The case in focus is “School as an Arena” in the City of Borås—a platform aimed at helping pupils achieve educational goals and develop meaningful leisure activities. The City of Borås initiated this approach, and activities are planned and implemented in close collaboration with local associations.

The first aim of the project is to conduct a case study of the collaboration project “School as an Arena”, which is organized to leverage civil society organizations’—and thereby citizens’—opportunities for influence and participation. Additionally, the project seeks to understand how process-oriented research can assist in addressing challenges and opportunities in collaboration projects.

Together, the project’s aims lead to the identification of tools for effective collaboration in both theory and practice.

This project is a continuation of a study conducted in 2022–2023, funded by the City of Borås and Centre for Welfare Studies (CVS). The research questions are addressed through qualitative interviews with representatives from associations and municipal departments, as well as through observations of meetings held within the framework of “School as an Arena.” During the project period, meetings are also held between researchers and project participants to enable mutual learning.

The study’s research questions are:

1. What opportunities exist for civil society organizations to influence and participate in the organization of collaboration for local area development and social sustainability? organizations?
2. How are conflicts and consensus managed between different ways of thinking and acting (institutional logics)?
3. How can researchers, through participatory research, support representatives in managing challenges and opportunities in collaboration?

The project has recieved funding from the Centre for Welfare Studies and the City of Borås.