Change Agents - Blueprints for Inter-institutional Collaborations in Social Design

"<< Background >>The motivation for the project rooted in the foundation of an internationally unique Social Design Network (SDN) involving partners from prestigious universities sharing knowledge, training socially sensitive designers and creative professionals by sharing research, projects and courses, which activities are essential in the integration of social design into strategies tackling social and ecological problems. The field of social design is evolving, but there has been a significant lack of knowledge-sharing tools regarding the best practices and know-how of collaborations between local NGOs and HEIs. The lack of effective tools that combine research, intervention and dissemination also increases distances among the disciplines, which results in methodological gaps and fragmented problem-solving approaches that prevent connecting and applying the expertise coming from community-based experiences and design interventions. Mapping the existing good practices of horizontal collaboration and creating recommendations for implementing such meaningful cross-sectoral endeavours can fill these gaps while also providing an alternative designer attitude and career path in the HEI ecosystem, and an impactful usage of design in the NGO sector.<< Objectives >>The Change Agents Project aimed to promote inclusion, diversity, and collaboration between higher education institutions, NGOs, and local communities through social design practices. Key objectives included fostering partnerships to address real community needs, building a more inclusive higher education system by integrating non-academic actors, and advancing social design as a tool for societal impact. The project also sought to tackle environmental and climate challenges, emphasizing their effects on marginalized communities, and to develop innovative teaching and learning methods. These goals were achieved through a comprehensive literature review, interviews with practitioners, successful pilot activities, and the creation of the final Blueprint. The Blueprint serves as a practical resource for changemakers, providing tools and frameworks to implement inclusive, sustainable, and impactful educational settings, bridging the gap between academia and societal needs.<< Implementation >>The project was implemented through a series of interconnected activities designed to promote inclusion, diversity, and collaboration among higher education institutions, NGOs, and local communities. As the first step the Background mapping was conducted with the aim to gain a deeper understanding on the already existing practices on the cross section of social design and NGO related field work. The Implementation of the piloting activities seeked for empirical knowledge and created innovative results on the theoretical and structural approach by testing its feasibility in a form of local pilot events. During the Syntheses and recommendation activity a comprehensive methodological recommendation, the ""Blueprints for Interinstitutional Collaborations in Social Design"" was created as the main project result. The project concluded with a public dissemination event that engaged a diverse audience through presentations, discussions, and collaborative exchanges. Regular monitoring through bilateral and monthly meetings ensured that all activities progressed smoothly, with adjustments made as needed to maintain quality and alignment with project objectives.<< Results >>The project successfully delivered a range of concrete outputs and significant results that aligned with its objectives of promoting inclusion, diversity, and innovative collaboration through social design approaches. A detailed review of existing practices at the intersection of social design and NGO-related fieldwork established a theoretical foundation and shared vocabulary for the partnership. This document supported the development of pilots, mapping analysis, and the final Blueprint.Interviews were conducted with academic and non-academic professionals, offering deep insights into collaborative practices. These were synthesized into a structured analysis and mapping document, merging primary and secondary research to identify key themes and actionable findings.Two pilot activities were successfully implemented to foster collaboration among local citizens, social institutions, and NGOs. The project’s key output, the Blueprint, consolidated insights from the literature review, interviews, mapping analysis, and pilots. This professionally developed document serves as a resource for changemakers, offering tools and methods to establish inclusive, sustainable, and impactful educational and design practices."