EUROPEAN SOCIAL INNOVATION WEEK

Transcription

1 EUROPEAN SOCIAL INNOVATION WEEK EVALUATION & SCENARIO ANALYSIS DELIVERED BY CRISTIANA STOIAN

2 Based on the thesis paper A Developmental Evaluation of the European Social Innovation Week in Tilburg by Cristiana Stoian, NHTV University of Applied Sciences, Breda Illustrations designed by Freepick

3 INTRO Three years ago, European Social Innovation Week emerged from passion and dedication for social innovation. Initially a showcase platform for the Pathfinders group, the event was a playground for experiment and cross-sector collaboration a network of dedicated people, thinking of ways to change the world. Assignment After 2 editions, a developmental evaluation was commissioned by Ger Pepels and Simon de Wijs, both members of the core team of the event, in order to take a step aside and look at what has been accomplished so far: how does the network look like? Who should be involved? What made the event go on towards the future third edition, despite the difficulties along the way? And most important, what are possible future directions? The developmental evaluation was chosen over quantitative methods in order to tap the generative power of the event group and uncover opportunities for the future. Summary of conclusion So far, European Social Innovation Week has been representing a potential expression platform of the social innovation ecosystem of Tilburg, where many initiatives and activities are happening, but there is a lack of awareness. ESIW comes in and plays the tool role for the regional strategic developments as the social innovation region. Organic collaborations characterise Tilburg s social innovation system, whereas the city s view on social innovation is rather business oriented there are no concrete plans for involving the community more within the strategic agenda for social innovation. In regard to ESIW, the community is defined from two perspectives: firstly, the informal fourth sector of the quadruple helix and secondly, the network that is constantly involved to the event, the event s community. This is therefore in line with ESIW s network and activities so far. ESIW represents a visibility tool for Tilburg s social innovation agenda and activity. In order to do this, the evaluation was conducted on three levels: - mapping and analysing the event s network within the larger social innovation ecosystem of the region - uncovering the positive core of the eventthose factors that are mostly appreciated about the event, that generate excitement within the team and the participants - based on the positive core, accessing the generative power of the core team in order to discover future directions for the event 3

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5 ESIW S NETWORK Tilburg-based, regionally-connected, internationally-associated European Social Innovation Week, through its history and Pathfinders project origins, generated a rather stable network around it, with clear connections to the former project s stakeholders. Through social network mapping tools, the network of the event was analysed and visualised through an interactive map. The map, an on-going project, can be accessed online at esiw#network. Businesses For-profit org. Foundartions NGO s Voluntary org. Governmental & Regulatory institutes 17% 12% 39% 26% 6% Community Informal networks Academic & Research institutes It is not surprising that at the centre of the network, the core team and their links are representing the densest part of their network, through their collaboration for ESIW and within the social innovation field in the region. Organisations such as Midpoint Brabant, SHFT, Tilburg Municipality, City Marketing and Tilburg University are found within the central area of the network, representing important stakeholders in the development of ESIW. At the periphery of the network, projects and organisations in the social innovation networks of the central players are present, as well as international stakeholders that play an important role in the European element of the week. Local organisations and projects like SIVV, Indicia, Bouwplaats and Leisure Brabant Academy are within ESIW s network, whereas the international factor of the network is represented by stakeholders connected in a way to ESIW such as TU Dortmund, and European School for Social Innovation, or Nesta and Danish Technology Institute, which bring potential for further exploration of ESIW s international facet. 5

6 THE POSITIVE CORE The mixture of human, organisational and experiential factors Using Appreciative inquiry methods It is known that an organisation s core values are the building bricks for its potential success. The methods of appreciative inquiry, however, take it a step further, in order to discover the positive core of an organisation - By focusing on an organization s strengths, it can evolve into a centre of excellence. Rather than focusing on problems, the appreciative inquiry methods concentrate on enhancing what works and generates excitement. In short, appreciative inquiry is the art of asking the right questions, in order to enhance a system s capacity to act. Appreciative inquiry was used in order to discover European Social Innovation Week s positive core, by fostering the collaborative discovery of the effective elements of an organisational system from the economic, social and personal points of view. 6

