Research Output per year
Personal profile
Curriculum vitae
Henrietta Grönlund is Professor of Urban Theology, in the University of Helsinki since 2019. She has specialized in questions of civic engagement, civil society organizations, and welfare, and especially the role of religion and values in relation to these themes. For example, her internationally awarded dissertation (2012) focused on values, religion, and identity work in young adults' volunteering.
Grönlund has conducted empirical research on these themes in several national and international research projects. Her current research interests include the ways in which religion, both in its organized and lived forms, manifests in urban contexts and interacts with urbanity, especially in relation to questions of inequality and wellbeing.
In her teaching of Urban Theology, Grönlund stresses community based, experiential, and ethnographic approaches. She has especially developed service-learning in Finnish and European higher education, for example, in the European Observatory of Service-Learning in Higher Education. The pedagogical approach combines community engagement and reflection with theoretical contents and promotes learning from working on a real world problem.
Grönlund’s recent projects include 'Urban poverty today (2017-2019, funded by Jane and Aatos Erkko foundation), and an international EU Erasmus+ project 'Europe Engage’ (2015-2017), which developed service learning in 12 European universities.
Grönlund holds the title of Docent in Church and social studies at University of Helsinki, and is affiliated with Helsinki Inequality Initiative (INEQ), Helsinki Institute of Urban and Regional Studies (URBARIA), and Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), in addition to the Faculty of Theology. She has previously held the positions of University Lecturer (Urban Theology), Postdoctoral Researcher and University Researcher at the Faculty of Theology, University of Helsinki during 2012-2019. She has also worked as Visiting Researcher at Boston University, Sociology Department.
In addition to her academic career, Grönlund has from 2007 until 2016 worked in the Finnish non-profit sector as Director of Civic Engagement, Director of Research and Development, and Education Officer. In these positions she has developed and directed a range of projects and working methods related to urban loneliness, volunteerism, and cross-sectoral cooperation (between cities, non-profits, and businesses).
Grönlund holds several positions of trust and expert memberships in different nonprofit organizations and the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland, she is also an elected member of the University Collegium of University of Helsinki. Grönlund is a popular lecturer and expert in the media especially in relation to questions of urban religion, civic engagement, and philanthropy.
Education/Academic qualification
Theology, Doctor of Theology, University of Helsinki
Fields of Science
- 614 Theology
- Urban theology
- Sociology of religion
- Church and social studies
- Philanthropic studies
International and National Collaboration
Publications and projects within past five years.
Publications
Matalan kynnyksen kohtaamispaikkojen sijainti ja saatavuus Helsingin kaupunginosissa
Seppälä, T., Grönlund, H. & Kemppainen, T., 2020, (Accepted/In press) In : Janus : sosiaalipolitiikan ja sosiaalityön tutkimuksen aikakauslehti.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Between Lutheran Legacy and Economy as Religion: The Contested Roles of Philanthropy in Finland Today
Grönlund, H., Dec 2019, On the Legacy of Protestant Lutheranism in Finland: Societal Perspectives. Sinnemäki, K., Portman, A., Tilli, J. & Nelson, R. H. (eds.). Helsinki: Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden seura, p. 237-253 17 p. (Studia Fennica Historica; no. 25).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review
Open Access
File
Does it Make a Difference? The Effects of Volunteering from the Viewpoint of Recipients - A Literature Review
Grönlund, H. & Falk, H., Dec 2019, In : Diaconia. The Journal for the Study of Christian Social Practice . 10, 1, p. 7-26 20 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open Access
File
Egalitarian cultural values motivate a strong welfare state and high levels of volunteerism in Finland
Grönlund, H., 6 Feb 2019, In : Good News from Finland.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › General public
Open Access
Kaupunkiliftaus: Uudelleen ajattelun mahdollisuuksia yliopisto-opetuksen ja etnografian kentillä
Jäntti, L. & Grönlund, H., 31 Dec 2019, In : Terra. 131, 4 , p. 247-253 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific
Open Access
File
Projects
- 9 Finished
Kaupunkilainen köyhyys tänään
Grönlund, H. & Seppälä, T.
01/06/2017 → 31/12/2019
Project: Research project
Europe Engage
Grönlund, H., Nortomaa, A., Spännäri, J., Pessi, A. B., Opazo, H., Aramburuzabala, P. & McIlrath, L.
01/01/2015 → 31/12/2017
Project: Other project
CoPassion: The Revolutionary Power of Compassion (CoPassion)
Pessi, A. B., Martela, F., Spännäri, J., Grönlund, H., Hakanen, J., Juntunen, E., Uusitalo, L., Vuorinen, K., Paakkanen, M. & Seppänen, A. M.
Filosofian akatemia Oy, Conbalance Oy, Suomen kansallisgalleria (ent. Valtion taidemuseo), MTV Oy, Devoi Oy, Espoon kaupunki, LähiTapiola Keskinäinen vakuutusyhtiö, Abbedissa Network Oy, Onesto Services Oy, Human Advice Oy, Tekes
01/01/2015 → 30/06/2017
Project: Research project
CoCare: Cooperation in care. Meaning systems, chances and conflicts (CoCare)
Pessi, A. B., Grönlund, H., Spännäri, J., Salonen, A. S., Paakkanen, M. & Rieppo, S.
01/09/2014 → 31/08/2018
Project: Research project
Church in Today's European Society
Helander, E., Lehtinen, S., Grönlund, H., Kallunki, V., Pessi, A. B., Zrinscak, S. & Pöyhönen, P.
01/01/2011 → 31/10/2015
Project: Research project
Prizes
Docent of the year / Vuoden dosentti
Henrietta Grönlund (Recipient), 28 Mar 2017
Prize: Prizes and awards
European Commission Erasmus+ Programme Success Story Award for the project Europe Engage
Henrietta Grönlund (Recipient), Aura Inkeri Nortomaa (Recipient), Jenni Anna-Liisa Spännäri (Recipient), Anne Birgitta Pessi (Recipient) & Anne Hopia (Recipient), 2018
Prize: Prizes and awards
Gabriel G. Rudney Memorial Award for Outstanding Dissertation in Nonprofit and Voluntary Action, Honorable Mention
Henrietta Grönlund (Recipient), 22 Nov 2013
Prize: Prizes and awards
Helsinki Challenge 2017 semifinalist
Henrietta Grönlund (Recipient), 18 Jan 2017
Prize: Prizes and awards
Activities
Yhteiskunnan mekanismit ja reformaation jäljet
Henrietta Grönlund (Speaker)9 Mar 2020
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
Participation in the time of individualism
Henrietta Grönlund (Invited speaker)24 Jan 2020
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Associations (Journal)
Henrietta Grönlund (Reviewer)2020
Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Peer review of manuscripts
Kaupunkiteologia: Arvopohjainen, pro-sosiaalinen toiminta kaupunkien mahdollisuutena
Henrietta Grönlund (Invited speaker)27 Feb 2019
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Kaupunkitutkimuksen päivät 2019
Henrietta Grönlund (Speaker: Chair)25 Apr 2019
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Organisation and participation in conferences, workshops, courses, seminars
Press / Media
Keskellä yhteisöjä – kaupunkiteologit kansalaistoimintaa kokeilemassa
18/02/2020
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
Yhteiskunta pysähtyisi ilman vapaaehtoisia
31/12/2019
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
Lahjoitin hyväntekeväisyyteen 10 euroa - mutta onko ihan ok pitää siitä melua somessa?
24/12/2019
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media