A design-led framework for engaged research: Using a design approach to understand and place the public at the core of health and social care

This paper offers a multi-perspective approach on the role of engaged research in health and social care. Each of the authors focuses on their individual experiences of this domain, from the perspective of an academic partner of the Health Research Board’s PPI Ignite programme, a CEO of an umbrella organisation for health research charities and a researcher in design innovation, focusing on health research. The paper outlines the values which underpin public and patient involvement, as well as examples of its application as engaged research. It details how organisations like Health Research Charities Ireland support and enable engaged research within health and social research and policy. This paper offers a framework for facilitating dialogue and response across all stakeholders in the engaged research process, illustrating the importance of engaged research and how we can further our understanding and application of it within health and social care policy by adopting a design-led approach. We argue that a design-led approach can both facilitate engaged research as well as support policymakers in the design of new policies and practices.

Characteristics of natural radiation background at the Research and Education mine Reiche Zeche (Germany) performed within the BSUIN project.

<p>The Reiche Zeche mine is one, out of 6 Underground Laboratories (ULs) participating in the BSUIN (Baltic Sea Underground Innovation Network) project. The main goal of BSUIN is to improve the utilisation of Underground laboratories operating in the Baltic Sea Region by creating an umbrella organisation, an association, to represent the underground locations. To improve the utilisation the Uls, the sites have been characterized to understand the possibilities of the sites. Of of the studied characteristics is natural background radiation. The Reiche Zeche mine is located at a depth of 150 m (410 m w.e.) in the eastern part of the Erzgebirge Mountains, Germany. The measurements of natural background radiation (NBR) were performed: (1) in-situ by using portable HPGe semiconductor spectrometer and RAD7 electronic radon detector, and (2) in the laboratory, where the concentration of radioisotopes in water and rock samples was determined. The laboratory measurements were done in the Institute of Physics, University of Silesia (Poland) by using a liquid scintillation α/β counter (LSC), gamma-ray spectrometry and α-particle spectrometry. The obtained results of natural radioactivity in Reiche Zeche (BSUIN UL) will be presented.</p>

An exploratory study on social entrepreneurship in Egypt

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to add to the existing wealth of knowledge on the benefits and challenges of social entrepreneurship in Egypt, a challenging emerging economy. Design/methodology/approach The research combines secondary and primary research with the latter including interviews across the public, private and social entrepreneurship sectors, together with surveys to gather Egyptian and international perspectives. Findings The study addresses several political, cultural and economic themes that significantly influence the emergence and growth of social entrepreneurship organisations in Egypt. Research limitations/implications Egypt is undergoing significant change at present; hence, this research provides a snapshot of what may be considered a very dynamic environment. Practical implications Recommendations are made that have practical implications for each of the public, private, development and non-profit sectors in Egypt. It is suggested that the public sector ought to unite its efforts under one umbrella organisation, the private sector could benefit from growing social awareness across the region, while development groups should continue to focus on education generally. Non-profit entities can seek to collaborate with others, and all organisations can make better use of developing global communications technology. Social implications A base of social entrepreneurship is already established in Egypt, but this research suggests that further encouragement of these initiatives could help develop the economy and foster a more socially aware culture and political landscape. Originality/value Social entrepreneurship in Egypt continues to evolve, and this research identifies a number of economic, cultural and political perspectives that, if addressed, could help accelerate progress.

Entwicklungspolitische Freiwilligendienste im Fokus der Forschung

This special issue of Voluntaris further develops the discussions conducted at the first academic conference on developmental voluntary work, which took place at Cologne’s University of Applied Sciences (TH Köln) in September 2018 to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the voluntary work programme ‘weltwärts’. This book provides an overview of the current state of research in this regard, with its contributions revealing which research findings are being discussed in politics and in practice and where further research is needed. This issue is edited by the conference’s team of organisers and consists of works by academic specialists in and those involved in the practical application of TH Köln’s research focus of informal education, representatives of the umbrella organisation ‘ventao’ (the Association of Developmental Exchange Organisations) and the editors of Voluntaris (the Journal for Voluntary Work).

Reimagining education for the digital age Position Paper of the Lifelong Learning Platform

The Lifelong Learning Platform (LLLP) is a European umbrella organisation with special status, gathering 40 associations with European outreach and membership, active in the field of education, training and youth. LLLP is covering all sectors of formal, non-formal and informal learning. The Platform aims to voice citizen’s concerns about lifelong learning, promoting its holistic vision “from cradle to grave” and helping people in their life transitions.This vision is meant to ensure equity and social cohesion as well as active citizenship,advocating that education and training should be described beyond terms of employability and economic growth also as a framework for personal development and proposing solutions to make lifelong learning a reality for all.The Platform promotes a dialogue between civil society organisations and public authorities in order to modernise our educational systems and to support public sector innovation.

