Youth-led Participatory Action Research (YPAR) - Talloires Network of Engaged Universities

YPAR Working Group Overview:

Youth-led Participatory Action Research (YPAR) is a core component of For Youth, By Youth’s growing global movement. YPAR redefines traditional academic research by making community members co-creators, not just subjects. YPAR is hands-on, justice-driven, and rooted in real-world impact. It values local knowledge, cross-cultural understanding, and advances inclusive knowledge production. For Youth, By Youth YPAR Working Group members will develop a shared understanding of YPAR, its foundational principles and applications, gain a collective understanding of its supporters and critics, and craft a vision for its radical expansion throughout higher education internationally.

Fall 2025 Global YPAR Webinar Series:

The three-part series is designed to inspire students, university leaders, funders, and other partners to embrace Youth-led Participatory Action Research (YPAR) as a powerful and transformative research method. The webinars will be held on in October on Fridays from 9:00–10:30 AM (ET). Please find additional details and registration links below:

Youth Power and Participatory Research | October 10^th – the opening session is a call to recognize youth not as future leaders, but as present-day change agents and researchers. Through compelling stories from climate-impacted regions, young leaders will share how YPAR enables them to investigate the environmental injustices in their communities and take collective action. This session celebrates youth wisdom and centers lived experience and makes the case for YPAR as essential to advancing climate justice. The opening panel will feature the following speakers to share their reflections and expertise: Dr. Fadia Nordtveit (Founder, BGreen Project, Professor, NYU Stern School of Business), Mahugnon Samuel Ahossouhe (Next Generation Leader Alumnus, Climate Impact Fellow, and Ph.D Candidate, Institut International d'Ingénierie de l'Eau et de l'Environnement), Claire McCann (Next Generation Leader Alumnus, and Phd Candidate, University of Oxford), Miguel Angel Castañeda Barahona (Researcher and Activist from Colombia, Alumnus of the Bard Center for Human Rights and the Arts). Register for the October 10th session.

Research for Climate Justice in Action | October 17^th – the second session spotlights one extraordinary case of YPAR about the issue of climate justice. It focuses on research design and methodology, as well as the challenges, and breakthroughs of the collaborative work. This session offers a living example of what’s possible when universities trust, resource, and uplift youth leadership in the climate space. Register for the October 17th session.

Investing in Youth Research for Climate Justice | October 24^th – the final session is a bold call to action for funders and institutions: if we are serious about equity, climate action, and sustainability, we must invest in youth-led, community-rooted research. This session elevates the voices of funders who are backing YPAR, along with youth researchers who have turned small grants into big impact. Register for the October 24th session.

This series is co-hosted by the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities and paNhari, presented in partnership with Tufts University's Tisch College of Civic Life.

Let’s shape the future—together.

Additional For Youth, By Youth YPAR Resources:

- For Youth, By Youth Community and University Collaborators Overview and Frequently Asked Questions
- For Youth, By Youth Cohort-led Youth-led Participatory Action Research Working Group Overview