AUAS is receiving a total of 900,000 euros in RAAK Public Subsidies for three research projects. This has been granted for research into the promotion of a healthy lifestyle among toddlers, cooperation concerning liveability in urban neighbourhoods and into the prevention of motor-skill deterioration in primary school pupils. The researchers will each receive a 300,000-euro subsidy over the next two years.
During this application round at the Taskforce for Applied Research (SIA), three out of the four subsidies applied for by AUAS were granted. SIA provides subsidies on behalf of the government to stimulate research carried out by universities of applied sciences in cooperation with the public sector.
In Amsterdam, 33% of children display motor retardation at primary school. Although gym teachers are already working actively to reduce this motor skill delay, the effectiveness of these interventions has not been demonstrated. In this project, the Human Movement Sciences research group will investigate what support gym teachers can best offer the children at risk of experiencing delays.
In the four big cities, babies and toddlers regularly are overweight or struggle with obesity. Contact with parents offers opportunities for successful interventions aimed at prevention, but teaching assistants at child day care centres often experience embarrassment when discussing this. In this project, the Weight Management research group will carry out research into how cooperation with parents (who may be difficult to reach) can best lead to a healthy lifestyle.
In the big cities, more and more cooperation is taking place between residents, the government and other parties aimed at promoting the liveability of neighbourhoods. This cooperation does not always run as smoothly as it could. Partly due to the fact that parties experience a power imbalance and – thanks to their nature and position – use different logic. In this project, the Cultural and Social Dynamics research group will investigate how exactly this cooperation takes place and how forms of communication can arise that do justice to all of those involved.