Youth researcher awarded honorary doctorate in Utrecht

On its 384th Anniversary Day, Utrecht University will award two honorary doctorates. Hirokazu Yoshikawa, Professor of Community Psychology and Social Pedagogy in New York, will receive one of the two honorary doctorates. Yoshikawa has successfully combined a highly impressive academic career with a significant contribution to national debate, as his research tackles social issues including inequality and immigration.

Hirokazu Yoshikawa is University Professor at New York University as well as Professor by Special Appointment of Globalization and Education at New York University Steinhardt. Yoshikawa conducts research into the effects of public policy and programmes regarding the issues of immigration, early childhood development as well as the reduction of inequality and poverty.

Sesame Street

Among other matters, Yoshikawa studies and evaluates the effectiveness of programmes that provide financial support to young families with children, for example. He also heads a research programme launched in cooperation with the LEGO Foundation and Sesame Workshop (affiliated to Sesame Street). The results of this programme include the production of Sesame Street episodes that are better tailored to children uprooted by the war in Syria. For example, some of the episodes deal with moving to a new neighbourhood, making friends or missing relatives.

Obama

Utrecht University is not alone in acknowledging his research. He is involved in UNICEF (where he has developed a Massive Open Online Course for its staff and written a range of policy reports, among other things), while he also served as adviser to organisations including UNESCO, the World Bank and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Former President Barack Obama appointed him a member of the National Board for Education Sciences in the United States. He is a member of the US National Academy of Education as well.

Dynamics of Youth

Yoshikawa's research and dedication align perfectly with the objectives of the strategic theme Dynamics of Youth, which aims to help children develop into adults who are capable of managing themselves successfully in a rapidly changing environment and realising their full potential.

Anniversary Day

The theme for the 384th Anniversary Day of Utrecht University, which is celebrated in Utrecht's Dom Church on 26 March, is 'World-Class University'.
Utrecht University awards these honorary doctorates to extol the researchers, their contribution to the social debate and the topics that they address.

The Utrecht University website also highlights the other honorary doctorate, which will be awarded to climate scientist Valérie Masson-Delmotte.