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Establishing A Child Research Unit Al-Quds University June 2 nd 2003 NORWAY

Establishing A Child Research Unit Al-Quds University June 2 nd 2003 NORWAY Prepared by Mohammad Shaheen. Presentation Outline. Selected health and social conditions. Why do we need a child research center (CRC)? Opportunities and challenges Organizational chart of CRC.

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Establishing A Child Research Unit Al-Quds University June 2 nd 2003 NORWAY

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  1. EstablishingA Child Research Unit Al-Quds University June 2nd 2003 NORWAY Prepared by Mohammad Shaheen

  2. PresentationOutline • Selected health and social conditions. • Why do we need a child research center (CRC)? • Opportunities and challenges • Organizational chart of CRC

  3. Selected statistics • Palest population 3.4 million (WB 63.7%, 36.3%). • 53% of the total population is under 18 yrs. • Refugees (40%) vs. non-refugees (60%) • Total area WB SqK 5800, and GS SqK 360 • Under Palestinian authority less than 20%

  4. Total settlers/settlements, 400,000 in both WB and GS. • Total fertility 5.9 births (5.5 WB, 6.8 GS) • Per capita income dropped from $1610 1999, to less than $700/2003.

  5. Literacy rate in 2000, 91% for individuals above 10 years of age. • Unemployment rate can range 35%-60%. • Maternal mortality estimated apprx 70 per 100,000 live births. • <5 Child mortality 32 per 1000 • IMR 28 per 1000.

  6. Resp infections, congenital abnormalities and traffic accidents are the main leading causes of death among children under 5.

  7. Nutritional status of children under 5 • More than 50% suffer from Anemia • Wasting 9.3% • Stunting 12%

  8. Profile of Al-Quds University • Al-Quds University is one of 8 local universities in the West Bank and GS. • Libraries (# of )books: Main library with around 14,000 books and Journals • Number of master thesis: 980

  9. Al-Quds Univ Profile • Number of students=6000 • Grad=850 under grad=5150 • Number of teaching staff=289 • PhD holders =110 • Master degree holders = 169 • Bsc degree holders = 54 • Students/instructors ratio = 20:1

  10. Selected Child -Related ResearchAl_Quds University • Nutritional assessment • Child development. • School health behaviors • Psycho-social related research • Screening children for hearing loss • Special education for Palestinian needy children.

  11. Sources of funding • USAID • Van Leer Foundation • EU • CIDA • Belgium • Islamic Bank • Kuwaiti fund

  12. Why do we need a child research unit within Al-Quds? • Children constitute more than 50% of the total population. • Inadequate resources and services allocated to children welfare, development and well being. • Lack of understanding of the impact of globalization and political transformation on Palestinian children. • Children have been the most affected by the current emergency situations.

  13. Research available on children is very limited and fund-driven, occasional and don’t follow a strategic plan. • Very few number of researchers are specialized as child researchers. • There is a need to influence policies and strategies.

  14. Advantages of Child research unit to academic education • Combining research and education. • Stimulate interest in research in general and child research in specific. • Appreciate the importance of child research in informing policy and improving practice.

  15. Encourage and support students in conducting child research in their required research projects and graduate thesis. • Develop and monitor wellness indicators that can be used in monitoring children’s wellness, health and development. • Advise local and international resource allocation on child conditions and priorities.

  16. Promote interdisciplinary interaction through identifying factors and causes. • Promote interest in children’s needs, rights, and conditions

  17. Promote scientific thinking in education. • Build teaching/student capacity in conducting research. • Help attract competent researchers and motivated students.

  18. Build local research and information gaps in areas that address national needs/priorities . • Link research to practice and practice to research (service quality improvement) • promulgating, policies/programs and services for different target population.

  19. Challenges • Rapid changing environment • Politicization of research funding and findings • Limited number of researchers

  20. Researchers are overloaded • Financial constraints • No child research strategy • Fund driven projects

  21. Poor utilization and use of research results • Ethical consideration • Community fatique

  22. Opportunities • Better appreciation for supporting research that can guide/advice policies and national plans. • Sense of competition is growing among local and regional universities. • Graduate and undergraduate students interest to pursue research projects including the thesis track.

  23. Growing interest among donors to utilize more research for designing, monitoring and evaluating development projects. • Growing interest among teaching staff/professors to publish research in their fields. • Growing sense of responsibility among universities to work with public and private sectors.

  24. Potential networking with regional and international bodies. • Potential political agreement “Road Map” initiative.

  25. What is needed for establishing child research unit • Facilities • Needs assessment/strategic plans • Human resources • Financial resources • Supporting joint research projects • Operational cost

  26. Research facilities • Space need to be created/found inside or outside the university. • Computer lab, soft wares, internet, and access to international libraries. • Data base • Conference room and training facilities. • Library and data base on children research and literature including website.

  27. Human Resources • Training of local researchers on methods, tools and theories related to child research and development. • Graduate new child researchers through supporting graduate programs on child health, and development. • Support PhD candidates to study and focus on different children specialties.

  28. Joint Projects • Support exchange programs for professors/students and researchers. • Partnership and joint research projects with child research groups such as this one • Support for the development of documentation, dissemination of research findings. • Support for funding a joint research project on children live under emergency situation such as Palestinians, Israelis, Iraqis, Lebanese etc..

  29. Support for the operational cost • Salary of a secretary and a director • Office running cost

  30. Financial resources • International Support • Funds from local/national resources • Percentage of University budget for research • Partnership with other research institutions • Publications/dissemination • Training and conferences

  31. Organizational chart Deanship Research Al-Quds U Research departments Child research management Coordinator Secretary Service providers

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