Bridging the gap between science and practice

Course goals

1. Analyze, apply and evaluate an intervention or policy in relation to a youth challenge while considering the needs of different stakeholders in research and practice.
2. Critically reflect on own and others’ professional development and provide and receive feedback in a constructive manner
3. Be creative and flexible and pose critical questions in the different stages of inter-and transdisciplinary work 
4. Communicate and collaborate with respectful and professional attitude
5. Have knowledge of research methods and techniques for evaluating interventions and policies

Content

In the course “Bridging the gap between science and practice” you will learn to translate theory and empirical knowledge into practice and understand or provide a solution to youth problems. Youth development takes place in, and is affected by multiple contexts (home, neighborhood, school) and relationships (parents, peers, teachers, professionals). These contexts not only influence the development, but also the effectiveness of interventions and policies targeting youth issues. Therefore, in developing programs that target youth issues and aim to initiate behavioral change, multiple stakeholders and perspectives are involved. Researchers, teachers, professionals, decision-makers, the community, parents and youth all make important contributions to the development, implementation and evaluation of interventions and policies. In this course, you will learn how programs and interventions can be used at these different levels to promote positive youth development. You will learn what programs and interventions exist in the youth care landscape and reflect on challenges and barriers in carrying out and implementing these programs. The theory and skills learned during this course help you in becoming sensitive to the different perspectives involved in the process of policy and intervention. You will learn how to choose or develop an appropriate methodology or intervention based on a theory of change. Together with fellow students, you will map the system of youth care in the Netherlands and the different roles of various institutions.  

The course consists of a combination of (guest) lectures and seminars in which students practice with the material. In lectures students learn “the what” and in tutorials students learn to apply, (i.e., “the how”).