Dynamics of Youth is one of Utrecht University’s four strategic themes.

Dynamics of Youth combines excellent child research from all seven UU-faculties. Researchers from different disciplines integrate their expertise to answer crucial questions for future generations. Utrecht University is a pioneer when it comes to interdisciplinary cooperation.

Our Youth, Our Future

Rapidly evolving and unprecedented global challenges –  COVID-19, digitalization, diversity, climate change – shape our youth and youth development in important ways. For some, they offer opportunities to thrive and realize their potential. For others, they curtail the promise of youth by widening social inequalities and exacerbating adversity. Thereby, these challenges raise the stakes for improving youth health and wellbeing, increasing inclusiveness, and reducing social inequalities.

“We cannot always build a future for our youth, but we can always build our youth for the future.”

— Franklin D. Roosevelt

From conception to young adulthood, the world and society that youth grow up in affords extraordinary opportunity for learning and exploration and for laying a strong foundation for a successful, happy, and healthy life. How youth develop and navigate developmental periods is critical for both their own future and for the progress of the social and physical world we live in.

Young people are the future problem solvers for challenges that we cannot yet appreciate or even foresee. They are the key contributors to future workforces, and, as many will become parents, to the healthy development and well-being of the next generation as well. Put differently, our youth is our future. To build youth opportunity for the future, we have identified four thematic communities that are essential for youth to navigate the world, for opportunities to be equitable and high quality, and for looking at the full continuum of development, from conception to emerging adulthood.

Core values

Trustworthiness, independence, rigor, impact, interdisciplinarity, participation, inclusivity, sustainability.

Investing in the future

In dealing with social problems, you need to start with the children. Dynamics of Youth is about working together in order to better understand child development. It’s about how people become who they are, and why they do what they do. Children growing up today will eventually shape our world in the near future, so we are investing in the future. But children are also a vulnerable group, and we as a society must ensure that they can grow up healthy in mind and body. 

Interdisciplinary cooperation

Dynamics of Youth combines excellent child research from all seven faculties. Researchers from different disciplines integrate their expertise to answer crucial questions for future generations. Utrecht University is a pioneer when it comes to interdisciplinary cooperation.