FHH: Space for Action and Agency for Sustainability

This project is part of Mälardalen University’s work to develop multidisciplinary knowledge areas, particularly OWL (Organisation, Working Life, and Leadership for a Sustainable Future).

We live in a time characterized by significant changes in working life related to, among other things, digitalization (in its various forms); the flexibilization of work, workplaces, and the labor market; increased diversity; globalization; and a greater focus on various types of sustainability issues, including mental health, crises, and threats to democracy. The public sector, in particular, faces major challenges in delivering the same type of welfare as today with the staff and resources that will be available in a few years, which involves, among other things, extensive changes in working life. This puts great pressure on digitalization but also on renegotiating roles and responsibilities in society at large, and in individual organizations specifically.

These changes give rise to new challenges and opportunities in creating the organizational conditions for sustainability for practitioners, but also for practitioners to contribute to a sustainable society, while earlier challenges and opportunities may change or persist.

Therefore, this project will focus on sustainability for practitioners and through practitioners in times of change.

Previous research has shown that the transition from studies to working life is an important phase in one’s career. If the expectations a student has built up during their education are not met, and if organizations are not prepared to receive newly graduated staff, this may lead to individuals leaving the profession. An important question is, therefore, how the transition into working life after university studies takes place and what factors contribute to a continued desire to develop within one’s profession and/or organization.

Project objective

The project objective is to develop knowledge about sustainability for and through practitioners during the transition from studies to working life in a time of change.

The research question we aim to answer is: What enables or hinders university-educated individuals who have just started their professional careers from performing their jobs in ways that are perceived as meaningful and sustainable? (This includes developing in one’s profession and career, ensuring that individuals have the opportunity to achieve their goals, creating conditions for sustainable work, etc.).