Inclusion in the society means everyone's equal right to services and opportunity to health, education, work, livelihood, housing and social relations. It means also acting in cultural variety in the communities and getting a share from the welfare (services) that has been built together.

The Social Inclusion and Active Citizenship Research Group focuses on the promotion of active citizenship by improving the availability and relevance of welfare services, option for education and employability. On the other hand the approaches and working practices are developed so that welfare acts make the social inclusion and sense of community possible.

The Research Group promotes social inclusion and engagement by tackling the social problems of exclusion, poverty, short-sightedness, loneliness and insecurity.

Objectives and key strategic points:

• to strengthen the inclusion of the people, children and young people and families in their everyday life living context
• to innovate integrative interprofessional health care and social services to strengthen inclusion 
• to support everyone’s social inclusion and employment by building new kinds of informal, self-motivate (omaehtoinen) environments for act and learn
• to facilitate for the most vulnerable people with special needs the experience of having influence and meaning

Co-creation and collaboration with working life partners is our leading approach. This innopedagogy and ‘service learning’ approach link the students’  learning process and teacher experts’ know-how, and at its best integrates and benefits all parties expertise in meeting the needs of developing modern welfare services and well-being in a society.

The research group has strong partnerships with cities and municipalities, public and private companies, with NGOs and other associations empowering the civic activity and engagement.