Evaluation
The training programme carried through in the Latin America region underwent an extensive evaluation, which pointed at learning potential and aspects that can easily be transferred to other similar training courses.
Read the full evaluation in Spanish.
Read the English summary evaluation.
Specific aims:
To strengthen the research capacity of child-centred institutions.
To create practical options for joint research surrounding the central themes identified in the 2006 Mexico conference 3rd Childwatch International Latin American and the Caribbean Conference Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana. The themes included; migrations, movements and displacements; early childhood; poverty, marginality, violence; child and youth participation and models of political socialising.
To promote the exchange of knowledge and intervention practices between the key institutions of CWI.
To increase collectively the production of knowledge regarding child participation through the development of joint projects between countries.
The diploma was aimed at junior researchers, both of member institutions and non-member institutions, with participation of a few senior researchers with the aim to strengthen and expand the Latin American network. All participating institutions established collaboration and alliance amongst themselves.
The Structure of the Course:
The course lasted 1 year with two weeks in Colombia, at CINDE and the University of Manizales. The first phase took place at the students’ home institutions. Required reading and basic training at this stage was aimed to level the group so that they were up to date with basic conceptual elements. The bibliography was given by the academic committee. This preparatory phase helped the students conceptually, epistemologically and methodologically in the analysis of childhood studies. It helped identify relevant child research investigations, socio-cultural analysis of their own countries and analyse research methods.
The second phase took place in Manizales Colombia. It established the conceptual, epistemological and methodological bases necessary to understand the production processes in the social sciences, in particular regarding child and youth participation.During this time the participants developed their research projects, with the support of seminars on theory and methodology given by senior researchers. The junior researchers divided themselves into groups based on themes of interest. The groups analysed and compared information previously prepared in order to plan their group research projects.
Third phase took place in the students’ own countries with support and communication with other researchers and institutions by internet, as well as supervision from a senior researcher in their home institution or area. At this stage they were expected to finalise the projects.
Forth phase was an online conference in which all the research projects were presented. The necessary conditions for implementing the projects were discussed along with the conditions necessary to continue communication between the institutions involved and CWI.
The fifth phase was the implementation of the projects which required continuous supervision by senior researchers, as well as other institutions of CWI and other colleagues, in order to have the support of an academic base for the implementation of the projects. This stage finalised with a research symposium organised around a CWI event framed by Key Institutions where the junior researchers presented the projects to the CWI members.
This is a pilot project for similar trainings to be organized in other regions.
Download information: Power-point presentation of the traning program and Guide for introductory workshop (Spanish only).
Marta Arango and CINDE, Colombia has coordinated the 2007 training program. marango [at] cinde.org.co