Departing from commonly held fact that parental involvement increases students’ academicachievement; The Swedish Schools and parents are required to have close relations with each other. However, low parental involvement becomes obvious norm in Swedish schools nowadays, especially immigrant parents. The aim of this qualitative study is to identify, from the participating parents’ perspective, the challenges that face Somali parents in their interaction with compulsory schools in Flen, Sweden. It will also elaborate on the role of mother tongue teacher as mediator in home-school interaction. The data collected through interviews with sixteen Somali parents in the city shows that understanding Swedish school system, language, parents’ education level, integration, social background, gender role, and communication methods are some of the main challenges that face these parents in their interaction with their children’s schools. Majority of the parents were socially excluded from major culture and lacked understanding towards different social, economic and organizational phenomenon in the Swedish society. The segregation resulted in parents’ disengagement from school and created distrust towards school, mother tongue teachers, social workers and authorities in general. Knowledge generated from this study may give policy makers, school, and interested institutions the needed theoretical foundation to design action plans, programs and policies in order to increase the level of participation of Somali parents.

The paradigm of design is changing. Designers now need to be equipped with the skills and knowledge that will enable them to participate in the global move towards a sustainable future. The tenets of Sustainable Development and Design: economy and environment are being dealt with extensively in both practice and theory. The social elements, unfortunately, have proven more difficult to define and implement. The challenges arise as social sustainability deals with softer and more complex issues as diverse and unquantifiable as ethics, values, cultural diversity, holistic perspectives, collective and personal responsibility. The competencies needed to address these wicked problems are based in the realm of Social Sustainability and require a shift in how designers are taught as students and will subsequently practice as professionals. This thesis proposes that by introducing various models of collaboration into design education the capacity for responsible design practice can be developed. Arguably, by capitalising on the process of collaboration a culture of individual and collective sharing can be encouraged leading to new knowledge and openness to multi-disciplinarity, holistic perspectives and diverse cultural backgrounds. Across a Delphi Study and four consecutive phases of Action Research, the competencies for social sustainability in design are identified and their emergence evaluated through practical collaborative projects in an educational setting. From the panel of twenty-one design experts the Delphi Study developed a construct for social sustainability in design, as well as an initial Framework of the key competencies. These two tools were then used to underpin the planning, implementation and subsequent analysis of the four Action Research phases. The pragmatic nature of Action Research allowed for continuous iteration and development, where data gathered through each phase informed the proceeding phase so as to fix on an approach that is both realisable and realistic. This thesis does not offer a panacea solution but rather a pathway towards achieving the necessary changes in design practice. The findings clearly show that building capacity for responsible design practice is not a simple or one size fits all approach, as each individual experience is different. The construct, framework of competencies (and their interconnections) along with the guidelines for effective collaboration, provide a starting point that can be built upon, evolve and progress as the debate around sustainability becomes more clearly defined. Over time these generic design skills can be honed and refined to meet previously unmet societal challenges.

This thesis is concerned with the contribution of practising planners, working in town or urban planning departments, to social wellbeing. It is concerned with what planners do, how they conceptualise the application of town or urban planning practice to social issues, and what they think about their role in achieving social outcomes in a place. The general question is initially addressed through an introductory story and then via a content analysis of recent regional strategic plans. This is followed by a review of town planning literature on social issues, particularly literature concerned with small areas such as villages and neighbourhoods and which treat urban areas as a series of villages or neighbourhoods. The work is further advanced by a discourse analysis of the use of the word community, as a noun and as an adjective, in a series of planning reports. Recent literature on community development, community consultation and sustainability principles is also reviewed for its contribution to the way in which planners address social issues. On the basis of findings from this work, five research propositions are developed. These are explored through a survey of practising planners. The research propositions are explored in a number of questions so as to search for consistency and establish the reliability of the results. The same questionnaire is also administered to a class of fourth year student planners as a control. Four of the five research propositions are demonstrated by the survey results. The results suggest that practising planners have a knowledge and skill shortfall in the area of applying planning practice to achieving social outcomes. However, the results also demonstrate that most planners think that community building is part of their role, they have a realistic appreciation of their skills and are open to new ideas and learning opportunities. The concluding section of the thesis makes a series of suggestions for responding to the shortfall and developing planners� knowledge and skills relevant to community building.