7 What makes it thrive? Many elements have been identified as laying at the positive core of European Social Innovation Week, regarding the program & content, process & organisation or the overall experience the event generates. EFFICIENCY The way of working with low means and the concrete manner in which meeting are sometimes conducted are a driving force, generating excitement and triggering creativity. PASSION The social innovation topic is generating a lot of excitement, be it because of its recent popularity or the actual realisation that through following the social innovation movement, one can help change the world sustainably. ROOTING THE THEORY The combination of big academic names and the public oriented activities, in which the theory is rooted to the practical levels, defines memorable moments by taking the academic field into practice and putting the general public in touch with new perspectives and content. ENJOYMENT The stimulating energy generated during the week, the curiosity of the participants for developing new collaborations and acquiring new pieces of information, as well as the Tilburg community vibe make ESIW a fun day out. POSITIVE CORE STRONG TEAM A dedicated team that makes the event possible assures its quality and longevity. 7 NOVELTY Through new perspectives and activities, ESIW is a rather new event and format for the regional and even international level. COMMUNITY-ORIENTED Through the co-creation and freedom stakeholders have, as an indicator of a bottom-up community.activities addressed to non-specialised group distinguish ESIW through social impact. DIVERSITY The busy program and intense content are contrasting with the rest of the weeks in Tilburg, making it also attractive for the outsiders. Its attractiveness makes the event the highlight of the year.

8 SCENARIOS Storylines With such a new and flexible concept, European Social Innovation Week is a platform with high potential, triggered by its core values and by regional ambitions. Narrowing down the potential visions for the event lead to 4 main scenarios and storylines. These storylines are not to be seen as excluding each other, but rather as characterising a certain aspect of the event s potential: ESIW as Dutch Design Week ESIW + Incubate ESIW = academic quality ESIW = Tilburg s symbol 8

9 1. ESIW as the Dutch Design Week of Tilburg As Tilburg is presented as the social innovation region, European Social Innovation Week has the potential to develop and become the region s symbol and highlight, just as DDW is for Eindhoven. The local government is also supportive and in this respect, ESIW s orientation should be directed more towards the European and international level. With a strong local network, several connections abroad and a core team on the edge of professionalization, ESIW would be able to develop into an internationally recognised event, concentrating the essence of the region of social innovation. For this scenario, a high budget would be needed. 2. ESIW + Incubate Sharing the same calendar week and some members, European Social Innovation Week and Incubate are married to each other. However, the two events are rather separate, without much cross-over at the moment. In order to attract each other s audiences and potential, ESIW could translate the social innovation topic on more grounded levels, involving the local community more through basic activities for non-specialised groups (outside the business and academic field). Incubate is a great example of abundance realised with low means. ESIW could develop into an experimental playground, involving its stakeholders early in the organisational process, using volunteers and students for facilitating the event and building not only a network, but a community around the event. 9

10 3. ESIW as an event with high academic quality European Social Innovation Week has, as seen before, a rather strong academic sector within its network. Academic quality has been a plus of the event since its early beginnings as a Pathfinders showcase platform. Thorough involving more European and international academic names, ESIW can become a knowledge platform on social innovation, sharing knowledge and best practices. With its connections with European School of Social Innovation, ESIW can strengthen this international partnership into becoming a satellite event of the academic European field of social innovation. 4. ESIW as a symbol of Tilburg In Tilburg, many things are happening, but their visibility is low. Therefore, ESIW can become the number 1 event in the region, an expression of its Tilburg roots. Through becoming more distinctive, the event can take off. This could be done by involving groups that are not usually targeted and through an intense collaboration with other regional events and organisations. 10

