The aim of our Practice-and-Research project HållUt2023-2026 is to establish what constitutes sustainable leadership in preschool in relation to social, ecological, and economic sustainability according to the Swedish National Curriculum for Preschool (Lpfo2018). While we have been awarded a Sustainable Municipality prize, our knowledge and professional competencies require more effort regarding SDG17 to be able to support our youngest members of society. Acutely aware of the climate crisis and its catastrophic effects on societies, the development of robust pedagogies and sustainable leadership may help strengthen democracy, e.g. by inspiring resilience in children. Theories of professions, lifelong learning and sustainable leadership form part of our participatory action research framework. The Reflection-Action-Reflection-Action model (RARA) also draws on theories and science-based facts in a process-oriented manner. The RARA-model includes dialogue, diaries, videos and ongoing interview studies relating to our evolving understanding of social, ecological and economic development in preschools. Ethics in Participatory Action Research habitually exceed those stipulated by ethics committees and we have put safeguarding mechanisms into place to prevent any ethical shortcomings. We are participants and researching parties and participate as equal members. We strictly observe provisions in law and recommendations by social research ethics bodies, by regularly discussing any issues. The participating academic researcher is tasked with meticulously monitoring that all ethical considerations be taken seriously and swiftly dealt with.

By the end of 2026 we expect to: present a model for sustainable development and sustainable leadership, contribute towards practice-and-research based methods, offer knowledge-based professional development from inside preschools, vocalise clearly the importance of preschool teachers’ professional development relating to sustainable development, better protect children by adequately preparing them for the future.