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The Co-Creation Labs at the Asian School of Governance are transformative platforms designed to address Asia's most pressing challenges through innovative, inclusive, and interdisciplinary approaches. These labs serve as dynamic hubs for experimentation, bringing together diverse stakeholders—governments, private sector actors, academia, civil society, and communities—to co-create and test solutions to complex societal issues.
Guided by systems thinking and methodologies like Problem-Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA), the Co-Creation Labs foster learning and collaboration. These labs empower stakeholders to pilot and scale solutions that address structural challenges, advance equity, and accelerate the achievement of sustainable development goals across Asia and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions on Co-creation Hubs
Q: What exactly is a "social lab" in a university context, and how does it differ from a traditional research center or incubator?
A: A social lab, in its most accessible form, can be a component of an ongoing course that empowers students to collaboratively address real-world problems, such as mental health or any of the SDGs, within their own communities. It's an approach, not necessarily a physical space. This means a social lab can be activated at the classroom level without requiring additional equipment or dedicated physical space. It differs from a traditional research center by emphasizing applied, experiential learning and collaborative problem-solving, and from an incubator by prioritizing social impact over commercial ventures. While a dedicated social lab facility can enhance these efforts, the core concept lies in fostering a structured, collaborative process for social innovation within existing academic settings.
Q: How can a university social lab effectively integrate with existing academic structures and curricula without creating silos?
A: Integrate through cross-disciplinary courses, joint faculty appointments, and project-based learning. Align lab projects with existing research strengths and offer credit for participation.
Q: What are the key principles and methodologies that should guide the design and operation of a university social lab?
A: Key principles include: user-centered design, prototyping, iteration, systems thinking, and participatory action research. Methodologies should be adaptable and emphasize learning by doing.
Q: How can we ensure that the social lab's projects are genuinely aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and have measurable impact?
A: Use the SDG framework as a guiding tool, establish clear impact indicators, and implement robust monitoring and evaluation systems. Partner with organizations working directly on SDG-related issues.
Q: What are the critical success factors for building a sustainable and impactful social innovation ecosystem within the university?
A: Build up multi-years problem-solving partnerships with nearby municipalities and cities. Align with research interests of involved faculty. Secure long-term funding, foster strong leadership, build diverse partnerships, develop a culture of experimentation, and ensure strong communication and knowledge sharing.
Q: How do we foster a culture of transdisciplinary collaboration and co-creation within the social lab, involving students, faculty, and external stakeholders?
A: Design collaborative workspaces, organize regular workshops and events, use design thinking methodologies, and establish clear communication channels. Create project teams with diverse backgrounds.
Q: How can the social lab contribute to developing students' and faculty's social innovation mindsets, skills, and portfolios?
A: Offer experiential learning opportunities, provide training in design thinking and social entrepreneurship, facilitate mentorship programs, and showcase project outcomes in portfolios and publications.
Operational & Resource Questions:
Q: What are the essential resources (financial, human, physical) required to establish and operate a successful social lab?
A: While a fully equipped social lab benefits from significant resources, it can begin with minimal formal funding. Crucially, it starts with an instructor's commitment to aligning student projects with real-world problems within the campus community. Issues like teen pregnancy, mental health, or youth engagement can be addressed without a dedicated budget. This approach leverages existing course structures and student enthusiasm. Beyond this initial stage, essential resources include: Financial: Seed funding, grants, partnerships, and internal university support for scaling and sustaining activities. Human: Dedicated staff for coordination and facilitation, faculty facilitators with expertise in relevant methodologies, and student researchers. Physical: Flexible workspace that fosters collaboration, prototyping equipment, meeting rooms, and access to digital tools. However, utilizing existing university spaces and online collaboration tools can mitigate the need for extensive new physical infrastructure.
Q: How can we secure sustainable funding for the social lab, including grants, partnerships, and internal university support?
A: Develop a diversified funding strategy, pursue grants from foundations and government agencies, establish partnerships with corporations, and advocate for internal university funding.
Q: What type of physical space and infrastructure is necessary to support the activities of a social lab?
A: Flexible, modular spaces that encourage collaboration, prototyping areas, digital collaboration tools, and access to relevant technologies.