Towards a common geological data infrastructure for Europe

Geology does not respect national borders. Hence, in order to get geological overviews of Europe, input from geological surveys in more than 35 countries is required. European policy makers have several times been forced to rely on the US Geological Survey to provide e.g. resource estimates from the European continent, but for obvious reasons there is a wish to base European decision making on European knowledge. Consequently, the European Commission and the European Parliament have formulated a request for the establishment of a ‘Geological Service for Europe’. In its strategy towards 2020, EuroGeoSurveys (EGS) addresses the creation of such a service through three pillars. EGS is an umbrella organisation through which national geological survey organisations of 36 European countries cooperate, referred to below as national surveys. The three pillars are designed to integrate input from all national surveys into a system that can swiftly act on urgent needs for knowledge-based decision support. The three pillars relate to joint research, data integration and sharing of facilities (Fig. 1). Whilst the third pillar has only recently been dealt with, the two first have already advanced through a number of recent initiatives. Having been a key player in numerous EU projects for many years, the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) has attained a central role in the implementation of these two pillars of the strategy, both as coordinator of the European Geological Data Infrastructure (EGDI, www.europe-geology.eu) and as one of the biggest players in the so-called GeoERA programme. GEUS participates in ten projects and is a partner in the secretariat and the coordinator of the GeoERA Information Platform. The present paper outlines the main steps towards the current situation and provides a background for GEUS’ role in this.

Lebanon’s new labour unionism could affect May polls

Significance The GCLW is the traditional umbrella organisation for Lebanese trade unions, but has long been seen as too close to the political authorities. It has been increasingly outflanked in recent years by rivals with grassroots links such as the Union Coordination Committee (UCC). A series of labour strikes has aimed at improving conditions for skilled and unskilled labour in both the private and public sectors. Impacts Worsening electricity and waste management crises could lose votes for traditional political movements in May. Grassroots movement ‘Beirut Medinati’ is likely to run in the polls, challenging sectarian parties. Labour unions traditionally stay out of elections, but the UCC may implicitly back movements with an anti-authority agenda.

LMPA

The Association of Lithuanian Serials was formed in 2010 with 6 members. Recently it is an umbrella organisation for approximately 120 Lithuanian research journals published by 20 members.

Application of game theory and new institutional economics in establishing a National Voluntary Organisation for Professional Evaluation in Nigeria

Background: In Nigeria, there is a plethora of evaluators found in the over 90 universities, specialised educational institutions and private research organisations. However, there is limited or no opportunity for networking among the evaluators from similar and different programmatic specialisations. After applying the determinant framework to assess the evaluation capacity development situation in Nigeria, we agree on the importance of supporting the establishment of a National Voluntary Organisation for Professional Evaluation (VOPE).Objectives: Several leaders in evaluation were competing recently for occupying the national space reserved for a National VOPE. The main objective was to encourage partnership.Methods: We used a powerful theoretical framework provided by game theory and new institutional economics. We analysed the situation and identified the challenge they are facing as a Nash Equilibrium-of-a-Game View of Institutions: each player knows the equilibrium strategies of the other players and no player has anything to gain by changing only his or her own strategy. This explains why Nigerian evaluation leaders were not able to cooperate for the last two decades.Results and conclusion: To break this barrier, we proposed a new deal to the leaders that had the advantages of reshaping the ‘rules of the game’. We proposed a federation of associations, akin to a coalition in game theory. The result was that all leaders came together under this umbrella organisation, to celebrate the evaluation year in 2015 and committed under the Abuja Declaration on Evaluation to register and establish an association, with an elected board, a written constitution and election bylaws. The association is governed by a Board of Trustees, which is chaired by the former Minister of Planning. Elections are planned for the end of 2017.

Resisting neoliberalism: the challenge of activist librarianship in English Higher Education

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the political position of academic librarianship in the context of recent changes in English Higher Education. The neoliberalisation of academic librarianship, both as an academic discipline and profession, is considered. The emergence of the Radical Librarians Collective is examined as a potential site through which to counter these developments and foster radical alternatives. Design/methodology/approach The paper draws upon Gramsci’s concepts of hegemony and praxis, and post-structural critiques of neoliberalism, as a theoretical framework to guide data collection and analysis, and observe developments within academic librarianship vis-à-vis broader processes of neoliberalisation. Empirical data collected through interviews and participant observation are analysed using thematic and critical discourse analysis. Findings The research finds that academic librarianship as a discipline and practice is undergoing a process of neoliberalisation. An umbrella organisation of activist librarians, Radical Librarians Collective, is found to be resisting these developments and has some potential to become a space through which radical alternatives to neoliberal hegemony can be explored and fostered. Research limitations/implications The research demonstrates the utility of a Gramscian theoretical framework as a lens through which to observe developments in the field of library and information studies (LIS). Further empirical work would deepen the authors’ understanding of such developments across a range of institutions and locales. Originality/value The research makes an original contribution to critical research on the struggles around the neoliberalisation of academic librarianship in the UK. The theoretically informed analysis provides original insights into these processes, and makes a methodological contribution to LIS research.