This study investigates the institutional learning from attempts at securing affordable housing inclusion within Transit-Oriented Developments (TOD) through institutional change in Reykjavík, Iceland. As Reykjavík embarks on the ambitious City Line project, a bus-rapid transit network aimed at sustainably shaping urban growth, ensuring affordable housing near transit stations has become critical. Past attempts to achieve housing affordability have fallen short since Reykjavík still, to this day, experiences a great lack of affordable housing. Thus, this research employs an institutional learning framework to explore the barriers to and opportunities for ensuring affordable housing in TODs. Through expert interviews and document analysis, the study’s findings highlight the institutional challenges hindering the realisation of affordable housing goals within TODs. These include the vagueness of upper-level policies and terminology, the influence of land ownership, and implementation gaps in planning. Additionally, the research identifies opportunities for institutional change, such as strengthening standardisation from state-level policies, including principles of transit-accessible development in the extensions and re-evaluation of the City Line network, and addressing issues of timescale alignment between the implementation of TODs and the City Line. The study contributes to the limited Icelandic literature on institutional analysis in urban planning and offers ideas for enhancing social inclusivity and housing accessibility for Reykjavík’s future transit communities.

Den här studien undersöker hur outnyttjade platser kan användas genom temporär användning ur ett socialt syfte. Vår uppfattning är att det finns en brist på platser i dagens urbana miljö som bidrar till delaktighet och gemenskap, som kan främja social inkludering och ett mer jämlikt samhälle. Samtidigt finns det outnyttjade platser i staden, vilket kan bero på olika anledningar, som exempelvis ekonomiska aspekter eller väntan på exploatering. Temporär användning är idag en erkänd metod för att aktivera dessa platser under en viss tidsperiod. Frågan går dock att ställa hur detta kan användas ur ett socialt, samt solidariskt perspektiv och således bidra till ett mer jämlikt samhälle. För att besvara denna fråga har vi utfört en empirisk undersökning av det franska temporära projektet Coco Velten, samt projektets grundare Yes We Camp. Genom denna empiriska undersökning, tillsammans med stöd av teorier, har vi kommit fram till att outnyttjade platser kan användas temporärt för att bidra till ett mer inkluderande och jämlikt samhälle. Samtidigt måste inte temporär användning i sig nödvändigtvis bidra till detta, utan det handlar snarare om hur dessa platser utformas, samt dess syfte. I det studerade Coco Velten går det utläsa att projektet svarade upp på olika samhällsproblem genom att hjälpa människor i utsatta situationer. För att åstadkomma detta implementerades flera olika användningsområden i projektet, en av dessa var de gemensamma platserna som utformades genom kollektiva metoder. Genom studien visas att de gemensamma platserna kan ses som särskilt vitala för att öka delaktigheten genom den temporära användningen och skapa förutsättningar för jämlikhet och social inkludering. Studien visar även att dessa projekt bygger på en viss föreningskultur och ett samarbete mellan olika samhällsaktörer. Avslutningsvis belyser studien vissa utmaningar med temporära projekt. Studien visar att den temporära användningen med ett socialt perspektiv kräver ideellt arbete och människors engagemang för att kunna genomföras. Andra utmaningar som studien belyser är tidsaspekten, finansieringen, samt risken för gentrifiering. / This thesis explores how unused spaces can be utilised through temporary use for social purposes. It is our view that there is a lack of spaces in today's urban environment that contribute to participation and community, which can promote social inclusion and a more equal society. At the same time, there are vacant spaces in the city, which may be due to various factors, including economic considerations or a lack of immediate development opportunities. Temporary use is now recognised as a means of activating these spaces for a specified period. However, it is necessary to consider whether this can be used from a social and solidarity perspective, and thus contribute to a more equal society. To answer this question, an empirical study of the French temporary project Coco Velten, and its founder Yes We Camp, was conducted. Through this empirical investigation, together with the support of theories, it was concluded that unused spaces can be used temporarily to contribute to a more inclusive and equal society. It is important to note that temporary use in itself does not necessarily contribute to the desired outcome. Rather, it is about how these places are designed and what they are used for. In the Coco Velten case study, it is evident that the project addressed various societal issues by assisting individuals in vulnerable situations. To achieve this, several different uses were implemented in the project, including common spaces designed through collective methods. The study indicates that the common spaces can be regarded as particularly significant in terms of increasing participation through the temporary use of the spaces and creating conditions for equality and social inclusion. The study also shows that these projects are based on a certain culture of association and collaboration between various social actors. Finally, the study identifies some challenges associated with temporary projects. The study indicates that temporary use with a social perspective requires volunteer labor and people's commitment to be implemented. Other challenges highlighted by the study are the time aspect, financing, and the risk of gentrification.

