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The Policy Research Centre on Equal Opportunities is since 2002 the Flemish government’s support centre in the field of equal opportunities, diversity and integration. Its purpose is to attain a sound scientific basis for policy initiatives in response to societal developments. The centre is:
1. Academic consortium for policy-related research
The Centre is a consortium of the Universities of Antwerp and Hasselt. Through scientific and applied research, it gauges the extent of (in)equality in society and supports the Ministers for Equal Opportunities and Civic Integration in policymaking. The Centre operates in accordance with a five-year plan laid down in an agreement between the Flemish Government and the Consortium Partners. The current five-year plan stipulates the Centre’s areas of research for the period 2007-2011:
- socialization and social cohesion
- career pathways
- living environment
- participation in policy making
These research areas are approached from different perspectives (target groups):
- Gender (male / female)
- Ethnicity (indigenous / ethnic minority)
- Sexual preference (heterosexual / LGBTs)
- Transversal reports
The intersectional perspective has become more and more prominent in our work. At the same time, the transversal perspective has gained in stature. Across the target groups, a conceptual framework has been constructed around the central notion of ‘equal opportunities’.
Within this framework, a crucial contribution has been made by the life course perspective.
2. Knowledge and information centre
The Policy Research Centre wants to go beyond providing a scientific underpinning for policymaking. Starting from the principle that all are entitled to equal opportunities, we wish to share our knowledge with other interested parties, including academics and teachers, students, journalists, players from civil society, active citizens,...
With a view to disseminating our findings and enhancing society’s focus on equal opportunities, we organise seminars that are open to everyone interested, present our research results in (free) reports and publicize in (inter)national- journals.
3. International partner
The Policy Centre operates nationally and internationally. It participates in international conferences and workshops, maintains contacts with networks of foreign colleagues and calls on its international contacts in the organisation of its own activities.
Policy Research Centre on Equal Opportunities (PRCEO)
University of Antwerp
Lange Nieuwstraat 55
2000 Antwerp
BELGIUM
Tel: +32 (0)3 265 59 63
Fax: +32 (0)3 265 59 26
Hasselt University
Agoralaan – Gebouw D
3590 Diepenbeek
BELGIUM
Tel: +32 (0)11 26 86 74
steunpuntgeka@ua.ac.be
http://www.steunpuntgelijkekansen.be/ (only in Dutch)
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