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The following text has been machine translated from the German with no human editing.
The target group includes, amongst others, staff at hospitals, youth welfare services, paediatric or child therapy practices, schools, the police, the judiciary, inclusion and integration services, as well as educational and psychosocial professionals.
The university certificate programme provides fundamental and practice-oriented knowledge to enable participants to recognise potential risks to children’s welfare at an early stage, assess them professionally and take appropriate action. The programme focuses on the legal and medical fundamentals of child abuse, protection strategies, diagnosis and risk assessment, conducting interviews when abuse is suspected, and collaboration with youth welfare services, family courts and other institutions. It is complemented by in-depth topics such as domestic violence, the risks of digitalisation, the diagnosis and treatment of psychological trauma, and a cross-border perspective on child protection in France and Luxembourg.
“Child abuse is significantly underreported and causes immense and often lifelong human suffering – emotionally, physically and medically. Holistic child protection is therefore a top priority for our society. With this ‘ ’ certificate, we aim to empower professionals to assess suspected cases more confidently and act professionally. Children are our future,” says Eva Möhler, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy at Saarland University Hospital, who is responsible for the content of the training programme.
The certificate programme is interdisciplinary in nature and combines medical, psychological, educational and socio-educational perspectives. Thanks to its strong practical focus, participants are set to gain greater confidence in handling specific professional situations. In addition to twelve online sessions, the training programme includes a one-day in-person workshop in Saarbrücken. Participants complete the programme with a university certificate in ‘Child Protection’ worth 5 ECTS credits, as well as a certificate detailing the skills they have acquired.
Dates:
The course begins on 15 October 2026 and lasts one year. It is delivered in a blended-learning format. The online sessions are scheduled for Thursdays from 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm. The in-person specialist day will take place on 26 February 2027 at the Innovation Center on the Saarbrücken campus. The total cost is 990 euros per person.
The deadline for applications is 15 September; the registration deadline is 30 September 2026. Registration is via the contact form on the website.
Background:
The Faculty of Medicine at Saarland University and Saarland University Hospital are committed to research, teaching and healthcare with a strong practical focus. In the field of child protection, the Faculty contributes expertise at the interface between medicine, education, therapy and psychosocial care. The new certificate programme addresses the growing need for interprofessional training in child protection and empowers professionals to act sensitively, in compliance with the law and in a networked manner.
Applications, further information and contact details:
https://www.uni-saarland.de/studieren/weiterbildung/zertifikate/kinderschutz.html
Contact for enquiries:
Norman Rubai
Universität des Saarlandes
CEC Saar (Dezernat Lehre und Studium)
E-Mail: norman.rubai(at)uni-saarland.de
Tel.: 0681 302-4769
www.cecsaar.de
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