Developing Young Researchers

The Center for the Study of Childhood and Adolescence in partnership with KTÖS, the Cyprus Turkish Teachers' Trade Union, is currently carrying out a bi-communal educational project entitled: ‘Training Teachers to Train Children in Social Research Methods: Developing Young Researchers’. The project is funded by UNDP-Act. Its aim is to bring together teachers from all the communities of the island and to train them on issues related to the participation of children in social research as researchers. A team of scholars, from both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, with expertise in social research methods, has been appointed to act as the programme’s trainers. The programme also appointed an international expert in the field of involving children in social research, Dr. Mary Kellett from the Open University in the United Kingdom, who is in consultation with the training team.  The idea behind the programme is to encourage and involve children in research as researchers and hence in the production of knowledge transforming in this way children from passive to active learners. The programme brings children closer to the social realities and problems that surround them, encourages them to develop research skills and seeks to turn them from uninvolved to involved citizens with agendas for action and transformation.

Children's Research University

This site is named “Children’s Research University” in order to make a point even if indirectly.  Universities are traditionally places attended by adults.  They are considered to be places where high level knowledge is imparted on (usually) young adults or in any case certainly adults.  It is very rare to see children in universities—and when this happens it is often reported in the news and these children referred to as “geniouses”—except as visitors.  Today, some universities are beginning to recognize that universities and the so-called specialized knowledge that they seek to pass on are perfectly fine places for children to learn.  What is necessary of course is for them to adapt their ways to meet the needs and realities of children.  Our “Children’s Research University” is simply a virtual space where children and those interested in children as researchers can meet, exchange ideas, and discuss issues of common interest.  Using this name we seek to make the point that research is not just about or for adults; children are also fully capable of understanding research and being researchers provided we, as adults, support and guide them with sensitivity and care.