The bachelor project explores the possibilities of and obstacles to participation in public spaces using the examples of two city districts: St. Pölten Nord and Wien Inner-Simmering. Typical urbanization processes result in the increasing displacement of public spaces and, thus, of those who use them the most or depend on them. Due to a lack of participation or restricted participation within the meaning of information, communication, and the procurement of possibilities of democratic participation, exclusion mechanisms then set in that affect marginalized groups in particular. Different interests and forms of communication increase the potential for conflict between the group involved in the use of public spaces.

Through empirical research, the students are to sound out Social Work potentials of and approaches to how inclusive and participatory processes can be implemented and maintained in order to guarantee active codetermination, influence, and participation for everyone involved. To this end, good practice examples from specialist literature and of successfully working processes and projects can be explored – or newer approaches such as art and culture projects can be innovatively developed. The students become familiar with community work as a potential future field of professional activity and develop the foundations for the implementation of participatory projects.