Finding solutions in 90 Minutes © Jonas Meyer MSc RURAL REGIONS AS ATTRACTIVE PLACES OF RESIDENCE?

© Jonas Meyer MSc ATTRACTIVENESS OF REGIONS FOR HIGHLY QUALIFIED PERSONS AGENDA OF THE WORKSHOP 2 1. Introduction to the topic 10min 2. Introduction to the method World-Cafe-Method 5min 3. World Cafe Finding solutions in 3 rounds at 4 tables 50 min 4. Presentation of Ideas Presentation of the results from each table 10min 5. Final discussion Guided discussion 15 min

© Jonas Meyer MSc 3 Education in rural regions… Rural regions are dominated by young people with apprenticeships The percentage of people graduating from compulsory school has decreased The lack of university graduates in rural regions is significant … and the reasons to stay in the cities: Better job opportunities Transport infrastructure is better More cultural events Decrease in social bonds with the home region Regions with low percentage of university graduates Regions with high percentage of university graduates TOO MANY UNIVERSITY GRADUATES IN THE CITIES, TOO FEW IN RURAL REGIONS THE UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN AUSTRIA Schwabe 2006: 800

© Jonas Meyer MSc HOW ATTRACTIVE IS THE RURAL REGION FOR UNIVERSITY GRADUATES? A SURVEY AMONGST THE STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GRAZ The basis for this presentation is a masters thesis survey from the University of Graz (Meyer, 2012) about Attraktivität der Heimatregion als Wohnort für Hochqualifizierte (Attractiveness of home regions as places of residence for university graduates) Questions covered topics such as participants personal impression of their home regions, any plans of returning and their current connection to the region Around 1, 000 students from the University of Graz, Austria participated Background to statistics: Superregional centres: State capitals (e.g. Vienna, Linz, Salzburg, Klagenfurt) Regional centres: County seats(e.g. Styria: e.g. Bruck/Mur, Judenburg, Weiz) Rural regions: all other municipalities 4 The main aim was to get to know the students wishes and realize them within the regions.

© Jonas Meyer MSc COMPARED TO SUPERREGIONAL CENTRES - RESERVED, BORING AND REMOTE THE IMPRESSIONS OF STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR HOME REGIONS Impressions of current aspects… and future perspectives Visions for the future – students think there will be a higher quality of life, more nature conservation and stronger social cohesion On the other hand, they think that job opportunities and total population will decrease 5 Meyer 2011

© Jonas Meyer MSc THE FULFILLMENT OF LOCATIONAL FACTORS DIRECTLY RELATES TO THE ATRACTIVENESS OF REGION RURAL REGIONS RANK HIGH IN BEING CLOSE TO NATURE Main weaknesses of home regions are: offers for further education, public transport and job opportunities Most important for students are: safe area of residence, high quality of life and a job close to the place of residence Compared to rural regions, superregional centres have better transport infrastructures and job opportunities Rural regions rank higher with regards to soft locational factors. Superregional centres rank higher with regards to hard factors (workplace, public transport, transport connection). 6 Meyer 2011

© Jonas Meyer MSc A RETURN TO THE HOME REGION IS IMAGINABLE 5-10 YEARS AFTER GRADUATION FROM UNIVERSITY A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE OF THE STUDENTS … and the possible time of return The Probability to return for people from... 7 Superregional centres are attractive right after graduation from university Regional centres and rural regions are attractive for retirement The probability to return is only 39% Around 25% do not wish to return to their home region Most believe a return to the region is unlikely It might be more important to convince those people who think a return to the region is unlikely, to return. Meyer 2011

© Jonas Meyer MSc HOW CAN THE HOME REGION BECOME MORE ATTRACTIVE? FINDING VISIONS AND SOLUTIONS TOGETHER 8

© Jonas Meyer MSc A METHOD FOR DEVELOPING PERSPECTIVES AND OPTIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS TOGETHER FINDING SOLUTIONS WITH THE WORLD CAFÉ Aims Collecting and exchanging knowledge and perspectives of all participants Development of new ideas and options for future action Advantages: Follow-up talks Different point of views meet each other Participative exchange of knowledge Agenda 3 rounds, 4 tables Write down ideas on table cloth New arrangement of participants after each round 1st round lasts 20 minutes, 2nd and 3rd round last 15 minutes Host stays at the table and sums up the ideas for the new participants New ideas evolve or existing ones are developed further Presentation of the results at the end 1 project per table with one project leader 9 Quelle:

© Jonas Meyer MSc WITHIN ONE HOUR SOLUTIONS FOR AN ATTRACTIVE RURAL REGION ARE FOUND DEVELOP A VISION IN 4 RELEVANT TOPICS Mobility: What places of my region are most important to me? How can I change my town (by foot, train, car, bus, bike)? What has to change in rural regions (or one defined region) to improve mobility within this region and other regions? Communication: What media do I use? Which regional information is of importance to me? How can a region contact young persons (that already moved away) and stay in contact with them? Workplace: How can information about job opportunities be distributed to young people? What are possible activities? Culture and leisure time: What offers for cultural events and leisure time are important to me? How can the region support me to realize my ideas? 10 Core Question: Assume that we meet again in five years and we have reached all our goals. What did we do to achieve our vision?