The 3rd ISCI conference took place at the University of York, UK between July 27-29, 2011.
More than 220 delegates from 42 countries attended the conference and participated in over 40 sessions in which over 120 papers were presented.
Papers dealt with the measurement of children’s well being, inequality and economic resources for children and families, child protection and children rights. All presentations from the conference can be seen on the Third International Society of Child Indicators Conference presentations page.
Plenary speaker, Prof. Kathleen Kiernan presented varied findings from longitudinal data engaging the family context of children early years. Her presentation demonstrated the various ways in which continued valid research can help revealing the complexity of young children’s development and contribute to better policy and practice.
The second plenary speaker, Peter Adamson presented the usage of indicator in the international policy arena in the world wide attempt to immunize children and save their life. For more details please see http://preventionaction.org/prevention-news/how-unicef-created-revolution/5638
A number of sessions were devoted to methodological aspects of the effort to measure children well being and others focused on the usage of data to influence policy.
Colleagues from all over the world discussed children’s subjective well being and the new developments on how to measure it and how to best capture the children’s perspective, especially at a young age. For example in one session a group of researchers from five countries presented “Children’s Worlds”, a new multi-national study of children’s subjective well being and daily activities. They displayed the challenges and complicatedness of a multi-national and multi-age comparison, and the significance in asking the children themselves.
Of special contribution were the dozens of papers presented by colleagues from developing countries, clearly showing that children’s well being is not a developed world issue.
International comparisons and the developments of indices were also at the center of discussion with a special contribution of delegates from UNICEF, OECD, World Vision International and a number of other international and academic bodies. For more details see http://preventionaction.org/prevention-news/children-s-well-being-first-good-news/5637
The conference enjoyed an impressive and encouraging participation of young scholars and graduate students. Finally, delegates were all in consensus about the quality of papers presented in the conference and expressed their sincere thanks for Prof. Jonathan Bradshaw the local organizer and host.
The conference was concluded with a short inspiring welcome address by Prof. Bong Jo-Lee the local organizer and host of the next ISCI conference to be held in Seoul, South Korea on May 29-31, 2013.