Challenges of Child Protection was one of the projects of ENVOIE (University of Groningen, Netherlands)
Summary
For this assignment, students will focus on one specific and contemporary challenge of the child protection system facing children and youth today in different countries. Examples of challenges include: teen pregnancy in care, violence among youth, child labour, transition to adulthood from public care, homelessness youth, LGBTQ children in care, promotion of children’s well-being in an educational context, race and culture in the child welfare system, involvement in the juvenile justice system, gender issues in the care system, children’s participation in decision-making, etc.
Groups of students from the master Youth Society and Policy (YSP) at the University of Groningen (RUG) and from the master Childhood and Youth Studies at the University of Sussex will choose a contemporary challenge of the child welfare system to analyse, with a comparative perspective, how the issue has been addressed in at least two countries where they live and/or study. The students will conduct a review of the research, policy and practice addressing the specific challenge in these countries. They will write a joint report of 10 to 15 pages extension.
The students from both study programmes will be in charge of communicating effectively all the information to their counterparts, providing them with the necessary literature to understand the challenge analysed. It is expected that the students have a series of online contacts (at least 3 videoconference interactions) using Blackboard Collaborate at the Student portal, Skype or any other videoconference tool of their choice. The students will use online document platforms to write the joint report. In addition, they will keep a log or diary narrating their experience and reflecting on the knowledge acquisition process.
Partners
| Partner / department | Course | Language of instruction | Number of students |
| University of Groningen, Pedagogical and Educational Sciences |
MA Youth Society and Policy | English | 10 |
| University of Sussex, UK Social Work and Social Care |
MA Childhood and Youth Studies | English | 3 |
Start and end date
November 2018 – December 2018
Duration
5 weeks
Discipline
Social and behavioural sciences
Integration and assessment
The students will write a joint report of 10 to 15 pages extension. After the completion of the task, the students from the YSP master will provide a 20-minute presentation in the classroom about the contemporary challenge addressed during their online exchange. During the presentation, attention will be given to the differences and similarities between the countries analysed. Moreover, students must provide advice on new policy or interventions that could more effectively address the challenge in the countries analysed.
Technology tools used
– Learning environment
Blackboard
– Collaboration tools
Skype, Google docs, Basecamp.
– Reflection tool
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