11 POSSIBLE DIRECTIONS & ADVICE The previously mentioned scenarios for the ESIW are each supported by several group members, and are mostly realisable. ESIW is still a playground, a place for experiment and creativity and therefore, it is difficult to provide advice that would limit the event s evolution into one particular scenario-box. As said before, the abovementioned storylines are not contradictory. Therefore, pieces of advice have been developed in line with the event s positive core, the expressed wishes for the event and the possible scenarios, in order to fortify what ESIW s stands for and turn it into a <<centre of excellence>>. 1. Community focus What The positive core of the event is in line with a more public-oriented strategy embracing a more organic approach to it, practicing what they preach about social innovation orientation, letting loose the links with the old system and mindset. As this is acknowledged and generally agreed upon, more attempts are needed in this respect. The reference to Incubate, as an open-collaboration festival, is constant, as well as the wish to intertwine with the festival better. More efforts to attract Incubate s target group to ESIW are needed, for which making the social innovation topic more accessible is vital. Besides the community-focus understood as a public orientation, ESIW could benefit for generating a community around itself, more than just a network, through involvement and collaboration. Why Shall the future strategy focus on embracing the community direction, through translating and taking the social innovation topic from the rather academic field into everyday life levels, ESIW can become a real movement with concrete impact. Therefore, the public-orientation is encouraged in order to develop ESIW into a centre of excellence, by becoming distinctive in an ecosystem which focuses of social innovation on a more business & strategic level. Who Incubate, stakeholders such as Ru van Rossemhuis, activities like Rabobank vs. The people; Zilver Tilburg Zingt; Het Pon, thorough its civil activity, could provide opportunities for more community groups to be involved; 11

12 How Involve the stakeholders early in the organisational process, in order to create a community. The MCSI community of entrepreneurs could also provide an interesting target group, as the event is at the moment poorly addressed to them. In order to tap the community power, they can be asked to provide early on suggestions for next edition, content/network wise. Have pre- and post-contact with the organisers and participants, in order to maintain a constant relation with the ESIW stakeholders, turning the network from the core team s contacts that occasionally come together for the event into a community. Include more basic activities on social innovation in the program, the type of activities that have been already part of the program and mentioned as memorable, but have so far not been a focus on its own. The activities where corporations go back to the communities they act in and get in direct contact with people trigger the learning process and an exchange of knowledge and perceptions that are having a direct, concrete impact. Involve more start-ups (from and outside the MCSI community) for a fresh touch. Many start-ups are involved inthe social innovation field, maybe even without knowing. By involving a company at its early stage to ESIW, the needed support (at least moral, network- and visibility-wise, if not financial) is given to the starting entrepreneurs, while a community around ESIW is generated; Involve new perspectives in the core team. The core team is made of passionate people with a great deal of knowledge, a large percentage of them being formerly connected to the Pathfinders project. Involving new perspectives in the core team, either via new members of an advisory board or as occasional consultations, might provide another change in perspective, in order to make it easier to access those basic levels on which social innovation can be connected to the people. Think of several meetings with interest groups or their representatives : students, Incubate festival goers, elderly artists from Ru van Rossemhuis etc. Their view on what change they would like to see in the world, do for a change, miss, or even experience at ESIW can provide a glimpse of insight into potential community activities for ESIW that would attract these target groups; For rooting the theory, involve a social innovation facilitator in the organisational process. After gathering precious pieces of information about and/or from the target groups abovementioned, the involvement of a social innovation facilitator could be adding extra value to the organisational process. It takes try-outs and experimental time to transit to new, social innovation methods. Accessing the knowledge of such facilitators might give a kick to the process. 12

