Shazly Savahl appointed to Prince Claus Chair

As of 1 September 2024, Shazly Savahl will formally start the Prince Claus Chair in Equity and Development at Utrecht University. In this two-year role, Savahl will advance well-being and quality of life research for children and youth through a global social justice lens.

Savahl is convinced that the well-being of children and young people should be a top priority. His research focuses on ensuring objective living standards for children, such as health and education. In this way, the new holder of the Prince Claus Chair hopes to contribute to overall satisfaction and happiness of children. 

Voice

Savahl hopes to change the way societies make youth policy during his two-year appointment: ‘We want the voice of children and young people to be heard, especially by policy makers.’ He also wants to create opportunities for emerging researchers and advance research on quality of life.

I look forward to integrating my research with the initiatives in Utrecht.

Collaboration

Savahl is excited about the upcoming collaboration with Utrecht University, also within the strategic theme Dynamics of Youth. ‘I look forward to integrating my research with the initiatives in Utrecht and contributing to the broader research field of child and youth welfare.’

About Shazly Savahl

Shazly Savahl is a registered research psychologist and associate professor at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies of Children, Families, and Society at the University of the Western Cape. He is the principal investigator of the Children's Worlds International Survey of Children's Well-Being and the Multinational Qualitative Study on Children's Understanding of their Well-Being. He is a founding and current executive member of the South African Positive Psychology Association, a member of the National Children's Rights Intersectoral Coordinating Committee, and an executive board member of the International Society for Child Indicators.