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PENR3L Project – Establishing a Pascal European Network of Learning Regions
Local and Regional Government knows that great changes and great challenges lie ahead. Modern cities and regions recognise that continued economic development depends upon a number of interlinked financial, social, cultural, environmental and community factors. It knows, too, that much will depend principally upon the quality of information, knowledge, intelligence and research, and on the development of the human, intellectual and social capital that will drive the engine of local success. Many cities and regions have addressed this situation by establishing alliances with centres of expertise that provide an observatory of changing times and changing needs.
The PENR3L Project – Establishing a Pascal European Network of Learning Regions
Background
Local and Regional Government knows that great changes and great challenges lie ahead. Modern cities and regions recognise that continued economic development depends upon a number of interlinked financial, social, cultural, environmental and community factors. It knows, too, that much will depend principally upon the quality of information, knowledge, intelligence and research, and on the development of the human, intellectual and social capital that will drive the engine of local success. Many cities and regions have addressed this situation by establishing alliances with centres of expertise that provide an observatory of changing times and changing needs.
The European Commission is also aware of the challenges. One of the main pillars of its educational and economic policy is the development of lifelong learning and learning regions. In pursuit of this it has funded the University of Stirling and its partners (see below) to organise two workshops and a conference in order to ensure the propagation and further growth of the concept throughout the continent. These partners have, for several years, developed and tested tools and learning materials for the Commission on many aspects of learning cities and regions. The project provides an excellent opportunity to share knowledge at a European and a global level under the aegis of PASCAL.
The Workshops
Two experts from each European Union country have been invited to workshops, in Barcelona and Kaunas respectively, usually one from academia and one from a practitioner organisation. Formal presentations are kept to a minimum in order to give them the opportunity to engage in open debate on the many issues facing learning cities and regions. The three half days of each workshop will deal with three major themes, each one introduced by a known expert
· Economic Development and Learning Cities and Regions
· Social and Community Development in Learning Cities and Regions
· Knowledge, Networking and Intelligence in and between Learning Cities and Regions
Within these themes a wide variety of sub-themes will be the subject of lively debate. A fuller list appears at the end of this description. All delegates are expected to both learn and contribute.
The workshops take place in Barcelona on 25/26 October 2007 and in Kaunas, Lithuania on 6/7 December. Among the outcomes will be a European network of academic experts and regional practitioners linked to the global PASCAL network, identifying and solving problems, developing and applying tools and techniques, delivering training courses and seminars and disseminating solutions in matters of learning regions, social capital development and place management.
The Conference
This is now in the course of development. It will take place in Limerick on 28-30 May 2008 and will be open to everyone. Its themes will be similar to those of the workshops and it is hoped that many of the people who attend the workshops will also attend the conference. Publicity will be distributed in September 2007.
More details are found at http://www.penr3l.feek.pte.hu/
The project partners
PASCAL, University of Stirling, Scotland
University of Pecs, Hungary
ESC Toulouse, France
University of Limerick, Ireland
Akershus University College, Norway
University of Catania, Italy
University of Kaunas, Lithuania
Workshop Details
Theme 1: Learning Regions, Learning Cities and Economic Development
Sub themes
1. Characteristics of Learning Regions and Cities
What constitutes a learning region – how is it different
Research, knowledge, intelligence and information
Sustainability
2. Learning Organisations in a Learning Region
Characteristics of Learning Organisations
Continuous learning development and support programmes for whom? Why? What? How?
Conditions for developing Innovation and creativity
Stakeholders as Learning Organisations- Stakeholder audits
3.Stakeholders and their roles
Who are the stakeholders
Stakeholder Capital in learning cities and regions
Partnerships and purposes – local, national, European, Global
4. Marketing and publicising Learning Cities and Regions
Methods and media of communication
Communicating internally – to organisations and people
Marketing the learning region to the wider world
5. Resources and Capital
Building capital and resource for economic development
Profiting from capital and resource
6. Employability, Employment, skills and learning etc
Lilara – discovering and satisfying learning needs in local authorities and stakeholders
Learning Needs – content, methods and sources of materials
Skills for 21st century learning cities and regions
Management Tools and techniques– personal learning plans, audits, mentors, guides etc
Theme 2: Learning Regions, Learning Cities - Social and Community Development
Subthemes
1. Creating a culture of learning – Why? How? – breaking down barriers.
Stakeholders and their roles – especially voluntary and community organisations
Tools and techniques in a social setting, personal learning plans, personal audits, mentors and guides
Coping with Diversity, multi and inter-culturalism
Learning Needs, content, methods and providers
2. Consultation, involvement and democracy
Consultation methods – from information to empowerment
Neighbourhood strategies
Improving involvement and democracy
3. Active Citizenship and volunteering
Mobilising people and communities
Volunteering strategies
Networking citizens of all ages
4. Environment, climate change and sustainable development
5. Continuous learning/development and support programmes
6. Resources and Capital - as above concentrating on social capital
Theme 3 Learning Regions, Learning Cities – Networking, intelligence and knowledge
Sub themes
Needs and requirements of cities and regions
What intelligence and how to communicate
What partnerships?
What resources for the network
Politics and structures
Practical steps
Network Communication methods
Network Sustainability
Requests for more information may be sent to penr3l@stir.ac.uk