Heikki Waris Institute
Heikki Waris Institute is a unit of development, research and education of urban social work. The Institute is a part of Socca, the Centre of Excellence on Social Welfare in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. The main focus of the Institute is in practice research, especially in systematic researching and teaching professional practices.
Participants in the activities of the Institute include the Department of Social Research at the University of Helsinki, universities of applied sciences in the field, social work units in the metropolitan area and the third sector.
Tasks and Operational Methods of the Heikki Waris Institute
The objectives of the Institute are to
- Develop and study the approaches and methods of urban social work
- Promote the interconnection between research, development and education relating to social work methods
- Build and maintain a base of research, development and education within the professional practices
- Promote a flexible approach to work that takes advantage of networks and crossed sector boundaries
- Develop the structures of knowledge production and the exertion of social effectiveness
- Participate in international cooperation in questions of urban social work.
The Institute comprises job descriptions and procedures that cross the borders of traditional research, development and education. The personnel of the Institute consists of temporary researcher and developer social workers. Also students and teachers of the university work at the Institute. To a significant extent the development work is carried out as projects.
The Institute promotes knowledge construction that arises from practice and develops various forms of cooperation between research and practice. For practitioners, researchers and teachers the Institute organises different kind of network meetings and discussions. Social innovations are born from interaction and new networks.
Cooperation Network
The cities of Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa also participate in the activities of the Institute. The Institute has a cooperation agreement with the Department of Social Research at the University of Helsinki, which supports the structures of education and research in practical social work both at the University and in the Institute. Other participants to the activities of the Institute include Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and the Kalliola Settlement. The third sector is an important cooperative body in developing the activities and strengthening the practical approach.
Heikki Waris Institute acts in cooperation with Mathilda Wrede Clinic, which is the Swedish-speaking educational and research clinic of the City of Helsinki Social Services Department and part of the Centre of Expertise on Social Welfare for the Swedish-speaking population in Finland.
Administration
The Heikki Waris Institute is a part of Socca - The Centre of Excellence on Social Welfare in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. It still has an advisory group which consists of members of University and cities of the metropolitan area.
Contact information
Senior Researcher Social Worker
Laura Yliruka
tel. +358 40 336 1002
laura.yliruka(at)hel.fi
