Summer School on Longitudinal and Life Course Research

Summer School on Longitudinal and Life Course Research 2014 Introduction Aat Liefbroer

Outline of the Presentation • VU University • Summer School on Longitudinal and Life Course Research • Scientific Programme • Practical Arrangements 2

VU University Amsterdam • In Dutch: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam • Vrije = Free • Free ≠ no tuition fee • Free = no government interference 3

Abraham Kuyper • • • 4 Protestant pastor Professor Journal editor Politician Prime Minister Founder VU in 1880

Sociology at the VU • Four themes ü Social Conflict and Change (Bert Klandermans) ü Social Context of Aging (Theo van Tilburg) ü Identities, Diversity and Inclusion (Halleh Ghorashi) ü Social Inequality in the Life Course (Harry Ganzeboom) 5

Summer School • Initiated by David Blane in 2010 • Earlier venues ü University of Antwerp (2011, 2012) ü Oxford University (2013) • Aim: to provide an interdisciplinary introduction to theories and methods of life course research • International, interdisciplinary faculty, international, interdisciplinary group of students 6

Scientific Programme • Day 1: Focus on theories ü Overview (David Blane) ü Sociology and Demography (Aat Liefbroer) ü Epidemiology (Mel Bartley) ü Interdisciplinary / cross-cutting (Pearl Dykstra) • Days 2 -4: Focus on methods ü Multi-level analysis (Francesco Billari and Dimitri Mortelmans) ü Event history analysis (Karel Neels) ü Sequence analysis (Cees Elzinga and Gilbert Ritschard) • Day 5: Focus on integration and application ü Research proposals (Matthias Richter) ü Q&A (staff members) 7

Practical arrangements I • All lectures will be in Z-009 • All practicals will be in Initium 2 B-55 • Lunch will be in Z-009 • Students will have accounts to access STATA, SPSS, R, etc. • Students and staff will have accounts to access VU- WIFI • Students will get hand-outs with powerpoint presentations etc. 8

Practical arrangements II • Drinks will be in Z-009 • Dinner will be tonight, pub crawl on Thursday night (see Information Guide) • Everyone get a public transport card (to be validated at first use) • For any practical questions, contact Sanne Bos or Aat Liefbroer • For any substantive questions (incl. questions on your own research), do not hesitate to contact all staff members (we are available for you!) • MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR STAY!! 9