The purpose of the Social Contract is to increase the level of competence in the region through, among other things, joint research and development projects that give rise to evidence-based activities, improvements and innovations, tailor-made education, as well as meeting places for learning.

The project fulfils three roles:

• Motor – we initiate and run our own projects and activities
• Mediator – we are a link between the University and the outside world,
• Meeting place – we make encounters between research and practice possible

The Social Contract has a board and several committees, so-called sector groups. The sector groups focus on different areas: Education, Geriatric Care and Social Work, Students and Workforce of Tomorrow, as well as (since 2011) Sustainable Urban Development.

The sector groups initiate new activities and serve as a link to the three constituting parties' organizations. The board takes decisions on new projects, the budget, and the business plan. To support them, the board and the sector groups have process managers who are responsible for the operations.

[This translation of the original Swedish was made by, or with the assistance of, students of the course in Translation Studies HEN313, spring term 2011: Therese Allard, Anna Andersson, Magnus Eriksson, Alexa Larsson, Taru Nurmela, and Alexandra Staf.]