Code: 955518
Beginning: 01.10.2020
End: 30.12.2024
Funding: European Union
Leader: red. prof. Vesna Leskošek (za FSD)
Associates:
Svenja Fischbach, raziskovalka
Miroslav Budimir, raziskovalec
Summary:
The project idea 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 was 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 developed 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 employed 15 early stage researchers who were enrolled in doctoral programs in seven countries, and we employed two of them at the University of Ljubljana. In addition to participating in training in the form of summer schools, webinars and short seminars, they had 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 provided transdisciplinary research, which not only refers to the creation of new knowledge with the participation of various scientific disciplines, but also the involvement of non-academic actors that are essential in the transition to a sustainable society. ASTRA thus created a new field of research that provided young researchers with career opportunities in the field of multidisciplinary sustainability research at the local, national and international levels, and enabled social work to better address the key challenges of social inclusion.