Active Ageing and Independent Living Services: The Role of Information and Communication Technology

Ageing populations influence services and traditional social support systems like social and health care in the European countries, as well as global patterns in labour and capital markets. It is widely accepted that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) applications can provide new ways of helping older citizens to live independently. ICT-based applications for independent living vary from general purpose and communication applications to applications specifically for e-learning, e-work and e-health. ICT-based services and understanding the needs of older people are key to supporting Active Ageing in upcoming ageing societies. However, there is still limited understanding of older people's technology-related needs. This report aims to support the research and policy development activities of DG Information Society and Media towards the European Research Area. It highlights the main policy areas related to ageing, where ICT-based applications could play a role, and suggests a number of research and policy challenges that need to be resolved in order to maximise the opportunities offered by ICT.JRC.J.4-Information Societ

OECD reviews of higher education in regional and city development, State of Victoria, Australia

With more than 5.3 million inhabitants Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Once a manufacturing economy, Victoria is now transforming itself into a service and innovation-based economy. Currently, the largest sectors are education services and tourism. In terms of social structure, Victoria is characterised by a large migrant population, 24% of population were born overseas and 44% were either born overseas or have a parent who was born overseas. About 70% of the population resides in Melbourne. Victoria faces a number of challenges, ranging from an ageing population and skills shortages to drought and climate change and increased risk of natural disasters. Rapid population growth, 2% annually, has implications for service delivery and uneven development as well as regional disparities. There are barriers to connectivity in terms of transport and infrastructure, and a high degree of inter-institutional competition in tertiary education sector. The business structure in Victoria includes some highly innovative activities such as in biotechnology, but other sectors, especially those with high number of small and medium-sized enterprises, are lagging behind. Most of the larger manufacturing enterprises are externally controlled and there is uncertainty over the long term investments they will make in the state, as well as the place of Victoria in the global production networks

The provision of skills information in Scotland and its governance – Skills Investment Plans and Regional Skills Assessments

First paragraph: Much of the provision of labour market information and intelligence in Scotland is based on a clear set of multi-level policy frameworks, ranging from local and regional to Scottish, and sometimes, UK levels. Scottish policy is of interest in its emphasis on the process of creating and using skills information to assist economic growth and competitiveness and inclusive growth that tackles inequality. This paper considers some of the ways in which Scottish policies have sought to improve the provision and development of skills information through more effective use of different types of governance and different logics which help to improve the focus and underlying co-ordination of government agencies, employers and other actors.  The integration of policies is needed to support an effective and efficient skills development system. Although there are many definitions of governance, in this paper governance is taken to be the rules, norms and actions around the creation of some examples of skills information in Scotland, incorporating the authority, decision-making and accountability of how this information is created. Related governance systems are likely to be multi-level (supranational/national/regional/local agencies), multi-dimensional (seeking to integrate skills, training/educational demand and supply, economic development, business development policy areas) and multi-stakeholder (public-private-third sector and individuals seeking training) (see Heidenreich et al., 2014). Different variations in governance types may lead to differing results in different locations, so it is important to be clear about the types of governance that are used

ERAWATCH Country Report 2008 - An Assessment of Research System and Policies: Denmark

The main objective of ERAWATCH country reports 2008 is to characterise and assess the performance of national research systems and related policies in a structured manner that is comparable across countries. The reports are produced for each EU Member State to support the mutual learning process and the monitoring of Member States' efforts by DG Research in the context of the Lisbon Strategy and the European Research Area. In order to do so, the system analysis focuses on key processes relevant for system performance. Four policy-relevant domains of the research system are distinguished, namely resource mobilisation, knowledge demand, knowledge production and knowledge circulation. The reports are based on a synthesis of information from the ERAWATCH Research Inventory and other important available information sources.JRC.DG.J.3-Knowledge for Growt

Universities of the Third Age in Poland. Emerging Model for 21st Century

Main objective of this paper is to describe emergence of a Polish Universities of the Third Age model. These are a multidisciplinary non-formal education centers, which allow formation of positive responses to the challenges of an ageing population. Article indicates main organizational changes of these institutions conditioned by internal and external factors. Essay describes transformation, differentiation factors, and characteristics of these institutions for elderly based on a critical analysis of literature

Disaster Resilience Education and Research Roadmap for Europe 2030 : ANDROID Report

A disaster resilience education and research roadmap for Europe 2030 has been launched. This roadmap represents an important output of the ANDROID disaster resilience network, bringing together existing literature in the field, as well as the results of various analysis and study projects undertaken by project partners.The roadmap sets out five key challenges and opportunities in moving from 2015 to 2030 and aimed at addressing the challenges of the recently announced Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. This roadmap was developed as part of the ANDROID Disaster Resilience Network, led by Professor Richard Haigh of the Global Disaster Resilience Centre (www.hud.ac.uk/gdrc ) at the School of Art, Design and Architecture at the University of Huddersfield, UK. The ANDROID consortium of applied, human, social and natural scientists, supported by international organisations and a stakeholder board, worked together to map the field in disaster resilience education, pool their results and findings, develop interdisciplinary explanations, develop capacity, move forward innovative education agendas, discuss methods, and inform policy development. Further information on ANDROID Disaster Resilience network is available at: http://www.disaster-resilience.netAn ANDROID Disaster Resilience Network ReportANDROI