This research project takes the form of a creative, reflective and analytic investigation 'through theory and practice' into the role of the artist in enabling 'sustainable' urban environments. My initial focus on a spatial public art practice?s potential contribution to social sustainability should be understood as involving the capacity to contribute lasting benefits toward social well being whether of the individual or the community. My research later challenges the efficacy of this focus and argues for a more holistic approach to sustainability which addresses social, environmental, cultural and economic concerns simultaneously.

Sustainability of natural resources is currently a concern worldwide. The ecological and economic aspects of sustainability have received substantial research attention, but the social aspects of sustainability are less well understood. Participation by affected communities in natural resource management decisions is pivotal to social sustainability. As such, this study examined ten case studies of participation and decision-making by natural resource management groups involved in agriculture in the south-west of Australia. Groups at four spatial scales were studied, including the State, regional, land conservation district (Shire) and subcatchment. Drawing on these ten case studies, this study analysed participation in these groups from the perspectives of representation, leadership and partnership. Crucial elements of this analysis included identifying the desirable attributes of participation in terms of achieving social sustainability, and then comparing current practice against these ideals. The study concludes with comments about the efficacy at each spatial scale of current approaches to participation in terms of social sustainability. Central conclusions from this study follow. Some scales are performing better than others in terms of meeting the expectations expressed through the desirable criteria. The State scale is performing well, in terms of its mandate, with its lower expectations than those ascribed to regional and subcatchment scales clearly being met. On the other hand, the expectations associated with the community- and government-led regional groups and subcatchment groups are enormous. The only place where there was any major difference between the three was in representation: it was barely considered by respondents from the subcatchment groups, while for the regional groups less of the expectations were met by the community-led than government-led groups. Otherwise they were very similar. The land conservation districts, caught between the regions and subcatchments, seem to be faring the poorest.

Green infrastructure has numerous beneficial ecosystem services which can make a city more sustainable and resilient to the climate change. There are also various of cultural benefits of green areas for the inhabitants of a city, such as the opportunity for recreation. This study has examined which methods and strategies are being used by key people who work with green structure in Örnsköldsvik municipality. Interviews have been made with one local politician, whom is a chairperson for a planning committee, and four civil servants. As well as to scrutinize which prospects and restraints the above-mentioned consider with a reinforcement of the green structure and how an enhanced green structure may improve the social sustainability. Focus is on the city core of Örnsköldsvik. The result was that the primarily used strategies are the green plan, an addition to the comprehensive plan and the detailed development plan process. The prospects of strengthening the green structure are a new more thorough green plan, implementing a cooperation forum between those who possess knowledge about green issues and foremost involve and raise the matter of green structure early in the planning process. The identified restraints are that there is a lack of knowledge and competence regarding green structure and there is an exploitation pressure on these sites in the city. The green areas in Örnsköldsvik have an immense effect on social sustainability and are of great importance for the mobility in time and space for individuals especially children, the elderly and those with a lower socio-economic status.

This thesis explores the historic preservation projects in two cities: Suzhou, China, and Pasadena, California, United States. The purpose of investigating the strategies and policies used in each of the historic districts is to discuss whether preservation strategies applied in both cases could represent historic authenticity. The first two chapters focus on the project plan of the two historic districts. By evaluating the preservation policies at both national and regional level, histories of the districts, and approaches adopted by two cities, this thesis discerns the different perceptions of “authenticity” in preservation strategies in two countries. The next part of the thesis compares the two historic districts in terms of their distinctive focuses on preservation approaches. I, therefore, conclude that even though both cases have been deemed as successful models of preservation projects in each country, both historic district has demonstrated different levels of insufficient protection in culture and social sustainability.

