About NOVA

NOVA is a research institute under the auspices of the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. The aim of the institute is to develop knowledge and understanding of social conditions and processes of change. We focus on issues of life-course events, level of living conditions and aspects of life-quality as well as on programmes and services provided by the welfare system. 

NOVA´s strategic position can be characterized as follows: "A research environment with emphasis on a broad-based social science approach combined with a life-course perspective."

Areas of research
NOVA´s key research areas are:

• Childhood and child welfare
• Youth
• Ageing and the life-course
• Family
• Social security and social assistance
• Housing
• Migration
• Welfare state
• Health and welfare

Organizational set-up:
Research activity at NOVA is organized into four research groups: 

• Department of Childhood, Family and Child Welfare Research (Research Director: Lars B. Kristofersen)
  Research staff
• Department of Youth Research (Research Director: Anders Bakken)
  Research staff
• Department of Ageing Research and Housing Studies (Research Director: Marijke Veenstra)
  Research staff
• Department of Health and Welfare Studies (Research Director: Heidi Gautun)
  Research staff

Within its fields NOVA performs research assignments commissioned by public and private sector clients. Research conducted at NOVA is of a good international standard. The institute is the leading national research institute on child welfare, youth, ageing and the elderly, and social security.

See NOVAs involvement in international European projects and networks, 2009-2012. 

See also: NOVA key figures 2011

Contact information

According to its statutes the institute has a particular responsibility for

• carrying out research on social problems, public services and transfer schemes
• carrying out and developing research on the family, children and young people and the conditions under which they grow up
• carrying out and developing research, pilot and development programmes with particular emphasis on vulnerable groups and child welfare services
• carrying out and developing gerontological research and related research, including gerontology as an interdisciplinary science

Within its field the institute

• runs projects on behalf of public authorities and organizations in the private and public sector
• initiates research and development programmes
• is community-oriented and interfaces with user enviroments on a broad front
• is an active publisher and disseminator working in conjunction with users to ensure that its findings benefit the community
• collaborates with research institutions and specialist enviroments in and outside Norway to maintain high professional standards

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