InnovationOne of the key requirements of DPs is to develop innovative work programmes that produce outcomes worth disseminating and mainstreaming at both national and EU level. So, innovation is of central importance in Equal projects. It is a concept that is, however, difficult to define and evidence. The definition, guidelines and examples below are intended to provide a clear framework for innovative activities.
‘As a general definition ... innovations are novel changes in a system, which are performed and achieved for the first time in its development. This first-time aspect of a novel change - the development aspect - is an important one but … insufficient criterion for innovations; a more important one is that the development should lead to something qualitatively new which increases the efficiency of a certain system. Innovations provide better solutions to problems than contrived in the previous state. The decisive determinant of the innovative content of the new solution is its relation to the old one. It is the relation to previous solution approaches that determines the degree of innovation of a novel change.’ (A Methodology for European Evaluation of the EMPLOYMENT Initiative’ 1999, NEI/FHVR, p17)
Innovation can come in various forms. These include the following: - Process-oriented innovations: these relate to developing:
- new or improved methods;
- content;
- use of technology; and
- approaches to integration in labour-market initiatives. Examples of process-oriented innovations include: - developing new training materials;
- new or improved approaches to delivering training and guidance, and
- new ways to combine approaches. - Goal-oriented innovations: these relate to developing:
- new vocational qualifications;
- new approaches to working with particular target groups; and
- new ways of improving the transition into employment for particular target groups. Examples include goal-oriented: - approaches involving new qualifications;
- opening up new areas of employment for disadvantaged groups and individuals at -risk of displacement in the labour market;
- integrating accreditation systems; and
- new approaches to re-engaging disadvantaged groups and individuals with education, training and the labour market. - Context-oriented innovations: these relate to the political and structural frameworks that labour market interventions take place in. Examples include developing:
- local, regional and national networks;
- new frameworks for and approaches to dissemination, information and awareness raising activities; and
- steps to involve new partners and establish new working arrangements. Examples of Good Practice in "Innovation" from 2nd Round DPs include Last update: 05.02.08
Work was undertaken by the Strathclyde University to ensure that an innovative part-time degree model would be in place for the next session of the CALS course, piloted within Equal. This will ensure that CALS beneficiaries have the opportunity to progress to a BA degree in European Studies and the language of their CALS programme, by undertaking two further years of part-time study. (COOL DP – Theme E) Last update: .04.12.07 The business case project (Objective 6) is exploring various dimensions of the business-case approach in sectors where no empirical research has been conducted previously. (Genderwise Scotland DP)
The HI Hopes in the Highlands and Islands DP Development of on-line materials at SQA level 1 - previously unavailable within the Scottish curriculum and created of the first tailored CPD programme for social enterprise practitioners in H&I. (Genderwise Scotland DP)
The database created by Screen Future pilot into minority ethnic groups and their participation in screen related courses are the first of their kind. The research report makes a significant contribution to understanding the fragmentation of support structures in this sector (Icons DP)
The Integration through Enterprise project has created a database of organisations working with refugees and asylum seekers in Glasgow. New methodologies such as group working of refugees from different communities during business start-up sessions and panel workshops using peer and expert review to examine financial viability and potential to access finance on real business ideas are being considered as national models in Scotland for work with disadvantaged groups. (Icons DP)
The Icons Branding project brought together and established links between enterprises that would not have otherwise been created due to their size, such as small companies working with large and well known heritage sites. (Icons DP)
Screen Future project brought together Higher Education, Film Industry as well as organisations around diversity and equal opportunities in the screen business development in the SME sector in Scotland. This also resulted in the HE/FR post-graduation business support structure being developed into a specific domain (film, television and animation) housed within a post-graduate / CPD centre (Screen Academy Scotland / Screen Future) (Icons DP) Last update: 30.10.07
The HI Hopes in the Highlands and Islands DP has developed a series of innovative outputs that include on-line materials at SQA level 1 - previously unavailable within the Scottish curriculum; the first tailored CPD programme for social enterprise practitioners in H&I; new ESOL materials and provision underpinned by enhanced tutor support packages; new creative approach to community research enhancing skills within small rural communities. (Hi Hopes in the H & I DP)
The database created by Screen future into minority ethnic groups and their participation in screen related courses is the first of its kind. The research report produced for the creation of the database makes a significant contribution to understanding the fragmentation of support structures in this sector. (Icons DP)
The Integration through Enterprise project has created a database of organisations working with refugees and asylum seekers in Glasgow. (Icons DP)
New methodologies such as group working of refugees from different communities during business start-up sessions and panel workshops using peer and expert review to examine financial viability and potential to access finance on real business ideas have been developed and tested by the ‘Integration through Enterprise project’. These new methodologies are now being considered as national models in Scotland for work with disadvantaged groups. (Icons DP)
The Icons Branding project brought together and established links between enterprises that would not have otherwise been created due to their size; .g. small companies working with large and well known heritage sites. (Icons DP)
Higher Education, Film Industry as well as organisations around diversity and equal opportunities have been brought together in the screen business development in the SME sector in Scotland by the Screen Future project. This also resulted in the HE/FR post-graduation business support structure being developed into a specific domain (film, television and animation) housed within a post-graduate / CPD centre (Screen Academy Scotland / Screen Future) (Icons DP) Last update: 04.09.07
Coordinators of the EDIT and BASICS courses developed during Action 2 by the Forth Valley College met with representatives from Equality Matters to discuss using the EDIT course to promote diversity and equality in the workplace, helping business understand their legal obligations. (COOL DP) The text 2 learn project worked on development of flexible access learning experiences using e-learning and mobile technologies, latterly including blogs video diaries, and podcasting. This represents an innovative approach for the group of beneficiaries engaged in the pilot, many of whom could not use computers at all prior to the training. (Genderwise Scotland DP)
Last update: 27.04.07
The Equal Employability Development Partnership has put in place a monitoring framework that will gather examples of good practice from pilots through formal meetings, interviews and reports. The Core Team is also discussing innovation with partners individually.
