The University of Borås took a leap forward in exploration, development, and collaboration when its node withinForum for Social Innovation Sweden Forum for Social Innovation Sweden Forum for Social Innovation Sweden organized a full-day event focused on social innovation. The guest speaker was Malin Lindberg, a visiting professor at Malmö University.
The agenda included a researcher meeting, a lecture, and finally a policy lab. All of these events attracted many participants from various parts of the university.
“At a previous research meeting, our researchers clearly expressed a desire for more knowledge on the topic of social innovation, which made it an obvious choice to invite Malin Lindberg here,” says Maria Wolmesjö, professor of social work and a member of Forum for Social Innovation Sweden the University of Borås.
Social innovation refers to the development of innovative solutions to societal challenges, using social objectives and means. A local example is Kraftens Hus, where researchers from the University of Borås and Chalmers University of Technology have been involved in establishing a meeting place for people affected by cancer, in collaboration with the target group, healthcare professionals, and others.
“It has been an incredibly rewarding day that has contributed both to the development of expertise in social innovation here at the university and to energizing both researchers and participants in today’s activities,” says Ulrika Sjölund, program manager at Forum for Social Innovation Sweden the University of Borås.
Policy Lab for Sustainable Development through Social Innovation
The highlight of the day was this afternoon’s policy lab—where the university’s guiding documents on innovation, societal impact, sustainability, and collaboration were the subject of discussion and reflection as part of a research project funded by Vinnova. Working in groups, participants—who came from the university, the Borås Student Union, and Science Park Borås, among others—reflected on the content of selected university documents. These discussions, along with similar materials from other institutions in Forum for Social Innovation Sweden, will be used to develop concrete guidelines and a visionary roadmap for academic policy support for social innovation aimed at sustainable transition.
“The Policy Lab provided valuable insights into the university’s high ambitions for its social engagement and, at the same time, highlighted several challenges in realizing these goals—challenges that the university’s Forum for Social Innovation Sweden can continue to address in the future in collaboration with the participants,” says Malin Lindberg.
From left to right in the photo: Ulrika Sjölund, Malin Lindberg, and Maria Wolmesjö.
Read more
- More about the research project " Academic Policy Support for Social Innovation for Sustainable Transition"
- Learn more about Forum for Social Innovation Sweden the University of Borås.
- Learn more about the 2030 Agenda.
Text: Emilia Wermelin