Bridging for Social Impact and Sustainability
This project is interwoven around the Master’s programme ‘Organising Social Impact’ (OSI) that launched in the academic year 2022/2023. Supported by the Seed funding, the project team aim to make connections to a range of societal actors, bringing together students, academics, community organisers and various organisations through a range of events and guest lectures. The transdisciplinary network AndersUtrecht plays a key role in supporting the programme.
The goal of building and harnessing these connections is innovative, by bridging the gap between education, research and communities in Utrecht. During the programme, students are expected to contribute to sustainability transformation and social impact activities of the partner organisations as a part of their research and learning experience, under the supervision of scholars.
Since the commencement of the programme, the project team have organised several events and activities:
6 September 2022
Launch of the OSI programme with two partner organisations CASCO and the Commons Network at USBO
14 October 2022
‘Organising Social Impact’ together: Introduction of 14 partner organisations with OSI students together at USBO
24 October 2022
Visiting Villa Vrede and cooking dinner together with the VV members
1 November 2022
Playing ‘Social Impact Game’ organised by YSE at USBO
7 December 2022
14 December 2022
Visiting Weggeefwinkel with OSI students to discuss sustainability and alternative economies
27 January 2023
Organising a workshop on ‘Design Thinking and Sustainability Transformation’ with Professor Albert Meijer.
The project team, led by Dr. Ozan Alakavuklar, will continue to organise guest lectures and workshops for the rest of the academic year, with the primary aim of establishing and building a dialogue between programme stakeholders and students, in order to facilitate and strengthen this novel collaborative approach to education, integrating theory and practice concerning ‘social impact and sustainability’.
This project was made possible through Pathways to Sustainability Seed funding.