Samita Wilson
About
I am an Associate Professor of Child Welfare in the Department of Social Work. My academic background is in Social Anthropology, with an MPhil in Childhood Studies (NTNU) and a PhD in Social Sciences (University of Stavanger). Both degrees focused on the lived experiences and perspectives of vulnerable children in marginalized settings, including my doctoral research on Norwegian-Pakistani children’s interactions with Child Protection Services in Norway. My current project examines how young people from South Asian backgrounds perceive violence against children. Drawing on childhood studies, social anthropology, and social work, I employ qualitative methods to explore nuanced, context-dependent realities.
Beyond academia, I have a decade of experience working with national and international NGOs, primarily in developing countries, on initiatives related to children’s rights and education. My professional background includes conducting baseline studies, project monitoring and evaluation, and rapid assessments of child protection in emergencies. Through these roles, I have developed strong cultural competence, which enables me to build rapport with children, families, and communities when researching particularly sensitive topics. My work aligns closely with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially those concerning the well-being, protection, and empowerment of children.
Research interests
- Child protection systems
- Marginalized children, families and communities
- Children and young people's sense of belonging, identity and social integration
- Children's rights and experiences of ‘lived rights’
- Children on the move and forced migration
- Participatory research methods
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Good health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Gender equality (SDG 5)
- Reduced inequalities (SDG 10)
- Peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16)
Publications
2024
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Abela, Angela;
Devaney, Carmel;
Kojan, Bente Heggem;
Kotzeva, Tatyana;
Arsic, Jelena;
Wilson, Samita.
(2024)
The meaningful participation of children in matters that affect them: Child participation in the context of child protection across five European countries.
Children and Youth Services Review
Academic article
2023
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Salkauskiene, Ieva;
Wilson, Samita;
Gresdahl, May Kristin;
Juul, Randi Lise.
(2023)
Children’s experiences of collaborative relationship with child welfare and protection professionals in Norway: a state-of-the-art review.
Nordic Social Work Research
Academic article
-
Wilson, Samita;
Hean, Sarah Catherine Patricia Duff;
Abebe, Tatek ;
Heaslip, Vanessa.
(2023)
Pakistani children's lived experiences of relationships in the context of child protection services in Norway: An interpretative phenomenological analysis.
Children & society
Academic article
-
Wilson, Samita;
Hean, Sarah Catherine Patricia Duff;
Abebe, Tatek ;
Heaslip, Vanessa;
Smith, Jonathan.
(2023)
The war within: emotional experiences of children in Norwegian child protection services.
Children's Geographies
Academic article
2022
-
Gunnarsdottir, Hulda Mjöll;
Wilson, Samita;
Enoksen, Elisabeth.
(2022)
‘Maybe I can go back to school in a few weeks’: Children’s experiences of everyday life during the COVID-19 lockdown in Norway.
Journal of Comparative Social Work
Academic article
2021
-
Alseth, Ann Kristin;
Fævelen, Malin;
Kojan, Bente Heggem;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Storhaug, Anita S.;
Wilson, Samita.
(2021)
Norway - National report on Family Support Policy & Provision.
Chapter
2020
-
Wilson, Samita;
Hean, Sarah;
Abebe, Tatek;
Heaslip, Vanessa.
(2020)
Children's experiences with Child Protection Services: A synthesis of qualitative evidence.
Children and Youth Services Review
Academic article
Journal publications
-
Abela, Angela;
Devaney, Carmel;
Kojan, Bente Heggem;
Kotzeva, Tatyana;
Arsic, Jelena;
Wilson, Samita.
(2024)
The meaningful participation of children in matters that affect them: Child participation in the context of child protection across five European countries.
Children and Youth Services Review
Academic article
-
Salkauskiene, Ieva;
Wilson, Samita;
Gresdahl, May Kristin;
Juul, Randi Lise.
(2023)
Children’s experiences of collaborative relationship with child welfare and protection professionals in Norway: a state-of-the-art review.
Nordic Social Work Research
Academic article
-
Wilson, Samita;
Hean, Sarah Catherine Patricia Duff;
Abebe, Tatek ;
Heaslip, Vanessa.
(2023)
Pakistani children's lived experiences of relationships in the context of child protection services in Norway: An interpretative phenomenological analysis.
Children & society
Academic article
-
Wilson, Samita;
Hean, Sarah Catherine Patricia Duff;
Abebe, Tatek ;
Heaslip, Vanessa;
Smith, Jonathan.
(2023)
The war within: emotional experiences of children in Norwegian child protection services.
Children's Geographies
Academic article
-
Gunnarsdottir, Hulda Mjöll;
Wilson, Samita;
Enoksen, Elisabeth.
(2022)
‘Maybe I can go back to school in a few weeks’: Children’s experiences of everyday life during the COVID-19 lockdown in Norway.
Journal of Comparative Social Work
Academic article
-
Wilson, Samita;
Hean, Sarah;
Abebe, Tatek;
Heaslip, Vanessa.
(2020)
Children's experiences with Child Protection Services: A synthesis of qualitative evidence.
Children and Youth Services Review
Academic article
Part of book/report
-
Alseth, Ann Kristin;
Fævelen, Malin;
Kojan, Bente Heggem;
Røkkum, Nina Helen Aas;
Storhaug, Anita S.;
Wilson, Samita.
(2021)
Norway - National report on Family Support Policy & Provision.
Chapter
Teaching
Courses
Outreach
2023
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Academic lectureWilson, Samita. (2023) Reframing vulnerability: Understanding the role of refugee children as global social actors in Norway. Norwegian University of Science & Technology (NTNU) At critical crossroads in Nordic Childhood Studies: 40th Anniversary conference of the Nordic journal BARN , Norway 2023-08-16 - 2023-08-17
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LectureWilson, Samita. (2023) Betydningen av sosiale relasjoner hos minoritetsbarn i Barnevernet (Importance of social relations for minority children in Child Protection Services) . Senter for Interkulturel kommunikasjon (SIK), VID University KOMBA - Minority Competence in Child Welfare training program , Trondheim 2023-04-18 -
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LectureWilson, Samita. (2023) Betydningen av sosiale relasjoner hos minoritetsbarn i Barnevernet. . VID University of Applied Sciences KOMBA - Minority Competence in Child Welfare training program , Molde 2023-04-20 -
2020
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Academic lecture
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InterviewWilson, Samita. (2020) Who cares about - experiences of child protection? . https://whocaresaboutresearch.com/episodes/episode-06 https://whocaresaboutresearch.com/episodes/episode-06 [Internet] 2020-11-11
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LectureWilson, Samita. (2020) Doing research with children from minority background about their lived experiences with Child Protection Services in Norway. The Centre of Child Welfare and Innovation NTNU Research group seminar 2020-10-23 -
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Academic lectureWilson, Samita. (2020) Opplevelse av minoritetsbarn med barnevern. Institute of Social Work - NTNU Academic course 2020-10-12 -
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Academic lectureWilson, Samita. (2020) Preliminary findings: Lived experiences of Child Protection Services among children from minority background in Norway. IPA research group IPA research group meeting , Birkbeck University of London 2020-03-06 -
2018
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Academic lectureWilson, Samita. (2018) Right to protection: Ethnic minority children's experiences of western Child Welfare Services. Children's Rights European Academic Network The impact of children's rights education and research on policy development , Geneva 2018-01-18 - 2018-01-19