Social sustainability in practice

This collection of resources explores social sustainability with a focus on community engagement, resilience, embodiment, and especially community building as sources of personal and systemic wellbeing. The collection includes articles, links, videos, podcasts, and research-based insights. The resources draw on diverse research and practices to support sustainable communities.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) themes are increasingly in focus in higher education organizations, and human wellbeing is a sustainability issue. ​The OASIS approach aims to align with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Among relevant SDGs to this collection are SDG 3 Good Health and Wellbeing, SDG 4 Quality Education, SDG 5 Gender Equality, SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities.

According to research students' high quality learning can be enhanced through interactive and student-centred teaching, which again is related to the teachers’ own wellbeing. Hence, through appropriate measures, a positive spiral of wellbeing involving students, teachers and supporting staff in a higher education community can be created. These measures include social sustainability and wellbeing strategies and leadership, close communication between university and student organizations and individuals, as well as resourcing and organizing wellbeing as a mindset and a structure.

This material was created and consolidated during 2021-2024 by the OASIS of Radical Wellbeing project. The project's work has been repurposed and expanded here to support social sustainability as a part of Aalto University wellbeing efforts, including Aaltogether, Wellbeing Desk, Flourishing Programmes and a collection of EDI efforts.