Sustainable and versatile social and health sector

We promote health, wellbeing and functional capacity

The aim of the research programme is to utilise and produce evidence-based research knowledge as well as end-user-driven solutions, services and products. Changing population structure, globalisation, technological development and transformations in work have a strong impact on social structures, operating models and wellbeing. These changes bring both challenges and opportunities for promoting equitable health and wellbeing among the population.

Our research programme strongly reflects broad expertise in the social and health sector and Laurea’s important role as a significant educator in health and social care.

Our current themes include:

• Promoting health, wellbeing, functional capacity and inclusion
• Promoting clinical nursing
• Challenges related to an ageing society
• Mental wellbeing issues (children, young people, families)
• Ensuring the inclusion of groups at risk of marginalisation
• Expertise in the criminal sanctions sector
• Issues of diversity
• Development work related to early childhood education; tasks of the bachelor of social services in early childhood education
• Changes in work across different operational environments
• New competences in the social and health sector
• Utilisation of new technology in the social and health sector
• Digitalisation and its opportunities as well as implementation challenges in the social and health sector
• Use of creative methods
• Utilising co-development and service design in service development
• Sustainable development in promoting health and wellbeing

See also the cross-cutting themes of the research programmes.

Our cooperation network in Finland and worldwide

Our area of operation is broad, ranging from local regions to international environments. We conduct research and development in active collaboration with companies, the public sector, wellbeing regions, organisations and end users. Several domestic and international universities and research institutes are important partners for us. 

Key funders for the research programme’s projects include, among others, the European Union structural funds (ESF, ERDF, INTERREG), EU Horizon Europe funding, appropriations for health promotion (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health), the Academy of Finland, the Finnish Work Environment Fund (TSR),  grants from the Ministry of Education and Culture and several domestic foundations and research programmes.

Examples of networks