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

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%

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 $ , to less than $700/2003.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

Poor utilization and use of research results Ethical consideration Community fatique

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.

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.

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

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

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. Research facilities

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. Human Resources

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.. Joint Projects

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

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

CRC Computer lab Training facility Info Dissemination

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