Q: How do we recruit and engage diverse student and faculty participants, including those from disciplines not traditionally associated with social innovation?
A: Promote the lab through various channels, offer interdisciplinary projects, highlight the relevance of social innovation to all disciplines, and create inclusive recruitment processes.
Q: What are effective strategies for managing intellectual property and ensuring ethical considerations in social lab projects?
A: Establish clear IP policies, provide training on ethical research practices, obtain informed consent, and prioritize open-source solutions where possible.
Q: How do we establish robust monitoring and evaluation systems to track the progress and impact of social lab projects?
A: Develop clear impact indicators, use qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, implement regular evaluations, and share findings with stakeholders.
Q: What are the best practices for building and managing partnerships with external organizations, such as NGOs, government agencies, and businesses?
A: Establish clear partnership agreements, define roles and responsibilities, foster regular communication, and ensure mutual benefit.
Q: How can we leverage digital tools and technologies to enhance the efficiency and reach of the social lab?
A: Use project management software, online collaboration platforms, data visualization tools, and social media to enhance communication and engagement.
Q: How can an instructor align student projects with the problem set of the city/municipality where the campus is in?
A: Conduct community needs assessments, collaborate with local government, invite local leaders as guest speakers, and focus projects on local challenges.
Q: How can an Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) be integrated within a Social Lab?
A: UROP students can be embedded within project teams, conduct specific research tasks, and receive mentorship from faculty and community partners. This creates a valuable research experience while supporting lab goals.
Q: What are the benefits of co-listing social labs courses across multiple campuses or countries?
A: Increased diversity of perspectives, expanded networks, cross-cultural learning, access to broader resources, and the ability to address global challenges collaboratively.
Q: How can social labs provide research continuity across semesters and years by allowing the handover of projects to subsequent student teams?
A: Social labs can implement structured project documentation and knowledge management systems. This includes: Project repositories, Handover protocols, Mentorship programs, and Modular project design.
Impact & Engagement Questions:
Q: How can the social lab facilitate the translation of research and ideas into tangible social impact in the community?
A: Develop pilot projects, create prototypes, facilitate community workshops, and establish pathways for scaling successful initiatives.
Q: How do we ensure that the social lab's activities are responsive to the needs and priorities of the local community?
A: Conduct community needs assessments, engage community members in project design, establish advisory boards, and prioritize projects that address local challenges.
Q: How can we effectively communicate the social lab's activities and achievements to internal and external stakeholders?
A: Develop a communication strategy, use various channels (website, social media, events), create compelling narratives, and highlight project impact.
Q: What are the potential challenges and risks associated with establishing and operating a social lab, and how can we mitigate them?
A: Challenges include funding sustainability, stakeholder engagement, and measuring impact. Mitigation strategies include diversified funding, clear communication, and robust evaluation.
Q: How can the social lab contribute to the university's broader mission of social responsibility and civic engagement?
A: By creating a hub for social innovation, fostering community partnerships, and preparing students to be socially responsible leaders. This aligns with the Universities social contract with society.
Q: How do we ensure that faculty receive adequate support and recognition for their involvement in the social lab?
A: Include social lab activities in faculty evaluations, provide professional development opportunities, and offer release time for participation.
Q: How can the social lab foster a sense of ownership and agency among student participants?
A: Involve students in decision-making, provide opportunities for leadership, and celebrate student contributions.
Q: How do we balance the need for innovation with the need for rigorous research and evaluation?
A: Integrate research into the design process, use mixed methods to evaluate impact, and publish findings in academic and practitioner journals.
Q: How can we ensure that the social lab's activities are inclusive and equitable, particularly for marginalized communities?
A: Engage with community-based organizations, prioritize projects that address social inequities, and develop culturally sensitive evaluation methods.
Q: How can we create a sustainable model for knowledge transfer and capacity building within the community?
A: Develop training programs, create open-source resources, and establish ongoing partnerships with community organizations.
Q: How do we measure the long-term impact of the social lab on students' career trajectories and civic engagement?
A: Conduct alumni surveys, track student employment and volunteer activities, and gather anecdotal evidence of impact.
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