Abstract:

HE authorities have an obligation to ensure that education and research are accessible to the public and useful for society. The World Declaration on HE for the Twenty-first Century: Vision and Action (1998) emphasizes that HE institutions should contribute to change that promotes solidarity, equality and justice. HE should strengthen its “role of service to society” through the dissemination of research results that enhance human and social development in the light of globalization (The GUNI Report, 2008). These challenges involve European welfare states and highlight the ultimate purpose, to assure universal coverage of high quality and comprehensive services that are essential to advance opportunity for health equity within and between countries (The Lancet Commissions, 2010). Hence, HE must make greater efforts to support students’ ability to adapt to change, which they will need as professionals.

In line with international HE guidelines, the relationship between HE and local actors has become a priority area in Norway. At the University of Stavanger we address questions of importance for teaching and research as well as for professional practice contexts, such as social work. One important goal is to involve students and practitioners in research and innovation activities, and the concept of “social innovation” appears to be particularly relevant. We have applied the EU’s definition of social innovation for mutual endeavors: «Social innovations are new solutions that simultaneously meet a social need and lead to new or improved capabilities and relationships, and better use of assets and resources. In other words, social innovations are good for society and enhance society’s capacity to act” (Caulier-Grice, Davies et al., 2012).

A project funded by the Norwegian Research Council, «Innovation and Service Development through evolving Forms of Collaboration», will be presented to illustrate the benefits of closely linking research, innovation, education, and practice. A sub study “Research in Social Work – the importance of research for professional development and improving services” was initiated at the University of Stavanger. The purpose was to encourage the students to become more familiar with research and develop their readiness for social innovation, in other words increase students’ awareness of how to utilize research and innovation in education and practice. The project was organized as action research during social work students’ second year practical placement (spring term) and will illustrate how they worked with real social problems in combination with relevant research activities to promote social change. The students’ research role developed simultaneously with that of the practitioner/supervisor when they mutually engaged in research and innovation activities based on issues that emerged in daily practice. The experiences will be discussed in the light of innovation theory and demonstrate how educational structures have changed both internally and externally.

Keywords:

Higher education, research, social innovation, social work.