Research Projects

Youth, education and work in (post-)conflict areas 

The UNESCO chair is part of the international research network Youth, Education Work, formerly called Early School Leaving in Africa, which unites scholars from Africa and other continents. The network cooperates in (research) conferences resulting in joined publications. Summer schools on Youth, education and work in (post-)conflict areas provided the opportunity to give special attention to the challenges in (post-)conflict areas, such as northern Uganda. Reflections on this theme and related themes have led to the publication of a book in 2020, and will lead to the publication of a reflective magazine: When participatory action research meets visionary thinking, and a paper: Entrepreneurship: promising solution or disappointing quick fix? Views and experiences of youth in Uganda.

Education-to-work transition for young people

The transition from education to work is not straightforward for young people, especially in contexts where jobs are scarce but also in other contexts. In a special issue of the journal Social Sciences, authors reflecting on this transition from different perspectives are brought together. As the UNESCO chair is not only meant to document and understand the difficult situation young people find themselves in, it tries to combine action and reflection in an action research project under the title Harnessing Ugandan Universities’ Role in the Education-to-Work Transition of Students. This is funded by Spencer Foundation, United States of America. It is a cooperation between Gulu University, Makerere University, Uganda, and Nottingham University, UK, for the years 2025 – 2027.

Lifelong Learning / Lifelong Development 

Lifelong Learning or Lifelong Development as some authors and policy makers prefer to call it, is a key issue in different contexts nowadays. To keep up with developments, people have to learn continuously. The shift in terminology from adult education to lifelong learning to lifelong development reflects different approaches. We traced these in the context of lifelong learning policies from 1990 in Uganda (see publications). And we participate in a Dutch project on Encouraging learning! A development-oriented monitor for more Lifelong Development through strengthened self-direction. Funded by Netherlands Initiative for Educational Research (NRO). This is a cooperation of three Dutch universities (Open University Heerlen, Leiden University and University of Groningen) and three (research) organisations with a proven track record in this field (Ockham/IPS, Panteia and ECBO), 2022-2026.