Social

Research Centre Social Work. We provide quality practice-oriented research, contributing to service delivery and education. We place the realisation of fundamental rights central stage and commit ourselves to social justice, full citizenship, and human dignity. Our focus lies within the metropolitan context. Brussels is both our base of operations and our source of inspiration.

👤 contact: Kaat Van Acker

🌍 our research page

Centre for Family Studies. Our motto: strengthening the connection between individuals and society through the power of families.

👤 contact: Kathleen Emmery

🌍 our research page

• Parenting and family support. Parenting support and family support are central themes. The research is practice-oriented and conducted at the request of, and in close collaboration with, various organizations in the field. The Centre aims to identify the needs of parents and align the support services accordingly. It also helps these organizations expand their outreach.

  🌍 our research page

   

• Family and partner relationships. Partner relationships and their dynamics are important research themes. A positive partner relationship contributes to a positive parenting experience. Contemporary partner relationships are diverse and subject to change. Our research focuses on this dynamic and on developments in society and in the field of partner relationship support. In addition, we pay attention to other family relationships, such as the bonds between siblings and between different generations.

  🌍 our research page

   

• Families and migration. We advocate for interfaith dialogue, intercultural encounters, and appropriate support for all families, regardless of their background or composition. Diversity is often a central theme in our projects. We recognize the impact of worldview on family relationships as a source of motivation and strength, while also acknowledging the challenges of our diverse society. Both families and researchers come from diverse backgrounds, and awareness of our own position and understanding of others form the foundation of our research.

  🌍 our research page

   

• Families and care. We see it as one of our core tasks to conduct research into the experiences of socially vulnerable families and to translate their needs into policy and practice. These may be families living in poverty, but also families facing specific and significant care needs. The position of older adults, their care, and support also falls within this line of research. We start from the strengths of families, no matter how vulnerable they may be. Strengthening their network is one of the key threads running through this research focus.

  🌍 our research page

   

• Family policy. We conduct practice-oriented research from the perspective of families, with the aim of strengthening their functioning and well-being. We often work in dialogue with policymakers and organizations in the field. Based on our research, we frequently make concrete recommendations for policy or for the work of social professionals. At the same time, we critically examine whether policy and practice adequately consider the multifaceted phenomenon we call family. 

  🌍 our research page

   

• Strengthen education. In today’s knowledge economy, lifelong learning is a key concept. However, vulnerable groups often face difficulties accessing lifelong learning opportunities. Participation rates are particularly low among individuals in a socioeconomically disadvantaged position and/or with a migration background. In close collaboration with the Family Sciences degree program, we have developed several initiatives to enhance the participation and social inclusion of vulnerable students in education.

  🌍 our research page