In the face of increasingly complex societal challenges, the field of social design is being called upon to deepen its ability to create long-term, systemic impact. This project, conducted with five experienced social designers and one workshop in our ESConference in 2025, explored how systems thinking, …

"Europe’s energy transition requires not only technological innovation but also new educational approaches that equip future professionals to navigate complex social, technical, and governance challenges. This expert article examines how students from Avans University of Applied Sciences contribute to …

"Education with hands-on impact: This project highlights how a German and a Malagasy higher education institution, together with their spin-offs, collaborate to implement sustainable energy solutions and promote social participation at the local level. Through the joint establishment of a pellet factory …

This thesis examines how regenerative hospitality can be applied within the safari lodge sector in Southern Africa with a specific focus on community based tourism, conservation oriented value creation and long term livelihood development. The safari industry has traditionally operated through models …

"The transition to a sustainable energy system demands not only technical innovation but also social engagement and collaborative governance. This paper presents a case study from Zoetermeer, a mid-sized city in the Netherlands, where the number of citizen-led energy initiatives grew from four to fourteen …

The transition to sustainable energy systems is both technological and social, requiring new forms of learning, collaboration, and governance. This poster examines how inclusive skills ecosystems can foster a just energy transition by drawing on insights from a bi-continental capacity-building network …

The transition to an inclusive society through design Inclusive design can play a critical role in shaping a more equitable society. When products and services are intentionally created to be inclusive, they become more accessible to a wide audience, including people who might otherwise struggle to engage …

Gaasperdam, located in Amsterdam’s southeastern region, is a diverse neighborhood with a population of approximately 30, 000 residents. The area is characterized by a mix of social housing and privately owned homes, with several residential high-rises built during the 1970s and 1980s. In terms of education, …

Background and objectives The transition to a plant-based diet is globally recognized as critical for combatingclimate change and improving public health (Willett, 2019). Secondary vocationaleducation students are a key demographic due to their adaptable eating habits (Story,2002). However, limited knowledge, …

Urban living labs (ULLs) are experimental governance mechanisms accelerating sustainability transitions in the built environment, yet their governance implications and systemic impact are often under-examined. A comparative analysis of six ULLs is presented with a focus on positive energy districts (PEDs) …