NEW HUMAN SCIENCE CENTRE

The Satakunta Region Human Sciences Research and Development Centre started in Pori on 1^st August 2001. The objective of Centre is coordination, development, research and teaching pertaining well-being and human services. The Centre operates as an activator of social innovations.

The Centre creates networks for those actors in the Satakunta region whose aim is to promote well-being and to prevent marginalisation. This is the first time social sciences research is introduced to Satakunta. The city of Pori has financed professorship in social and health services.

The task of the Centre is to create and implement an extensive regional research project, the aim of which is to get information about the situation of wellbeing and changes in it. Social work professional methods are also essential research subjects. Research is directed by the Professor of Tampere University.

The Centre coordinates well-fare projects and promotes cooperation among public, private and non-governmental actors. It also supports and gives advice in matters relating to project management and funding and acts as an external provider of evaluation service.

The aim of the Centre is also to represent advanced competence within social work by promoting the interaction of research, development and education in everyday practices. The centre also coordinates cross-municipal cooperation in the specific services in the social field. The Satakunta Region Human Sciences Research and Development Centre is funded by the Regional Council of Satakunta, partly by the European Social Fund, the City of Pori, Satakunta Polytechnic and the Diaconia Polytechnic, Pori Training Unit.