Social sustainability for whom? Developing an analytical approach through a tripartite collaboration

• Published in: The journal of workplace learning Vol. 35; no. 6; pp. 524 - 539
• Main Authors: Sunnemark, Fredrik, Gahnström, Emil, Rudström, Hedvig, Karlsson, Erika, Assmo, Per
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Publishing Limited 17-08-2023; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Arbetsintegrerat lärande; Citizen participation; Collaboration; Democracy; Educational Cooperation; Empowerment; Foreign Countries; Governance; Higher Education; Institutionalism; Language Skills; Learning Activities; Learning Processes; Local Government; Policy Formation; Social Influences; Social life & customs; Social sustainability; Society; Spatial analysis; Sustainability; Sustainable Development; Urban development; Urban planning; Work Integrated Learning; Workplace Learning; Sweden; Co-creation of knowledge; Social sustainability; Time-spatial method of analysis; Governance; Work-integrated learning; Tripartite collaboration
• ISSN: 1366-5626; 1758-7859; 1366-5626; 1758-7859
• DOI: 10.1108/JWL-01-2023-0004

Purpose
Social sustainability is a concept frequently referred to in public debates concerning how to construct the governance of future societies. The interpretations of its meaning, however, are ambiguous, and practices often dubious. Confronting top-down technocratic governance structures, this paper aims to argue for for tripartite collaborations between residents, higher education institutions (HEIs) and local government, as an approach toward social sustainability that involves residents’ interests in local governance.
Design/methodology/approach
This study argues that a specific time-spatial method of analysis can benefit the co-creation of knowledge as it passes through the spectrum of resident–HEI–local government. It provides a way for resident perceptions to become structured knowledge that originates from the residents, effectively engendering a bottom-up governance structure.
Findings
This study shows how to include residents in policymaking and implementation processes as co-creators of knowledge, and thereby displays the possibility of examining knowledge and competence within municipal projects for social sustainability.
Originality/value
The model developed in this study can be used as a methodological instrument to analyze and expand resident participation in local social sustainability work. It thereby provides a toolbox for inclusive policymaking and strategies.