Applying Sustainability Transition Research in Social Work tackling Major Societal Challenge of Social Inclusion - ASTRA

Code: 955518

Beginning: 01.10.2020

End: 30.12.2024

Funding: European Union

Leader: red. prof. Vesna Leskošek (za FSD)

Associates:

prof. dr. Vesna Leskošek 

prof. dr. Darja Zaviršek

Svenja Fischbach, raziskovalka

Miroslav Budimir, raziskovalec

Summary:

The project stems from an innovative approach to research in social work by incorporating sustainable development paradigm, which is important for more effectively addressing the major societal challenges identified in the UN Millennium Development Goals. The basic premise of the project is that the integration of vulnerable groups into society cannot be effective without taking into account the intertsection of social, economic and sustainable perspectives. The project will develop new tools and methods for inclusive and sustainable social work, which include the ideas of circular, social and solidarity economy, sustainable forms of living and food production as well as contributory justice in participation in society and a decent life.

The project will employ 15 early stage researchers who will be enrolled in doctoral programs in seven countries, and we will employ two of them at University of Ljubljana. In addition to participating in training in the form of summer schools, webinars and short seminars, they will have the opportunity to conduct comparative research in collaboration with some major sustainable organizations at EU level, as well as with national nature conservation and sustainable NGOs. Thus, the project will provide transdisciplinary research, which not only refers to the creation of new knowledge with the participation of various scientific disciplines, but the key component is involvement of non-academic actors that are essential in the transition to a sustainable society. ASTRA is thus creating a new field of research that will provide young researchers with career opportunities in the field of multidisciplinary sustainability research at the local, national and international levels, and enable social work to better address the key challenges of social inclusion.