You Must Feel the Pulse: Rethinking Connectivity and Connected Professionalism Through Familiar and Explorative Engagement, Focusing on Place and Work

In a context of a shifting geopolitical landscape and increasing pressure on European states to assert autonomy, resilience in public governance increasingly depends on the strength of local communities and their ability to collaborate across sectors. To extend the concept of connectivity, we examine how commitment and relationships are formed and sustained in local welfare collaborations. Moving beyond a focus on the attributes of distinct professions, we discuss the social processes that underpin ongoing interaction. We highlight the concept of engagement, in both its strategic and familiar forms, as a key relational force in building resilient connections. This case is about cross-professional collaboration between professionals in Danish STEM companies and teachers in public STEM education, a strategic domain for fostering future competencies and reducing technological dependency. While the findings demonstrate how diverse engagement strategies enhance collaboration, an overreliance on familiar engagement strategies increases vulnerability. The study contributes to welfare management and the sociology of professions by offering a relational perspective on how engagement practices support community resilience in public–private partnerships through engaged and connective work.