The United Arab Emirates are challenged to include the national workforce into their increasingly diversified and knowledge-based economic vision. The federal Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development incubates Sougha, a non-profit company acting as market intermediary for Emirati artisans. This study aims at providing an insight into Sougha‘s potential to become a social enterprise. A pragmatic and exploratory approach is followed. An iterative process underpins the concept of social enterprise from established literature, re-visits it through a social constructivist lens as an emerging topic in the GCC region, and benchmarks Sougha against two selected social enterprise frameworks, based on data analysis from documents and interviews. Sougha demonstrates social value creation while its commercial value creation is restricted to social mission activities. Financial motives are insufficiently reflected in Sougha‘s strategic documentation; leaving doubt to whether Sougha is genuinely seeking financial sustainability, which endangers its eligibility as a social enterprise. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)

Background: People who use illegal drugs are disproportionately affected by HIV and hepatitis C, stigmatization and social exclusion. Health inequities are worsened by drug policy of criminalization, which thwarts health promotion efforts and hinders access to services. To address these inequities, people who use drugs are increasingly included in decisions that affect them by sitting on policy, service delivery and research committees. This study addressed a gap in understanding how power inequities are transformed in committees where people who use drugs are at the table. Methods: In partnership with the Drug Users Advocacy League and the Society of Living Illicit Drugs Users, this participatory critical emancipatory inquiry explored power relations in four committees in Ontario and BC. Data were collected in 2013 through meeting observations, interviews, demographics surveys and document reviews. Data analysis was guided by theoretical frameworks grounded in critical theory and transformative learning theory. Results: Findings confirmed striking socioeconomic inequities between people who use drugs and others at the table. Inconsistent measures were taken by committees to alleviate barriers to inclusion. Despite openness to inclusion, committee members tended to underestimate people who use drugs. The presence of local organizations of people who use drugs ensured a more democratic selection of their representatives to sit on committees. Once at the table, creating a safe space entailed building trust, authentic relationships, relational and reflective dialogue, and skilled facilitation. Democratic practices of negotiated relationships and consensus-based decision-making enhanced meaningful inclusion. A structural environment in which drug policy criminalizes people who use illegal drugs hindered capacity to transform power inequities by feeding stigma, which worsens health and social inequities. Committees were committed to inclusion of people who use drugs though capacity to do so varied due to budgetary and human resources constraints. Study limitations, practice implications and future research directions are offered. / Graduate / 0700 / 0680 / lynnebel@uvic.ca

