Participatory research, development and innovation partnership in the context of university of applied sciences
Keywords:
participation, partnership, RDI, ethical sustainability, social-ecological problems, sustainable well-beingAbstract
The intertwined ecological and social problems of our time are solved by combining different perspectives and forming a joint vision. In this study, our focus was on research, development and innovation (RDI) activities that can answers to complex eco-social problems in the transdisciplinary university of applied sciences (UAS) context. The data, collected through thematic interviews (n=27), consisted of information produced by actors representing different fields in the UAS. The data was analyzed using content analysis. Our results complement previous research by describing the features of participatory RDI partnership specifically in the context of UAS. According to our results the core elements of participatory RDI partnership are equal participation, diverse competences, and systemic development. The participatory RDI partnership evolves into a multi-actor and multi-faceted set of activities, characterized by non-linear, interactive, and continuous development in different environments. New knowledge creates shared ownership between different actors and social capital accumulated jointly by the participants. Ethical sustainability expertise arises from RDI partners operating in constant change, learning to produce and use new information to promote sustainable well-being. Therefore, the participatory RDI partnership has the potential to act as a catalyst for societal renewal in addressing today’s complex eco-social challenges.
