Societal impact
Our department aims to make a positive impact on society by thinking critically about how our research can support the development of geographical literacy amongst communities implicated in social transformations pertaining to: 1) justice and equality; 2) the digital transition; 3) environmental change (for further information about our research themes, please consult our Research Strategy).
Collectively and individually, our scholars pursue social transformation by embarking on three complementary impact ‘journeys’, each of which involves careful consideration of what kind of impact we want to achieve, for whom, and why:
1) Enhancing policy making
Providing policymakers with independently produced knowledge is essential for healthy democratic processes. In SGPL, we aim to match the diverse knowledge present within the department with demand at various government institutions operating across different scales. We are focusing on developing existing individual connections between Department members and policymakers into more collective and durable relationships, from local government authorities, to European and Global institutions such as the United Nations, OECD and World Bank.
2) Engaging society
In SGPL, we continuously engage with a host of societal groups, including local residential and community organisations, through sustainable collaborative working practices. We strive for reciprocal and equitable working relationships with different societal actors, in which the knowledge and life experiences of all parties are valued equally. By actively learning from our interactions with external partners, we aim to build trusting and mutually beneficial relationships that deepen over time and empower different societal groups to achieve their goals.
3) Fostering equal opportunities
SGPL has historically collaborated with a range of universities, institutes, and societal partners in the Global South. With growing interdisciplinary interest in sustainable development and goals to minimize social inequalities, we are devoted to creating and consolidating meaningful collaborations with our partners in the Global South. We use the term ‘meaningful’ to highlight that the exchange between UU and universities in the GS remains mutually beneficial and is implemented in the spirit of co-creation of knowledge that is relevant to both partners.
Are you interested in starting a collaboration with the department Human Geography and Spatial Planning? Please send an email to secretariaatsgpl.geo@uu.nl or call + 31 (0)30 253 1399.