The Interdisciplinary Center Organizing social sustainability is dedicated to researching phenomena relating to how social well-being can be fostered in and by organizations. The notion organizations comprises private companies, public organizations, but also larger organized constructs such as the EU or “Europe” as a territorial organization, as well as virtual communities. Social sustainability means offering processes for creating successful places that promote wellbeing, by understanding what people need from the places they live and work.

Social sustainability supports social and cultural life, social amenities, opportunities for citizen and employee engagement, and space for people and places to evolve as to their belonging and identity. Social sustainability can be reached by aligning formal and informal processes; systems; structures; and relationships have to allow both current and future generations to create a healthy and durable living.

Socially sustainable communities are equitable, diverse, connected and democratic and provide a good quality of life. We are interested in how organizations of all types can contribute with a culture of social sustainability. Private companies, e.g., take an increased interest in intercultural awareness programs, agile and low-hierarchy digitalized workflows (especially in IT and Tech, but also in other domains), communication coaching and change management. Issues of belonging, health, cultural struggles and emancipation however are a matter for public organizations and organized constructs as well.
The Center Organizing Social Sustainability researches standards and processes of “good work”, of organized fairness and inclusion within the frame of the sustainability paradigm.