ABSTRACT
To address global sustainable development challenges, changes are required in science education. Changing attitudes and enhancing awareness of higher education, science studies, and sustainable development can reduce socioeconomic disparities and promote inclusiveness. Achieving this, however, requires collaborative social innovations in education. This study presents an in-depth case study of Junior University in Finland, an award-winning collaboration between a university, a city, and local businesses. Based on semi-structured interviews with 24 informants, the study identified the key success factors and challenges that emerged during the development and implementation of this educational innovation. These challenges and success factors manifested across structural, economic, behavioural, and cognitive dimensions and were experienced by the network of actors involved in both the development and execution. The findings reveal that collaborative social innovation can help break down barriers to delivering sustainable science education in primary and secondary schools, while building essential future sustainability skills. Despite its challenges, Junior University serves as an impactful social innovation in education. This study highlights how social innovation can be a tool for addressing the socioeconomic gap in higher education and science participation, facilitating positive bottom-up change.
