Challenge Lab: A transformative and integrative approach for sustainability transitions

• We present a model where master students act as change agents, inducing sustainability transitions insocio-technical systems by applying backcasting.Creating transitions in a complex socio-technical system, where universities need to collaborate with thepublic- and private sector (the triple helix) is often hindered by various kinds of lock-ins.In Sweden, previous attempts to solve this include companies, governmental bodies and researchersacting individually to bring together stakeholders to dislodge these lock-ins. To complement this, a neutral“Challenge Lab” arena was created, where master students run transformative backcasting projects.Interviews with triple helix stakeholders were conducted. Industrial stakeholders claim the students werein a unique position as unthreatening, yet challenging. Academic stakeholders highlight students asunravelling issues and going deeper in the questions resulting in quicker processes and trust in their owndialogue work. Public sector stakeholders claim dialogue resulted in true personal opinions coming to thesurface and another stakeholder modified their overall climate strategy as a result of the change agentdialogue.The study indicates that students are unthreatening yet challenging change agents, catalysing trust onvarious triple helix system levels. Other universities can adopt this model for engaging in sustainabilitytransitions.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Annan teknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Other Engineering and Technologies (hsv//eng)

Keyword

challenge lab learning leadership sustainability transition

Publication and Content Type

kon (subject category)

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