本研究透過比較大誌雜誌與街遊導覽活動社會企業方案對遊民服務產生的影響，以及兩者於服務系統中的角色，了解社會企業於遊民服務中的功能。雖然兩者均以促進遊民就業為社會目的，但是在牽涉教育訓練、生活安排與遊民長期規劃時，兩社會企業方案發展出不同的商業模式。相映著社會企業於臺灣社會福利供給體系日漸重要的角色，本研究關注社會企業的「社會性」如何與商業模式結合，社會與商業的互動如何影響遊民的生活安排，藉此了解社會企業發揮的功能以及對於遊民社會融合的影響。 本研究分析架構是藉由考察社會企業於工作模式與經營目標中的差異，了解其對遊民權益的影響。進一步觀察社會企業所提供的工作性質與企業中組成人員怎麼影響遊民於區域面向、經濟所得、教育訓練、社會參與、勞動市場面向的社會融合效果。此外，特別關注遊民在工作之餘，如何調適生活安排與工作之間的生存策略。 研究結果發現兩種社會企業方案的商業模式與社會目的反應於工作模式和經營目標之間的互動模式與平衡策略，如此的組織設計以及其衍生的互動與平衡策略也使其在遊民福利服務中發揮不同的功能。組織設計而言，大誌偏向以商業模式為主，組成人員為出版專業人員與志工，提供無工作門檻且時間彈性安排的工作機會，使參與者透過販售大誌累積資產與工作經驗。街遊則偏向以社會目的為主，組成人員為社工專業人員與志工，導覽工作需要長期的培訓，因此，街遊志工與社工人員參與個案生活安排的機會較多，因此個案能夠更直接地接觸所需的服務。 兩家社會企業都提供了具促進社會融合功能的支持性就業環境，一方面大誌提供了勞動市場多元的工作機會，另一方面街遊則是提供完整的教育訓練與社會服務，補充了穩定服務中的就業機會與過渡服務中的職業訓練。從兩個社會企業案例可發現，社會企業透過提供穩定工作機會，能夠舒緩社會排除的程度，也嫁接遊民與社會福利體系的連結。本研究認為由於社會企業所目前提供的收入水準仍無法使遊民穩定地維持居住需求，因此若可以搭配安置服務或居住相關的補助，較容易使社會企業方案發揮脫貧功能。次之，建議可以將社會企業納入遊民就業服務的資源之一，由於兩家社會企業方案都提供具有教育與訓練功能的工作機會，能夠補足目前遊民就業服務中較少職業訓練的部分。 / By analyzing The Big Issue Taiwan and Hidden Taipei, in terms of their business models and social aims, this research investigates the role of social enterprise programme in the welfare service for the homeless and the impact of the programme on the latter. Both of the social enterprise programmes aims at offering supportive working environment and job opportunities. However, they have developed different resource balancing and transferring strategies on the issues of homeless’ income, education, training and housing needs. Responding to the gradually important role of social enterprise, this thesis aims at researching how a social enterprise copes with the balance between social aims and business model, and finally, how the balance effects the social inclusion of homeless. The research investigates the differences between two business models to understand how it influences homeless’ rights. Furthermore, by investigating the business model, in terms of the numbers of employee and volunteer and the types of job opportunities being provided, we can understand the effect of social inclusion in various dimensions: for instance, housing, income, education and training, social participation and labour market. Special attention is paid to know how homeless navigate the balance between work and daily life. The result shows the different interaction between social enterprise and homeless, and the balance strategies reflected from the different business models and social aims. Additionally, different business models and the balance strategies have different impacts on the homeless welfare services. As a business-inclined social enterprise, The Big Issue Taiwan offers job opportunities with flexible requirements and working hours. The Big Issue vendors can save money from selling the magazine and gain working experience for the next job. On the other hand, Hidden Taipei, which plays as a pro-social aim business model, offers job with high-quality requirements, which requires long-term training. Therefore, the social workers and volunteers could spend more time with the clients. Both of the social enterprises offer and create a supportive employment environment promoting social inclusion of the homeless and various opportunities in the labour market. While The Big Issue Taiwan has created job opportunities, Hidden Taipei has offered complete employment training program and social service. By creating a stable and supportive working environment, social enterprise has not only changed the vulnerable status and promoted the social inclusion of homeless, but also the connection between homeless and social welfare system. However, The Big Issue vendors and Hidden Taipei guides can still hardly afford the rent for their residence on a stable basis. Therefore, this research suggests that the income may have better effect if it has accompanied with housing-related benefit. Secondly, regarding the lack of the education and training program in homeless service, it is suggested that social enterprise could be integrated into the homeless service for its complete training program.

