Social Quality
People are social beings. Connecting with others is good for our health and well-being. It gives us a sense of belonging, provides reassurance and makes us happy. At the same time, there is a continuous interaction between people and their social environment. This is what social quality is about: the extent to which people are able to participate in society in ways that suit them and contribute to their well-being. The central question of the professorship is: how can we learn, conduct research and work together to strengthen social quality?
Social quality enables people to make use of their abilities, develop themselves and, in turn, contribute to their surroundings, such as their own social network, neighbourhood, village and wider society.
What is social quality?
Social quality is about the extent to which people are able to participate in social, economic and cultural life and develop themselves within their communities. We look not only at individuals, but also at the environments in which they live. This interaction between people and their environment is at the heart of the Social Quality Approach.
This animation shows how the Social Quality Approach helps us explore societal issues from the perspective of different levels and factors.
The Social Quality Approach
The Social Quality Approach helps us explore societal issues by looking at the interaction between people and their environment. A person’s ability to participate, develop and have a say in their own life does not depend solely on the individual. Their neighbourhood, social networks, organisations, policies and developments in society also play a role.
That is why we look at different levels: people’s everyday lives (micro), communities and organisations (meso), and policies and societal structures (macro). These levels do not exist in isolation, but continuously influence one another.
We also look at three types of factors. Conditional factors are the conditions people need in order to participate, such as socioeconomic security, social cohesion, social inclusion and social empowerment. Constitutional factors relate to people’s personal capabilities and capacities. Normative factors concern the values that underpin social quality.
The professorship uses the Social Quality Approach as a lens through which to explore questions from professional practice. What is already in place and working well? What is under pressure? And what can people, professionals, organisations and policymakers do together to strengthen social quality? The approach also helps us structure our research and demonstrate what social innovations mean in practice.
Research
Issues in the field of social quality form the starting point for all our activities. This often takes place based on an issue from professional practice or we actively seek out partnerships with partners in the industry and the target group that is the focus of the project or study. Our professorship centres around learning and carrying out research together. We make full use of design-based and human-centred research, in which the target group actively participates. We are committed to co-creation within our professorship.
Research by students
The Ateliers Sociaal Domain (Social Domain Labs) are an example of a project in which students are very actively engaged. The labs are places where students and lecturers from various disciplines can come together. Students work on sub-questions within a larger project, which means they can get acquainted with applied research, from the perspective of different disciplines, at an early stage. This takes place on the basis of a question or issue from professional practice, alongside various partners from that field, whereby interim insights and results are immediately tested and used in professional practice.
Publications
Team
Jolanda Tuinstra has been Professor of Applied Sciences in Social Quality at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences since 2020.
The professorship consists of the Professor of Applied Sciences, lecturers, researchers and students from various degree programmes. Partners from professional practice also actively participate in the professorship.
The current research group brings together a wide range of knowledge and experience, with each member contributing to the themes of the professorship from their own expertise and perspective.
Team
- Jolanda Tuinstra
- Richtje Boomsma - lecturer/researcher and coordinator of an Atelier Sociaal Domein
- Jeannette Hartman - lecturer an PhD candidate
- Marjolanda Hendriksen - Greenwise Campus programme leader and researcher
- Ina Holtrop - lecturer/researcher and coordinator of an Atelier Sociaal Domein
- Jaap Ikink - lecturer/researcher and coordinator of an Atelier Sociaal Domein
- Krista Jansen - strategic policy advisor Firda
- Rachel Nijkamp - Firda
- Roos van Veen - project leader Werkplaats Sociaal Domein Friesland
- Talitha van Essen - lecturer/researcher
- Marcel Kik - lecturer/researcher
- Marcha Hartman - lecturer and PhD candidate
- Ingeborg Veldkamp - lecturer/researcher and PhD candidate
- Feija Schaap - coordinator of Atelier Sociaal Domein and Leeuwarden East knowledge network
- Annelies Nijboer – Lecturer
- Barbara de Bree – Lecturer
- Renske Postuma
- Paula Veldman – Policy Adviser, Amaryllis
- Frouwina van Dekken – KEaRN
- Tinke Noest – Lecturer
- Nick Cramer – De Leefstijlstraat Emmen
Contact
If you have any questions or want to find out more about the Social Quality professorship, please get in touch:
Professor
Jolanda Tuinstra
[email protected]
06 831 372 52
Secretariat
Margriet Dijkstra
[email protected]
06 283 170 08
Visiting address
NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences
Rengerslaan 10
8917 DD Leeuwarden
The Netherlands
Postal address
NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences
PO Box 1080
8900 CB Leeuwarden
The Netherlands
