Centre for Youth Research and Development launched at NUI Maynooth

 

Centre dedicated to youth a positive sign that their voice is being heard

28 June 2012

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald TD has today launched the Centre for Youth Research and Development (CYRD) in NUI Maynooth, the first such Centre in an Irish university dedicated specifically to youth. It will be concerned with the study of all aspects of youth in society - young people's lives and lifestyles, behaviour and attitudes, creativity and expression, participation and engagement, issues and problems, diverse circumstances and identities - as well as the study of, and contribution to the development of, policies and services for young people (including youth work, youth justice, social care, education and health).

Speaking at the launch Minster Fitzgerald said that "the fact that it is the first research centre in an Irish university that is dedicated specifically to youth is, I believe, a very positive sign that attitudes towards young people are changing for the better and their voices are being heard.  As Minister for Children & Youth Affairs I am heartened that there is such a strong focus being placed on these key themes which are so relevant to the work of my Department and to the lives of the young people we aim to serve".
Located in the Department of Applied Social Studies and directed by Dr Maurice Devlin, the Centre for Youth Research and Development has already embarked on a number of projects including

• An evaluation of the Football Association of Ireland’s FUTSAL project, aimed at promoting social inclusion in local communities through football and education hubs.
• An action research project in partnership with Kildare Youth Services exploring young people’s and youth workers’ experiences of involvement in youth work projects and services\
• The development of a Masters in European Youth Studies with funding from the EU Lifelong Learning Programme

Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan noted that "throughout my term of Office I have learnt that while we cannot ever presume to represent children, there is a duty on all of us to support them in expressing their views. There are thousands of committed people working with children in Ireland and we need to ensure that their voices are also heard."

Dr Maurice Devlin has been awarded a Jean Monnet Chair in European Integration and Youth the award to be held for three years by NUI Maynooth.  Jean Monnet Chairs are teaching posts with a specialisation in European integration studies

Ends

Issued by Communications Office, NUI Maynooth. 01-7086160

Pictured (l-r); Anastasia Crickley, Head of the Department of Applied Social Studies, NUI Maynooth; Prof Philip Nolan, President, NUI Maynooth; Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and Dr Maurice Devlin, Director, Centre for Youth Research and Development.