HIVA has adopted a multidisciplinary structure to cover the vast variety of research topics presented to it. The primary objectives of HIVA are : - To obtain scientific insights into the social problems of workers and of deprived groups in society, in order to contribute to the resolution of these problems. - To stimulate dialogue and collaboration between the world of science and practice, between the university and the labour movement. These objectives are translated into the following concrete activities : - Canvassing and conducting scientific studies in the fields of education and the labour market, social and economic policy, and employment. Within each sector the central social theme is studied from a multidisciplinary perspective and is divided into sub-themes. The majority of the research is focused on policy : collection of basic data on policy developments, scientific evaluation of policy measures, and tracing out policy options and their consequences. The research results are published in scientific reports and articles and are made accessible to a broader public in modified form. - Organising study and training meetings based around themes studied in the different research sectors. This stimulates the dialogue between science, policy and practice. - Organising training initiatives for adults on people manage- ment, safety at work and the environment. The Sectors : EDUCATION AND LABOUR MARKET SECTOR (M. Douterlungne) Carries out research into education and social inequality, educational economics, the match between education and the labour market, tools for labour market policy, and vocational training for workers. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC POLICY SECTOR (J. Pacolet) Carries out research into the welfare state (pensions, health care sector), public housing, financial and fiscal policy, industrial policy, home care and care for the elderly, care for the handicapped, migration and asylum issues, migrants, welfare facilities and poverty. EMPLOYMENT SECTOR (H. De Witte) Carries out research into the quality of work, personnel policy, positive campaigns, employment policy, older workers, unemployment and, the labour movement and its history.HIVA-TRAINING (J. Van de Kerckhove) This is an interdisciplinary and interfaculty center for ongoing training providing practical courses in people-management, safety at work and the evironment.
