This collection of resources explores social sustainability with a focus on community engagement, resilience, embodiment, and especially community building as sources of personal and systemic wellbeing. The collection includes articles, links, videos, podcasts, and research-based insights. The resources draw on diverse research and practices to support sustainable communities.
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) themes are increasingly in focus in higher education organizations, and human wellbeing is a sustainability issue. The OASIS approach aims to align with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Among relevant SDGs to this collection are SDG 3 Good Health and Wellbeing, SDG 4 Quality Education, SDG 5 Gender Equality, SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities.
According to research students' high quality learning can be enhanced through interactive and student-centred teaching, which again is related to the teachers’ own wellbeing. Hence, through appropriate measures, a positive spiral of wellbeing involving students, teachers and supporting staff in a higher education community can be created. These measures include social sustainability and wellbeing strategies and leadership, close communication between university and student organizations and individuals, as well as resourcing and organizing wellbeing as a mindset and a structure.
This material was created and consolidated during 2021-2024 by the OASIS of Radical Wellbeing project. The project's work has been repurposed and expanded here to support social sustainability as a part of Aalto University wellbeing efforts, including Aaltogether, Wellbeing Desk, Flourishing Programmes and a collection of EDI efforts.
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Social sustainability in academic communities requires future-led leading. Its foundation is a vision that encompasses inclusivity, diversity, wellbeing and the power of social interactions.
As a teacher, researcher and developer of leadership, I have had hundreds of opportunities over the years to support managers, supervisors, experts and students in their cooperation and development of interaction skills.
“When the source of mental distress is structural, there is nothing even an army of occupational counsellors, physicians, therapists or nurses can do to fix it”, says Risto Sarvas.
What should we students strive for in life? Read the Wellbeing Ambassador Arttu Pahta's blog post on Dr. Otto Scharmer's lecture.
If we can take care of ourselves, we will have more energy to take care of others, and once our community becomes self-sufficient in sharing support, we will all be better off.
‘Be kind to yourself’? Absolutely NOT! You shouldn’t think like that, otherwise you’ll never be able to develop! This is how I felt when I first learned about the idea of self-compassion.
Mindfulness and other soothing practices can be useful tools!
The Future-led Learning podcast offers a platform for university educators to reflect their ideas about teaching and learning.
The Best Thing Today is a podcast series by Aalto study, career and advanced study psychologists.
Short films to watch and discuss
What happens when we notice that one of us is missing? A short film by Merita Petäjä and Eero Tiilikainen (Aalto University, 2018)
Groundhog Day -type story about self-compassion. Short film by Merita Petäjä and Eero Tiilikainen, produced by Aalto AllWell? / Sakari Heiskanen, 2021.
A student receives an interesting internship offer but is faced with a difficult decision after learning that greenwashing is practiced at the internship company. The short film is starred by the Jussi prize nominee Elsi Sloan. A film by Merita Petäjä and Eero Tiilikainen. Produced by Oasis of Radical Wellbeing, Aalto University.
This new massive open online course on how to live a good life is lectured by Ph.D., assistant professor Frank Martela. The course is produced by the Oasis of Radical Wellbeing project and it is part of Aalto’s lifewide learning portfolio. The course was launched on May 30th, 2023
Self-compassion is one of the most beneficial skills you can learn in life. This course consists of mindfulness exercises that help us to nurture an accepting and sympathetic relationship with ourselves.
Pedagogical wellbeing entails both teacher and student perspectives. These pages serve as a teachers' reference and study package for improving wellbeing in teaching and studies at Aalto.
Dr. Kamilah MajiedWellbeing needs to be part of the pedagogy of the institution... integrated into the overall functioning of the university.
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The Keys to Your Wellbeing series is designed to broaden your view of wellbeing issues.
The opportunity to be authentic forms a central dimension of how satisfied a person is with their life.
Self-compassion helps, and you can learn and practice it.
Flow can also be achieved together with others!
Connecting with others can be developed by building trust through psychological safety.
Even a small amount of movement can refresh the brain and enrich thinking.
Psychological safety refers to feelings of trust and belonging, as well as the desire to learn and contribute to the community.
The Starting Point of Wellbeing offers students easy access to counselling and advice on matters of well-being and study ability. The services available to you include drop-in (no reservation) advising/counselling sessions, peer support groups, and online materials. You can also make an appointment to receive individual counselling.
Personal Impact brings to light already existing courses in Aalto University on values and meaningfulness, self-leadership, societal impact, human potential and well-being.
Teamwork First-Aid Kit gathers tools that have proved to be useful in supporting diverse teams tackling ill-defined problems and building the foundations for successful teamwork. It is a small step toward educating game-changers who can make a team more than a sum of its parts. Undeniably, teamwork skills are among the most pivotal work-life skills that younger generation entering the workforce are expected to master.
The Wellbeing Desk and the Wellbeing Chat are a low-threshold service point for Aalto's entire personnel. Here, you can get advice and service guidance in matters related to work ability and wellbeing at work.
