Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 Regional development and the role of enterprises on strengthening the linkage between higher education and adult learning Doru Talaba President of EUE-Net – European University Enterprise Network

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 Content Role of Universities in Adult Learning Role of Universities Regional development Case study: Digital cities Possible ideas for AE in Regional context Conclusions

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 Role of Universities in Adult learning Traditional role of Universities –Research (producing knowledge) –Applied research – identifying applications –Innovation – applying research in society –Teaching – mass dissemination of knowledge –New technologies  often generate exclusion –ICT age  Permanent increase of technological illiteracy

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 Adult Learning Target groups People at risk, excluded Usual topics for AE: literacy, basic skills, second chance etc Largely outside the academic world Nevertheless: the research is producing exclusion !  Universities have to produce without “side effects”, or at least to neutralize them  Responsible University  “Clean knowledge”

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 Regional development Crucial issues: –Technological [r]evolution (mainly ICT) versus: Rural development and remote, isolated areas Social inclusion governing and communication with people Ageing and life of elderly people –Cultural heritage –Durable development Social partners, enterprises and entrepreneurs heavily involved What is needed: Leadership attitude  to assembly partnerships

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 Regional context Regions  responsible for both: progress and life quality of citizens: more inclusive approach Regional innovation projects –Projects involving Universities, local authorities and enterprises –Usually implementing advanced Research Concepts Should combat exclusion  include naturally an AE component

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 An example: Digital cities project Transfer of good practice in ICT adoption from advanced EU regions towards less advanced regions Partners: –Municipality of Trikala, –NT Univ Athens, –Univ Transilvania of Brasov, Mun. Brasov –Mun Jesenik (Czech Republik) –Almere (NL) –Mun Manchester, –Mun Paralimni (Cyprus) Framework: INTERREG IVC programme

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 Digital cities- a modern concept Municipality

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 How it works Over 75 Best practices identified, classified and described A long series of Training workshops “Best practices”  in the form of complete project descriptions Partners could choose, adapt Regional Brokerage event within workshops to push partnerships  As a result: many major regional projects under preparation

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 Role of enterprises Feed the system Maintain the business and create new jobs Continuous adaptation to the technological challenges Integrate into the Regional plans –Durable development –Cultural, traditions etc

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 Role of Universities Assume Adult learning to minimize exclusion ! Involve Adult learning as an ubiquitous part of the Regional development Animate International Entrepreneurship by exploiting their international connections Deliver advanced training needed to leverage the Regional project: Leadership

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 Leadership Main competences : –Showing the way in unpredictable times –at the same time effectively running and controlling a business. Model behaviour: show others how it is done Ideal leader: a genius with a combination of antique military leader, a Nobel Laureate in physics and TV showman. Real leaders: simply create projects and environments that drive performance.

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 Everybody needs to learn leadership Initial education  potential leaders –need to learn they have native skills –identify what is missing –then learn to become the leaders they could be Adult education  Existing leaders –need to learn WHY are they leaders –Learn what they miss –Avoid to become the leaders they cannot be !

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 How to engage Training in new, attractive areas (e.g leadership) Univ should initiate pilot regional development projects ! Possible pilot projects: –rare crafts promotion –rural development: bio and eco products, ICT adoption –events: business fairs, recruitment –Research results promotion, patents exhibitions

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 Scope for adult training Possible ideas: –Promoting U-E cooperation in isolated and remote environments should be leveraged  Example: training and consultancy on how to design and promote a development project in remote villages Developing the project where to find funding what are the actors and requirements how to involve target groups etc –Cultural heritage – rare crafts at regional and national lvl

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 Example Japan: National treasures Elder craft people National Grant for life: –Maintain the business –Hiring a young person committed to take-up and continuation of the rare craft

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 Rare craft model  Leadership ? Possible AE programmes/projects: Trans-national mobility of retired leaders –2-6 month counseling an active leader –A huge network of connections and experience transplanted in a totally new place –High European dimension Roe of Universities: to initiate and drive such programs

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 EUE-Net An Erasmus Network for University Enterprise cooperation Founded in 2004 –Practical placement of students –Career Development –Teaching entrepreneurship and bi-directional Mobility schemes between U-E A new Agenda for :

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 EUE-Net Two new lines of Agenda 2013 – Leadership Leadership  a training for Adults A MUST to boost entrepreneurship – International Entrepreneurship Universities bringing into the Regional context its international connections Initiate and animate inter-Regional development projects – push leadership Organize transfer of best practice – multiply Digital Cities project model

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 EUE-Net No more just an Erasmus project An independent Network with seat in Brussels, activity and strategies 7 th EUE-Net Conference in 2011 in Reykjavik, Iceland –Consolidation of the existing action lines (Student placements and Career guidance) –Launch of the new lines Leadership and Adult International Enterpreneurship

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 Target group: excluded people  need to be carefully identified Are we not excluding some of the excluded ?? Approach Needed: –Enlarge target group –Institutional building and systemic approach. –Powerful instruments and substantial framework creation by implementing μprojects programmes –Ubiquitous Adult Learning within regional and inter-regional development programmes –Leadership ! Conclusions:

Workshop on Higher Education and Adult Education, Brussels, September 2010 Discussions !