North Highland College involves local employers in the training process in providing a realistic work situation that challenges participants (people with educational needs) and improves their employability skills (Equal Employability DP) Last update 15.02.07 - Dispelling the Myth project is now working in partnership with other projects within the city to ensure a consistent approach is being taken in promoting Diversity Management to SMEs employers (Re: Focus DP)
- Partnership between GCC, SITE and RNIB Scotland have created additional areas of work such as the feasibility of an Assistive Technology Basic Kit which will be used to inform partners and other services of what is available to people with sight s problems. (Re: Focus DP)
- The key stakeholders member of the Equal Employability DP Steering Group such as Jobcentre Plus, Careers Scotland and the Scottish Executive have been asked to highlight areas of innovative practice that they would be interested in learning more about. On this basis, the partner organisations are asked to highlight the innovative practice in their quarterly report
- The framework put in place by the Equal Employability DP to gather information about innovative activity across partners is part of the remit of the external evaluation.
Last update: 12.01.07
- The ‘Integration through Enterprise project’ piloted by Business Gateway, implemented a panel workshop, where beneficiaries discuss their business idea with a panel of experts and get advice on the feasibility of the project as well as recommendations on how improve their business idea and their skills. This new process piloted with Refugees and Migrants, is now being considered by Scottish Enterprise National to be transferred to other target groups. (Icons’ DP)
- New local networks have been established as outcome of the Icons Branding Project piloted by Icons DP. The networks link small tourism organisations and large heritage sites in the same area and this will contribute raising the awareness of the community potentials. A common e-marketing plan as well as a newsletter has been created.
- The Integration through Enterprise Project has developed new methodologies to promote business start-up amongst new citizens; these include refugees and migrants from different countries working in group during business start-up sessions. (Icons’ DP)
- The Integration through Enterprise Project is aiming to create a database of organisations which work with refugees and asylum seekers in Glasgow. (Icons’ DP)
Last update 25.08.06 - The Making Regeneration Better project run by the Genderwise Scotland DP is the first resource dedicated specifically to engendering policy work in Inverclyde and Dundee and this provides evidence of the value of the work done under Equal.
- Within the Redress the Balance project the participating colleges have developed a provision of "taster" courses for school pupils (14+) geared to highlight the potential of pursuing a non-traditional training programme for young men and women. New marketing materials geared to encourage women to consider a career in the construction industry and men to consider a career in Care have bee designed and will be ready for distribution at the start of the new academic year. (COOL DP)
- The first Social Enterprise Associate Tutor Training programme within the Highlands and Islands has been developed by the Hi Hopes DP. The training aims to enhance the academic achievements and career opportunities for Social Enterprise Managers which is currently not available in the H & I.
- The database created and the research conducted by ICON’s DP through the "Screen Futures" project into minority ethnic groups and their participation in screen related course are the first of their kind.
- The University of Strathclyde, partner organisation in the COOL DP, developed new course materials and specimen assessment materials that meet both the University/SCQF quality assurance criteria and the requirements of the national occupational standards for languages at work (The National Language Standards, 2005)
- Website domain has been purchased and work has begun in setting up a specific website for the "Redress the Balance" project which will share project information and will provide a platform for a sharing of information and discussion between all college partners and transnational partners in the COOL DP.
*** - Innovation is a standing item of the Steering Group Meetings and Development partnership Group Meetings for the majority of Scottish DPs.
- Express Yourself Project piloted by CEDA within the Re: Focus DP encourages a variety of learning methods amongst beneficiaries including poetry writing, cartoons, scrapbooks and diary keeping. This ensures participants can use their skills whilst establishing their own needs.
- The single tracking system being piloted by Glasgow City Council brings together agencies of different types and sizes. It is the first time that this kind of Tracking Monitoring System is being developed in Glasgow and the first time in Europe in the employability context. (Re: Focus DP)
- The Staff attitudinal survey carried out by Re: Focus among the partner organisations front-line staff is the first multi-agency baseline study of its kind to focus on culture and attitudes rather than practice and skills.
- The course materials and specimen assessment materials developed this quarter by the Strathclyde University meet both the University/SCQF quality assurance criteria and the requirements of the national occupational standards for languages at work (The National Language Standards,2005
Last update: 06.07.06 |