Collaboration through Academic Collaborative Centers

Overview of the FGB Academic Collaborative Centers

• Academic Collaborative Center Affect-us

  Since 2001, Bartiméus and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam have been working together on education and research for people with visual or visual-intellectual disabilities. What began as a shared ambition to improve quality of life and participation has grown into a sustainable partnership between science and practice.

  Academic Collaborative Center
  Since 2009, this collaboration has been formalized in an agreement between Bartiméus and the Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, section Clinical Child an Family Studies. Since 2018, it has taken shape within the Academic Collaborative Center Affect-us, together with Ons Tweede Thuis and Odion.

  The academic collaborative center connects research, practice, and innovation. Its outcomes include training and education programmes, publications and consultancy, as well as new methods and applications such as apps and websites. Throughout all stages of the knowledge cycle - from identifying needs to implementing solutions - there is intensive knowledge exchange between the partners and the university.

  'We want to conduct relevant research and translate it into products such as books, apps, publications, games, networking events, and tools you can apply directly in practice.' Read the full interview with Paula Sterkenburg, Annemieke Witte, Mark Meekel & Hannelies Hokke on VU.nl.

  Collaboration
  Several additional organizations are also involved, including  Koninklijk Visio, Robert Coppes Stichting, De Twentse Zorgcentra, Youz, Pluryn, SEIN, and educational institutions such as ROC Amsterdam, Hogeschool Utrecht, and Christelijke Hogeschool Ede. In this way, societal impact continues to grow across care, education, and research.

  More information
  Find an overview of the activities in the annual activity summaries (in Dutch).

  For contact with Affect-us: contact info Affect-us
  For contact with Bartiméus: contact info Bartiméus

• Academic Collaborative Center Viveon

  The Academic Collaborative Center Viveon focuses on improving the quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities. We do this by combining research with the development of practice-oriented knowledge resources, including:

  • Research findings translated into everyday language and practical steps
  • Co-designed tools that reflect both scientific evidence and lived experience
  • Implementation roadmaps tailored to care settings
  • Data-driven insights supporting quality of life and mental health in neurodiverse populations

  We design those knowledge resources so that they can be used directly by the care triangle: the client, their care professional and their support network. Research only creates real impact when it becomes part of everyday care practice.

  To make that possible, we work closely with the care triangle to identify their needs and develop practical tools that address them. In doing so, we contribute to the personal development of individuals as well as the growth of their surrounding environment.

  Collaborative Partner
  Within Viveon, VU Amsterdam collaborates with the care organization 's Heeren Loo on on key themes such as freedom and safety, life course perspectives, and the development of people with intellectual disabilities and their support networks.

  Research and Results
  For more information about our research projects and the products we have developed, please visit  www.viveon.nl.

• Academic Collaborative Center Kindermishandeling (AWK)

  Within AWK, VU Amsterdam and Kenter Jeugdhulp work together with partners from practice, policy, and education to develop, share, and implement knowledge about child abuse and the treatment of children (and their parents/caregivers) who are or have been affected by it. The academic collaborative center was established in 2010 with the support of ZonMw.

  Information and Support for Parents and Professionals
  How do escalations arise within families, and when does violence occur between family members? How can we best support victims of sexual abuse, and what role do parents play in processing traumatic experiences? How can professionals effectively guide children and their parents?

  The AWK’s products and publications offer valuable insights and practical tools for both parents and professionals, and serve as a foundation for further research and interventions in youth care and policy.

  Research and Results
  For more information about research projects and developed products, visit: Academische Werkplaats Kindermishandeling (in Dutch).