The history of Social Sciences at the institution began in the early 1970s and has been shaped by both the educational profile and the research focuses that have characterized the community since that time. Throughout this period, the university’s research interests have centered on issues such as the welfare state and its beneficiaries, politics, and public administration.
Research at FSV has also focused on regional issues, such as industrial structures amongst others, as part of the history of northern Norway. Journalistic practice is one of the faculty's key research areas.
The academic community at the faculty has also, for several decades, worked closely with Nordland Research Institute.
Research Areas:
Global challenges and local transformation: sustainable development in the North
Northern regions face new challenges in regards to shifts in international conflicts, political leadership, and climate. Security and climate transformation are central challenges to a establishing sustainable society in the future, and that is reflected in today’s policy making and research both nationally and internationally. Global change will require major transformation, requiring research on how society can counteract and/or adapt itself to these challenges.
Through interdisciplinary social research, we will develop both analysis and concrete solutions that can contribute to security and sustainable development in the North.
Innovation for Sustainable Welfare
Strong welfare systems and relative social equality have been central to the Norwegian and Nordic social model. This so-called Nordic model is receiving increasing international attention because it has supported strong competitiveness and proved sustainable in the face of economic crises.
At the same time, the welfare society faces considerable challenges. An aging population, high migration, and increasing isolation and exclusion among youth creates challenges which can, in the long term, threaten the welfare model.
The research area for Innovation for Sustainable Welfare is a collaboration between several strong research communities at the faculty, and contributes to real innovation and concrete solutions that support the welfare society’s sustainability.
Among the research topics and research areas covered are:
• Social services for disabled people
• Rehabilitation services
• Welfare provision for children and youth (Child protection)
• Methods in social pedagogy
• Gender, ethnicity and self-image
• School dropout and career planning
• Allocation of natural resources
• The rights of indigenous people
• The history of Nordland county
• The cold war period
• Municipal administration
• Human resource management
• Political behaviour and election turnout
• Press ethics