The thesis is divided into the theoretical and the practical part. The theoretical part consists of three chapters, the first is devoted to familiarization with the problems of homelessness. I deal with the social aspects of this phenomenon, such as social exclusion and associated problems of social inclusion in the second chapter. The final chapter discusses the possibilities of assistance directed at homeless people. The practical part includes qualitative research where I try by means of ten case studies to bring the fate of homeless people who seek the services of institutions, where they can find qualified help in solving a wide range of problems that may be the cause of their present situation. By analyzing data, I try to figure out what is behind the possible success or failure of such persons in the pursuit of social inclusion.

This thesis outlines the development of EU regional policy, its main principles and instruments through which it provides the member states with financial help. A key financial tool of this thesis is European social fund whose sphere of action in current programming period 2007-2013 is examined in both Slovak and Czech republic. The practical part of this thesis is especially devoted to two operational programmes Employment and social inclusion and Human resources and Employment. The first practical chapter focuses on comparison of their priority axes, horizontal priorities and multi- objective focus. The goal of the second practical chapter is to analyze financial implementation of both mentioned operational programmes.

The work focuses on the models of work with ethnic minorities and especially the process of social inclusion of Roma through the social pedagogy. The dissertation consists of two parts: The first part examines the theoretical approaches. The social education plays a key role in an effective process of social inclusion of the Roma. Other disciplines also offer specific inputs in the work with minorities, which cannot be overlooked; nevertheless, there is no definite model to replicate. Roma inclusion is a process that is influenced by many variables. The key factor is the mutual relations with the Non-Roma population and their historical development. Although the integration process has been ongoing for more than 20 years, we are still looking for an answer to the success of Roma inclusion projects and activities. The key question, then, is how do the project implementers perceive the key moments that make their project and its activities successful. Thus, the research focuses to identify specific approaches, activities, inclusion principles. The survey shows that the social and cultural context, that is Roma-specific, perhaps generates certain preconditions that make pro-Roma projects successful. Emphasis on individual approach and complexity at the same time makes the assistance in the process of...

The purpose of this study is to examine educational aid´s perceptions of social inclusion in the compulsory school for pupils with learning disabilities in training school classes. The chosen method of this study is a qualitive research approach. Five educational aid´s currently working with pupils with intellectual disabilities in the compulsory school for pupils with learning disabilities have been interviewed. A relational and categorical models of special education has been used to analyze the interviews and a comparison between the relational, categorical approach, the thoughts of the educational aids and the regulatory documents from the Swedish National Agency for Education is taking place in the study. The result of the study shows that most of the educational aid´s in the study thinks that they can both support and obstruct social inclusion for pupils with learning disabilities. The study also shows that pedagogical guidance and discussions in the work crew about social inclusion are important to promote social inclusion. The educational aid´s believe that the pupils have little interest in participate in social interaction with other pupils. Furthermore the paraprofessionals believe that the teachers should have a comprehensive view over the pupils and their school day and that the educational aid´s thinks that they have a closer relation with the pupils because they spend more time with them than the teachers do. The informants indicated that learning environments, the ability to back away, and cooperation within the teaching team are important factors to promote social inclusion. / Syftet med studien är att undersöka några elevassistenters uppfattningar om social delaktighet i grundsärskolan med inriktning mot ämnesområden. Den valda metoden i denna studie var en kvalitativ forskningsansats. Fem elevassistenter som arbetar med elever i grundsärskolan med inriktning mot ämnesområden har blivit intervjuade. En relationell och kategorisk modell av specialundervisning har använts för att analysera intervjuerna och en jämförelse mellan det relationella, kategoriska synsättet, tankar från elevassistenterna och Skolverkets styrdokument sker i denna studie. Resultatet visade att merparten av elevassistenterna ansåg att de själva både kunde underlätta oh vara till hinder för den sociala delaktigheten för elever med utvecklingsstörning. Att handledning och diskussion om social delaktighet var viktiga faktorer samt att elevassistenterna ansåg att elever med utvecklingsstörning själva hade ett begränsat intresse av att inleda socialt samspel med andra elever. Studien visade även att pedagogisk handledning och diskussioner inom arbetslaget om social delaktighet är viktiga faktorer för att öka social delaktighet. Elevassistenterna ansåg att eleverna hade lågt intresse av att delta i sociala interaktioner med andra elever. Vidare så framhöll elevassistenterna att en lärare bör ha ett helhetsgrepp över eleverna och undervisningen och elevassistenterna anser att de har en närmare relation med eleverna då de spenderar mer tid med dem än vad lärarna. Elevassistenterna indikerade att lärmiljö, förmåga att backa undan och samverkan inom arbetslaget som viktiga faktorer för att öka social delaktighet.

