Experiential expertise and peer support to address social exclusion and inequalities

The VoimaProfi project at Laurea University of Applied Sciences used experience to generate new research knowledge to address the challenges of social exclusion and inequality.

The mental health of citizens of different ages and digital exclusion have been the subject of extensive societal debate in recent years. The VoimaProfi research project, funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture, focused on these important and topical issues, including the development of policy recommendations to promote the mental well-being of children, young people and families, drawing on empirical evidence. The project also focused on the well-being at work of social and health care workers and the digital inclusion of vulnerable groups.

The results of the project can be used by those working with children and young people in the social, health and education sectors.

"The way of thinking of experience experts became a valuable asset as the research progressed"

The involvement of clients and citizens in the development of societal challenges emerged as an important element in the research carried out by the project. For example, mental well-being and peer support for children, young people and families were developed through the client-centred BIKVA development model, where client experience and aspirations for services are strongly highlighted and are at the heart of quality development.

People with a background in crime and substance abuse who acted as citizen researchers as equal partners in the project. Among other things, they produced diary material and contributed to the analysis of the data. Sari Heikkinen, Laurea's Social and Health Research Programme Director, considers the use of empirical expertise a significant way of gaining a new perspective on social research.

- Our experience of using people with a background in crime and substance abuse was positive. Their way of thinking became a valuable asset as the research progressed. In addition, this kind of activity can help their professional development and integration into society," says Heikkinen.

Exploring the digital inclusion of vulnerable people was one of the strands of the VoimaProfi project. The project involved five community workshops with dozens of actors interested in developing digital support, from the grassroots to national policy makers and students. Grassroots participants are particularly needed to address structural problems in society, as they have first-hand knowledge of the specificities of the phenomenon. The challenge brings together many sectors to work together, as the problem cannot be solved alone.

Strengthening experiential knowledge continues at the Centre for Experiential Knowledge

Laurea's work on developing experiential knowledge continues in the Centre for Experiential Knowledge developed as part of the project. The Centre for Experiential Knowledge is a digital platform designed to share information on projects that aim to promote the appreciation and recognition of experiential knowledge in different communities.The site also provides up-to-date training news for practitioners and support for the development of methodological skills. The Centre also provides access to publications produced by the project and other publications on experiential learning.

- The Centre for Experiential Knowledge also provides ethical guidelines for working with experientialists and professionals. Our university has played a strong role in developing the guidelines, which are a great contribution to the cooperation between these actors," says Birgitta Tetri from Laurea University of Applied Sciences.

The project will end in June 2024, but the work to address the challenges of social exclusion and inequality will continue. The results of the project will be presented during the summer and autumn at the Working Life Research Days, the Educational Science Days and the Nursing ethics conference.

The project is funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture and will run from 1.1.2022 to 30.6.2024. Laurea is the sole implementer of the project.

More information

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For more perspectives on experiential learning, Laurea University of Applied Sciences has produced the smart documentary Street Experts, which focuses on four experienced experts with a background in crime and substance abuse. 

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