The Youth Research Platform (JOP) is an interdisciplinary cooperation between 3 research groups, initiated by the Flemish government to stimulate systematical and interdisciplinary attention for youth research. The participating research groups are:

• Department of Social Welfare Studies (Universiteit Gent)
• Research group ‘Tempus Omnia Revelat’ (Department of sociology - Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
• Research Line Youth and Prevention, Leuven Institute of Criminology (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven).

The youth research platform has three central tasks:

• to create an inventory of existing youth research;
• to analysise and synthesise existing youth research;
• to develop a survey, which will recurrently monitor the life-conditions and activities of young people. Later on, new research projects can be set up.

In the implementation of these tasks, JOP tries to

• take up a platform function, by stimulating the realization of a youth research community.
• stimulate networking between researchers, policy-makers and field workers, by exchanging information and visions on young people.

Based on the data of the first Youth Monitor, conducted in 2005-2006, on a sample of 2503 Flemish 14- to 25- year old respondents, two readers have been published. The English summaries can be found below.

The first publication describes in a broad manner the main findings on the themes included in the monitor. A summary of these findings can be found here: Young people in Flanders: Facts and Figures. Findings of JOP-monitor 1 (2007)

The second publication deals with six specific themes that were subjected to a more thorough and in depth analysis. The book elaborates on the themes of 'self-esteem', 'school well-being', 'fear of crime', 'democratic citizenship', 'ICT use' and 'life-course perspectives'. A summary of the main findings and some reflections can be found here: Young people inside out. Main findings and reflections (2009)µ

In the fall of 2008, the second Youth Monitor was conducted, again using a representative sample of Flemish youth, this time between 12 and 30 years (N=3710). The general findings of this survey were published in 2010; an English summary of the main findings can be found here: Young people in Flanders: Facts and figures. Findings of JOP-monitor 2 (2010).