O presente estudo volta-se à discussão do Federalismo Fiscal na América Latina, em particular nas quatro Federações Brasil, Argentina, México e Venezuela, como instrumento de integração. A proposta de integração desenvolve-se a partir da compreensão do sentido de pobreza, que na região está associado à desigualdade, inserido sobretudo a partir de uma primeira integração digamos, quando houve um encontro entre as civilizações pré-hispânicas e europeia, notadamente Espanha e Portugal, em decorrência da qual se enraízam a pobreza e a exclusão social na sociedade dela resultante. No entanto, passados cinco séculos, entende-se que a integração da América Latina poderá encontrar em oportunidades de participação da sociedade no debate político, e portanto, na inclusão social, uma outra realidade em que a pobreza possa ser reduzida ou extinta. Para tanto, o estudo ora apresentado utiliza da teoria sobre uma ética de participação e distribuição, construída nas democracias latino-americanas. Esse sentido de construção de relações sociais vincula-se à necessidade também de serem estruturadas relações sociais condizentes com a solidariedade social, estabelecendo-se na região instituições próprias que assegurem a redução das desigualdades sociais e que possam revelar um novo e autêntico modelo de integração. As normas jurídicas presentes no Federalismo Fiscal nas quatro Federações mencionadas são valioso instrumento do fortalecimento de um institucionalismo próprio ao ensejo de desenvolvimento regional, com inclusão social em que a conservação do meio ambiente reflete a preocupação com o ser humano. Enfim, a proposta de integração regional está expressa na distribuição e aplicação de receitas arrecadas por meio da tributação ambiental, enlaçando o Federalismo Fiscal próprio e comum às Federações latino-americanas. / This paper then turns to a discussion of Fiscal Federalism in Latin America, particularly in the four Federations Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Venezuela, as an instrument of integration. The proposed integration is developed from the understanding of the meaning of poverty in the region that is associated with inequality , especially inserted from a first integration say, when there was a meeting between the pre - Hispanic and European civilizations , notably Spain and Portugal , as a result of which are rooted poverty and social exclusion resulting in her society. However, after five centuries, it is understood that the integration of Latin America can find opportunities in a society participation in political debate, and therefore, social inclusion, another reality in which poverty can be reduced or extinguished. Thus, the study presented here uses the theory of an ethic of participation and distribution , built in Latin American democracies. This sense of building social relationships linked to the need also to be structured social solidarity, settling in the region institutions that ensure the reduction of social inequalities and that may prove a new and authentic integration model . Legal norms present in Fiscal Federalism in the four Federations mentioned are valuable instrument of strengthening a institutionalism itself and the opportunity for regional development with social inclusion in the conservation of the environment, which reflects a concern with the human being. Finally, the proposed regional integration is expressed in the distribution and application of revenues collected through environmental taxation, linking the Fiscal Federalism itself and common to Latin American Federations.