13 2. Internationalisation What With a title such as European Social innovation Week, the internationalisation of the event is one of the long-term objectives. This future direction underlines the importance of having a more internationally-oriented program, both via the speakers present and the visitors. The European factor is also to be focused on, as it is an important storytelling factor as well. Why Extending the focus of ESIW to European and international levels would provide the visibility and acknowledgement the event needs in order to become bigger and better, and stand out within the regional social innovation context. It could also bring more people in the ESIW network and community, for a versatile knowledge exchange and sustainable change that crosses borders. Who International speakers; international projects, maybe through the universities; Brabant DC; expats & students; How Involve guest speakers from an international background. Last year s edition brought into attention the work and expertise of two academics from Austria and Germany, as well as a team of young entrepreneurs from Kenya. The international aspect generated excitement in both the core team and the participants, which got to interact with new stakeholders. Through international participants, other groups such as international students and expats find the program more accessible and targeted to them. Have more workshops in English, in order to involve the international participants and coorganisers. International students are also a potential interest group, either by participation or organisation of their own projects within the event s limits. With universities such as NHTV, Fontys and Tilburg University in the network, there is a large student audience that could be reached. Make an English version of the website and program. For an event that has the European characteristic in its title and objectives, it is vital to address those international groups rightfully. At the moment, there is no English option available on the website, nor about the program. Having an English version of the event s communication tools would provide a more international and professional impression of the week. It would also be advisable to mention clearly in the program which activities are available in Dutch only and which are offered in English, in order to clearly address these target groups. 13

14 3. Multiple value creation What The low budget available for the European Social Innovation Week is a characteristic of such an event, where the core team are mainly volunteering. Some funding is accessed through connections within the academic and governmental field, but as efficiency is at the positive core of ESIW, a lot can be done with little. Why One of the main problems that ESIW had in the previous edition was the limited budget, which prevented hiring people to work on the event s organisation on a constant manner, as well as throughout the year. Like in any business, funding is a problematic aspect. Besides developing a sustainable business model, which is now in the hands of the more formal part of the organisation, several methods to creatively make us of the low budget can be implemented. Who Volunteers and students from involved universities through the core team : NHTV, Fontys, Tilburg University; How Involve students as volunteers and interns. As part of the applied universities curriculum, students are required to get practical experience. In order to get free electives in their first years, they are required to do several activities within or outside their univerisites. Volunteering for working at ESIW during the event would ensure both the personnel necessary for facility tasks throughout the day and the students fulfilment o f their curriculum. Also, as many universities work with real-life projects for their students, ESIW could assign a certain assignment to a university, for a project group to work on the development of ESIW on a particular area of interest. Another possibility to get extra help for the event is through internship schemes throughout the school year and during summer as summer internships. Placements are a vital part of the applied university education, involving the student in a real-life scenario. From a financial perspective, the interns are usually paid a small salary per month as an appreciation of their efforts. However, it is not unusual that the intern is not paid any sum, if the organisation offering the internship is non-profit or does not have the funds necessary. 14

15 4. Coherent communication What Strengthening the event s communication strategy would increase its visibility and help attract more visitors to the week and the topic. At the moment, efforts in this respect are planned to be done through City Marketing. Why In order to professionalise and scale the event, a coherent communication and branding strategy is a must, in order to properly express the Week s identity to the outside world. Who City Marketing, marketing specialists, students; How Maintain pre- and post- communication on the website. As mentioned before, maintaining constant communication with your network and target group is what makes a community. At the moment, the website of ESIW is not updated and there is little information available. Besides making an English version, it would add great value to have a professional, maintained website. GET IN TOUCH Have a clear, strong branding. A constant branding that reflects the event s direction and core is a vital step towards professionalization. At the moment, research on the image of ESIW in Tilburg is assigned to Tilburg University students, in order to get a better impression of the way ESIW is perceived on a local level. The results of such a research would provide a first step towards a strong image of Suspendisse ESIW. lacinia ornare volutpat. Nulla facilisi. Vestibulum quis enim ut Use the community force for odio spreading gravida aliquam. the word. Nam in volutpat Another positive aspect of generating a community around the event erat. is the Praesent word-of-mouth augue dui, pulvinar power. eget By involving the community early, it becomes an advocate for the tincidunt event. et, Therefore, fermentum eu through elit. Nunc close and constant contact with the faucibus purus eget nibh consequat community, ESIW could tap into the generative power of the community and strengthen not sagittis. Sed mollis, Duis dictum luctus only its network, but also its image. blandit. 15

16 Delivered for European Social Innovation Week, Tilburg By Cristiana Stoian Under the supervision of NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences