Collaborate for Sustainability: Join the SIRR Student Project for Sustainability, Innovation, Resilience and Rural Areas
Client
The SIRR project aims to promote Sustainability, Innovation, Resilience and Rural Areas (SIRR). Through a multi-helix framework by bringing together academic institutions, civil society, municipalities and businesses. As part of this project, we are looking for a motivated and independent student or students who want to work towards promoting change through the multi-helix perspective in the North Sea Region. This student project will be conducted in collaboration with the SIRR project and the partners involved. HoloHouse, an sustainability agency that promotes sustainable development through collaborations between academia and the business sector, will act as the coordinator for this project.
HoloHouse is an established organization that has been creating value for over 6000 students and 2000 organizations through more than 2600 projects since 1997. The organization drives projects that support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, such as projects related to energy efficiency, social sustainability, renewable energy, circular economy, and sustainable transport and much more. HoloHouse matches university students with experienced businesses and organizations that have a need for sustainable development.
Task
Are you ready to make a positive impact in rural areas? The SIRR project is looking for ambitious university students from various disciplines to contribute to sustainability, innovation, and resilience in rural areas.
As part of this interdisciplinary student project, you will have the opportunity to explore topics related to sustainability, innovation, and resilience in rural areas, while collaborating with different stakeholders, including government, industry, academia, and civil society.
6 different project areas to choose from:
- Replicate the “Part-time Housing – Attractiveness and Motives for Moving” study for Skagen. A quantitative study exploring what motivates part-time residents to settle permanently in rural areas.
- Further “deep dives” on Elements/Topics attached to the Attractiveness of rural areas. E.g.: General reflections on what makes rural areas attractive. E.G.: particular foci on key aspects for the workforce and for those entering their first job.
- Multi-Helix knowledge based on the stakeholder perspective. We suggest exploring where we currently stand and what knowledge and competence stakeholders need. As well as coming up with examples on how to build their capacity in relation to our Hub’s daily work (activities and actions).
- Democracy building processes, with a Multi-Helix perspective in the North Sea Region. One possible angle could be to examine and compare governance documents, planning documents, policies, etc. more clearly. Also come up with examples on how to work this around so that the decision processes will be more Multi-Helix based.
- Youth involvement and contributions to the Multi-Helix Approach. “Understanding the complexity of the world & why I should care & engage”. There is a need to shift focus from the hub itself to the stakeholders, ensuring broader representation across domains and actively involving youth. Strengthening youth perspectives is essential, as they represent the next generation of stakeholders. By engaging them early and meaningfully, future contributions, innovation, and long-term impact can be better supported. The students could analyse the role of youth, and how to engage them in relation to the Pilot Hubs activities and actions.
- Further analysis of identified barriers/hindering factors: A deeper investigation into some of the hindering factors identified in the overview carried out by students in spring 2026.