This case study explores how the Integrated Child Impact Analysis (ICIA) tool is used in the urban planning process in the city of Stockholm. The purpose of the study is to understand how the focus on children’s rights can contribute to social sustainability through urban planning projects. It sets out to answer the research questions: (1) how do the ICIA and the perspective of the rights of children contribute to social sustainability? (2) What strengths and weaknesses can be identified with the implementation of ICIA in the cases of Focus Skärholmen, and Gamla Tyresövägen regarding social sustainability? (3) How do the researched cases answer the following phronetic planning research questions? Where are we going; who gains and who loses; is this development desirable; what, if anything, should we do about it? – What should be done to improve the operationalization of the ICIA process for future implementation to promote children’s rights and social sustainability? The study is based on mixed literature regarding social sustainability, deliberative planning, citizenship of children, and health over the life course.The study reviews the ICIA operationalization in the cases of Focus Skärholmen and Gamla Tyresövägen in Stockholm, by viewing the reports published in the process. The results of the study show that (1) the ICIA is a useful tool for social sustainability, as the dialogue process and cities accommodated for children can contribute ‘socially sustainable citizens’. (2) Both cases had their strengths and weaknesses based on their different contexts, regarding scale and how they are communicated. Both cases show that the ICIA process may be subjugated due to the timeframe of a project, whether it is initiated early in the planning stage or lacking participation for stakeholder groups in the deliberation process. (3)The ICIA tool is recognized as a good tool, demonstrating that the rights of children are becoming a priority. It still has room for improvements when being implemented, and requires a reflexive approach that continues to evaluate if the tool will have a long-lasting impact, and not risk to become a part of an insignificant check-list in procedures of urban planning.

This research study aims to determine the impact of urban form on social sustainability. Definitions of urban form vary in the literature. One of the definitions describe urban form as spaces that enhance the sense of community, healthy communities and place attachment, while promoting environmental mitigation and adaption measures (Eizenberg & Jabareen, 2017). Likewise, social sustainability has not been clearly defined and universally understood and as a result its importance has been compromised (Vallance, Perkins & Dixon, 2011). This study of urban form also includes testing the success of the process of implementation, with the aim of providing evidence with regards to its success in the shaping of urban form. Important implementation processes of urban form include: planning processes, policies, processes of collaboration and partnership between different agencies, local participation, financial incentives, tax incentives and investment (Burton, Jenks & Williams, 2003). The case study of the research includes two contrasting housing developments that are at opposite ends of the housing spectrum. Masiphumelele, an informal settlement, and Lake Michelle, an Eco-Estate. Both these housing developments are situated between the areas of Noordhoek, Fish Hoek and Sun Valley in the City of Cape Town. This research project makes use of a multidisciplinary approach. Due to the spatial and social nature of the research, methods from both Geography and Urban Design were used. Qualitative methods were used, including interviews, field observation, volunteer work at an NGO, and spatial mapping. The research study finds that urban form does have an impact on social sustainability. The findings reveal that the measure of social sustainability is a result of firstly, the type of urban form. Secondly, it is a result of the nature of the implementation process of urban form. Third, it is a result of the residents’ response to the urban form. Social sustainability is thus not predictable, but the relationship between urban form and social sustainability is predictable. Both high-density and low-density urban forms have positive and negative results, depending on the specific context. Furthermore, the selected criteria with which to define both urban form and social sustainability will have an impact on the relationship between the two. Thus, calling for a uniform definition of both urban form and social sustainability, and the need for a context-specific approach to the design of urban form.

With over 300 years serving as a traffic route it is no wonder that Hornsgatan has the role of a major ‘artery’ in today’s Stockholm. This thesis will analyze and investigate how the street environment on Hornsgatan is affecting the people spending time on the street, and how a better street life and street quality can be brought out when it comes to enhance the social aspects for the street and its people. Through methods such as observations of the street and interviews with business owners, the case study of Hornsgatan have been based upon some theories by famous theorists when it comes to improving streets (and urban life) in cities, e.g.; Appleyard (1981), Jacobs (1993) and Gehl (2010). The results from the case study and the interviews show that Hornsgatan have both factors of what a ‘good’ and socially sustainable street should have; mix-use, the presence of people and social activities, active ground floors and different traffic modes, and factors that contribute to a less attractive street life; the heavy traffic, lack of places to sit, lack of greenery and lack of social activities for/between people. To reply the question if Hornsgatan is a ‘good’ and socially sustainable street or not, the answer is both yes and no. As Appleyard (1981) states, “[…] there is no single perfect street […]” (Appleyard 1981, p. 245). Instead each street and its situation are unique. However, with guidelines and aspects for how a street can be improved, at least some help can be brought out for its improvements. / Urban Form and Social Behaviour Research Project