An increasing number of higher education institutions in Sweden and other countries are striving to broaden and deepen their social engagement in order to address current societal challenges and contribute to the transition to a sustainable society. But how can Swedish universities support academic engagement in social innovation for sustainable transition? And what might the sustainable and socially engaged universities of the future look like?
Analysis of policy documents at Swedish higher education institutions
To find out, we atForum for Social Innovation Sweden Forum for Social Innovation Sweden conducted a review of policy documents that guide Swedish universities’ work in four areas: innovation, commercialization, sustainability, and collaboration. The universities included were the University of Borås, Jönköping University, Luleå University of Technology, Malmö University, Umeå University, and Örebro University.
Policy Labs and Visions for the Future of Academic Engagement
The findings from the document review were discussed at “policy labs” held at each institution, involving individuals working in governance, operational support, and research, as well as several external stakeholders. This was followed by a “re-imaginatorium” where participants from all the institutions came together to envision what sustainable and socially engaged higher education institutions of the future might look like. In parallel, an international survey of socially engaged higher education institutions in other countries was conducted.
The publication *Socially Engaged Universities of the Future* summarizes our findings, serving as inspiration for continued academic engagement with society!