Social cohesion and inclusion 

This research area focuses on alleviating the problems of and finding solutions for demographic change, regional inequality, and social incoherence. We focus on the economic, social, political, cultural, territorial and digital coherence of different groups of society. We wish to improve the access to services, co-existence, mutual support and joint contributions to the development of society of different groups of society, for example young people, elderly, vulnerable or special needs individuals, or those with a different socioeconomic and regional background. Our aim is to improve people’s livelihoods and inclusion, service accessibility, trust and community resilience to decrease societal fracturing and prevent radicalisation. 

We have extensive experience in engaging different groups of society. We have studied the needs and opportunities of the youth and elderly, researched the various aspects of youth work and written instructional materials for including the elderly. We have expert experience in studying vulnerable groups, for example we have included foster families and inmates in our studies. 

With our research-based recommendations, we wish to increase the coherence of society, prevent division, and decrease polarisation. For this, we use quantitative and qualitative methods, co-creation processes, focus on citizen education, and work together with local and international experts.  

RELATED PROJECTS

Completed:

• Development of user-centered informational material “The inmate’s journey in prison”  
• Analysis of Extensive Psychosocial Crisis Support Provision  
• Study on the New Generation in Cultural Disciplines (Dance, Music, Art)   
• A leave entitlement system for foster families  
• Ex-post Evaluation of the Estonian EU External Border Programme  
• Final Evaluation of the Active Citizens Fund programme in Estonia  
• Green Silver Age Mobility (GreenSAM) 
• Opportunities of open youth work, hobby education, and extracurricular activities to enhance the social inclusion of young people, especially those at risk of exclusion, and the needs for developing these opportunities 
• The Youth Guarantee Support System