Regional Learning Arrangements Westerkwartier Presentation WSI Westerkwartier NL • The region Westerkwartier • The beginning: universities work in the region • A new regional network: WSI Westerkwartier • Accelleration: Countryside Exchange • Facilitation: Plattelandshuis Westerkwartier • Operational: Knowledge Workplace Westerkwartier • Coming soon: Regional Cooperative Westerkwartier • Conclusions Frans Traa DERREG Meeting Slovenia 13 October 2011 _____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Regional Learning Arrangements Westerkwartier Frans Traa DERREG Meeting Slovenia 13 October 2011 _____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ The region Westerkwartier • Location: Top of Holland: Province of Groningen • 4 municipalities population roughly 60.000 • One of the oldest man-made landscapes of Europe Regional Learning Arrangements Westerkwartier “Bridge to the Future” Wageningen University Van Hall Institute & Larenstein • Involvement of students in broad rural development issues and questions started a dialogue between farmers and foresters and resulted in a local group of active and engaged people of a range of organizations (WSI Westerkwartier). • Presentation of results became bigger every year, including presentations of local initiatives and project ideas. Frans Traa DERREG Meeting Slovenia 13 October 2011 _____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Regional Learning Arrangements Westerkwartier WSI Westerkwartier ‘Working group Regional Initiatives Westerkwartier’ Core themes: • Landscape maintenance and nature development • Farming and farm strategies • Watermanagement • Culture and history • Recreation and Tourism • Liveableness / Quality of Life Left: Nico Boele, the informal leader of the WSI Frans Traa DERREG Meeting Slovenia 13 October 2011 _____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Regional Learning Arrangements Westerkwartier Countryside Exchange as an accellerator The ingredients: CE-method, EU-network ENLDT, regional network WSI The question of the region: “Which conditions, opportunities and threats for integral development of the region are present? How can conditions be created and opportunities be seized?” The results: • reflection, valuable advice, confirmed and unexpected ideas, appraisal • encouragement, inspiration, empowerment • more cooperation, new links, European feeling, regional awareness Frans Traa DERREG Meeting Slovenia 13 October 2011 _____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Regional Learning Arrangements Westerkwartier Plattelandshuis Westerkwartier as a facilitator (‘rural development house’) Facilitating bottom–up initiatives for the provincial Program Rural Area Support and advice from idea to project to product Supplying funds up to € 10.000 / project Multi-disciplinary team - recruted from province, municipalities and other organizations - villages and community facilities - toerism and recreation - business and entrepreneurship - agriculture and regional products - educational institutes - financial support programs Frans Traa DERREG Meeting Slovenia 13 October 2011 _____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Regional Learning Arrangements Westerkwartier Plattelandscafé (‘Rural Café’) Ideas, projects, contacts, drinks, new links, inspiration, ………… Frans Traa DERREG Meeting Slovenia 13 Oktober 2011 _____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Regional Transition The motor of regional cooperation … … is the primary process Government Primary Process Region / Regional Initiators Education & Research Institutes Werkplaats Westerkwartier Regional Learning Arrangements Westerkwartier F.A. Traa DERREG Meeting Wageningen 30 November 2010 ________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Creating a learning and knowledge framework per region WORKPLACE – MultiActor Learning/Knowledge/Innovation Environment Learning-by-doing: execution of projects for the living environment By: Students, teachers, researchers, experts, entrepreneurs, locals, government officials Regional (Government) Parties + Education and Research Institutions Signed Regional Contract Regional Stakeholders + Education and Research Development of Knowledge Agenda and Projects Region - Regional Stakeholders (entrepreneurs, locals, government) Regional Innovation Programme Regional Learning Arrangements Westerkwartier Regional Cooperative Westerkwartier A new way op cooperating New relationships A new way of organising Integral approach Develop new perspectives Regional challenges leading Frans Traa DERREG Meeting Slovenia 13 October 2011 _____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Regional Learning Arrangements Westerkwartier Regional Learning Evaluated • 50 students in a five-year period • active regional network WSI • Leader Westerkwartier (the local group (LAG) consisting for 65% of WSI-members) • Plattelandshuis Westerkwartier (‘rural development house’) facilitating regional development The co-operation of Westerkwartier with Wageningen University, Van Hall Larenstein e.a. is of great mutual interest. Frans Traa DERREG Meeting Slovenia 13 October 2011 _____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Regional Learning Arrangements Westerkwartier Factors of success • Leadership and vision • Initiative and self-efficacy • Involvement and commitment • Mutual confidence • Learning region • Smart combinations of themes and partners • Long-lasting alliances • New roles and structures Frans Traa DERREG Meeting Slovenia 13 October 2011 _____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Regional Learning Arrangements Westerkwartier Thank You …. and see you in Westerkwartier, some day Frans Traa DERREG Meeting Slovenia 13 October 2011 _____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________