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Symposium Session 2C - Learning Together for Local Innovation - Promotion of Learning Regions
- Overview of contents
-
Broadening the Discourse on Local Innovation - Some Remarks
The Role of Vocational Education and Training in Promoting Incremental Innovation at Local Level
Chair: Barry Nyhan, CEDEFOP
Discussant: Bjorn Gustavsen, Work Research Institute, Oslo
Barry Nyhan, CEDEFOP, GREECE
Bjorn Gustavsen, Work Research Institute, NORWAY
Richard Ennals, Kingston University, ENGLAND
Ludger Deitmer, University of Bremen, ITB, GERMANY
Tom Johnstad, Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research, NORWAY
Introduction
This symposium will report on the results of the first phase of a Cedefop research project entitled 'Learning together for local innovation - promotion of learning regions' Five of the contributors to this project ( research network) will present short papers.
The thesis underlying this project is that economic and social innovation is best fostered in local contexts through collaborative learning for action between those with a stake in their locality - thus the concept of the learning region (Gustavsen, 2003b; Nyhan et al., 2000.)
Gustavsen (2003a) - co-chair of the symposium - and one of the presenters will outline how the discourse on innovation has become broader. He questions the dominant paradigm of science driven innovation, arguing in favour of incremental change - small step innovation and innovation based on ordinary work experience The other speakers in the symposium will examine the conditions under which learning for innovation can take place. In particular, it requires the intervention of intermediaries or mediators from such fields as community oriented education and training, local enterprise development, community development. Nyhan (also a co-chair) and presenter will discuss how vocational education and training can play a role in promoting incremental innovation at local level (Nyhan, forthcoming).
Against the backdrop of comparing the innovation cultures of Sweden, Norway with that of the UK, Ennals (1998) will discuss the notion of Healthy Working Centres which support people in rural, sub-urban and urban areas to work remotely for various organisations (McEwan and Ennals, forthcoming).
Johnstad (forthcoming) will discuss how an industry development facilitator can assist in the transformation of a large traditional industrial site into a number of small dynamic units.
Deitmer (forthcoming), the final presenter, will discuss the role that comparative self-evaluation can play in the development of public private partnerships (PPPs) in three countries - Germany, France and Slovenia.
Methodology or methods/research instruments or sources used:
The symposium will proceed as follows:
- Opening presentation by Bjorn Gustavsen (co-chair) on 'Competing concepts of innovation'
- Barry Nyhan (co-chair) on the 'Role of education and training in local development'
- Richard Ennals on 'Building social capital and regional innovation through healthy work centres in south east England'
- Thomas Johnstad on 'Transformation of a large company into a network of small companies'
- Ludger Deitmer on 'The role of self-evaluation in public and private partnership in Germany, France and Slovenia'.
Conclusions or expected outcomes or findings:
The symposium will contribute to:
- an understanding of the different stages that need to take place to create the conditions for sustainable local innovation;
- understanding of the role of intermediary actors (such as those from vocational education and training) in fostering innovation at the local level.
This symposium will address the overall objectives of the 2006 ECER conference through examining how knowledge transformation takes place at the local level.
References:
- Deitmer, L. Self-evaluation and PPPs in Germany, France and Slovenia. (Forthcoming in Gustavsen, B.; Ennals, R.;
- Nyhan, B. (eds) "Learning together for local innovation: promoting learning regions", Luxembourg: EUR-OP)
- Gustavsen, B. Participation and local organisation. In: Fricke, W.; Totterdill, P. (eds.) Action research in workplace innovation and regional development. Amsterdam: John Benjamis, 2003a.
- Gustavsen, B. La construction des regions apprenantes: contributions de la recherche. Cedefop: AGORA XI. La region apprenante. Panorama Series, 65. Luxembourg: Office des publications officielles des Communautes Europeennes, 2003b.
- Ennals, R. ; Gustavsen, B. (eds.) Work organisation and Europe as a development coalition. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamis, 1998.
- Johnstad, T. Raufoss - from a learning company to a learning region. (Forthcoming in Gustavsen, B.; Ennals, R.; Nyhan, B. (eds) "Learning together for local innovation: promoting learning regions", Luxembourg: EUR-OP)
- McEwan, A-M.; Ennals, R. Building social capital and regional innovation through healthy working centres in South East England. (Forthcoming in Gustavsen, B.; Ennals, R.; Nyhan, B. (eds) "Learning together for local innovation: promoting learning regions", Luxembourg:EUR-OP)
- Nyhan, B. Building learning regions for innovation in Europe - a challenge for education and training (E&T). (Forthcoming in Gustavsen, B.; Ennals, R.; Nyhan, B. (eds) "Learning together for local innovation: promoting learning regions", Luxembourg:EUR-OP)
- Nyhan, B.; Attwell, G.; Deitmer, L. Towards the learning region: education and regional innovation in the European Union and the United States. Luxembourg: EUR-OP, 2000 (Cedefop reference document, 3006).
