University of Galway is to lead a European research initiative exploring how supporting parents and strengthening parenting capacity can contribute to protecting children and promoting their wellbeing.

Coordinated by the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at University of Galway, the project, Supporting Parents to Protect Children (SUPAR), will bring together universities from Spain, Portugal, the UK, Serbia and Norway, alongside public bodies and organisations across Europe.

Funded through the European Union's Horizon Europe programme, the €4.24 million SUPAR project will establish the first Doctoral Network dedicated specifically to parenting support in child protection and welfare.

Over four years, the Doctoral Network will train 14 PhD researchers across a range of disciplines and professional contexts, providing structured research and training opportunities to develop specialist expertise through international and cross-sectoral collaboration.

A central focus will be on collaborative and co-produced research, incorporating the experiences of parents, children, young people and practitioners, alongside translating research findings into policy and practice.

Dr Carmel Devaney, Scientific Coordinator of SUPAR and Head of Discipline of Applied Social Science, UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, University of Galway, said: “SUPAR is particularly significant as the first Doctoral Network to focus specifically on supporting parents to protect children. I am fortunate to be collaborating with colleagues from across Europe to advance knowledge on how best to protect children and promote their wellbeing by supporting parents and strengthening parenting capacity.

“This work is especially timely given the complex challenges facing parents, children and young people today.”

Professor Laoise McNamara, Vice-President for Research and Innovation at University of Galway, said: “I would like to congratulate Dr Carmel Devaney and her international partners on being awarded Horizon Europe funding for this important research. Leading the coordination of this Doctoral Network reflects the research excellence being delivered by the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at University of Galway.

"This award is strongly aligned with the University’s Strategy through the Creativity, Culture and Society research pillar and the work of the Centre in the Institute for Lifecourse and Society. The research will advance the University's commitment to generating knowledge that improves lives, informs public policy and contributes to more inclusive and resilient societies."

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network is funded through Horizon Europe and implement doctoral programmes in partnerships with organisations from different sectors across Europe and beyond to train highly skilled PhD researchers, stimulate their creativity, enhance their innovation capacities and boost their employability.

Read more about the project here.

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