Abstract
The aim of this paper is to examine the role that university research can play in sustainable development at the level of community. The methodological approach is action research undertaken in collaboration with voluntary and community organisations, addressing their needs and including high levels of participation. An outline of the nature of sustainable communities and engaged university research, is followed by case examples of five collaborative research projects, each generating different types of qualitative data, which inform sustainable development of communities in diverse ways. The studies indicate that university-community partnerships can provide understanding of the challenges facing people in communities; encourage innovative local action for sustainability; and contribute to policy development at different levels. They do this via the creation of ecological ‘edges’. The challenges facing universities doing this kind of research are highlighted.
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Notes
- 1.
We recognise many different kinds of communities. In this context we are talking of communities of place—geographical areas with which people identify and have a sense of belonging (see Kagan et al. 2011a for further discussion of the concept of community).
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Kagan, C., Lawthom, R., Clennon, O., Fisher, J., Diamond, J., Goldstraw, K. (2017). Sustainable Communities: University-Community Partnership Research on Social Dimensions of Sustainable Development. In: Leal Filho, W. (eds) Sustainable Development Research at Universities in the United Kingdom. World Sustainability Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47883-8_14
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