood and Child Welfare in Context further intensifies and expands our existing close cooperation. I would like to thank everyone involved at both universities, first and foremost among them Prof. Asher Ben-Arieh and Prof. Sabine Andresen, for their great commitment to making this future-oriented international cooperation possible." - Goethe University President Prof. Enrico Schleiff
"Our experiences with the master's seminars especially, in which students from Frankfurt and Jerusalem not only learn together, but also discuss and compare what it was like to grow up in both countries, have led us to deepen the cooperation. For students who will later work in youth welfare offices or as child protection specialists for example, this exchange about both systems, about tailor-made services or barriers to the protection of children and adolescents is game-changing. We also found that a lot of friendships have emerged from these seminars.” - Prof. Sabine Andresen, Professor of Educational Science at Goethe University Frankfurt