Innovative Learning, Social Inclusion and European Development Strategy Dr Alan Bruce, ULS, Dublin InterAct International Conference Iasi, Romania 23 September 2006

Changing Times - Changing Needs The innovation imperative The innovation imperative Boundaries to participation - inclusion in what? Boundaries to participation - inclusion in what? Europe - policy or passion? Europe - policy or passion? Spectres at our gates Spectres at our gates Seismic shifts - redefining work Seismic shifts - redefining work

Innovation in Context (surface view) Doing what has not been done before Doing what has not been done before Invention and profitability Invention and profitability New frontiers New frontiers Lisbon Agenda 2010 and the 4 pillars Lisbon Agenda 2010 and the 4 pillars Assumption of stable work patterns and linear development model Assumption of stable work patterns and linear development model

Innovation (behind the mask) Radical re-structuring of global market Radical re-structuring of global market Impact of Information and Communications Technologies Impact of Information and Communications Technologies Entrenched impoverishment Entrenched impoverishment Collapse of traditional agriculture Collapse of traditional agriculture Perpetual war and the defence economy Perpetual war and the defence economy

Urbanization 1950: 86 cities > 1 million people 1950: 86 cities > 1 million people 2006: 400 cities > 1 million people 2006: 400 cities > 1 million people 2015: 550 cities> 1 million people 2015: 550 cities> 1 million people Urban labour force doubled since 1980 Urban labour force doubled since 1980 Hypercities of developing world Hypercities of developing world “Planet of Slums” Mike Davis “Planet of Slums” Mike Davis Back to Dickens - falling wages; unemployment; destitution; disease Back to Dickens - falling wages; unemployment; destitution; disease

Globalization for real Total impact and accelerating Total impact and accelerating Adaptable and highly reactive markets Adaptable and highly reactive markets New forms of work organization (adaptable; cheap; deregulated; dispensable) New forms of work organization (adaptable; cheap; deregulated; dispensable) Competitive pressures Competitive pressures Citizens of an economy or of a nation? Citizens of an economy or of a nation?

Global Contradictions Unprecedented wealth vs squalor Unprecedented wealth vs squalor World markets vs local powerlessness World markets vs local powerlessness Open vistas vs restricted rights Open vistas vs restricted rights Free movement vs permanent exclusion Free movement vs permanent exclusion

Re-appropriating innovation Linked to realities not models of the past Linked to realities not models of the past Linked to human needs Linked to human needs Based in social relationships Based in social relationships Responds to change and shapes it Responds to change and shapes it Rooted in values Rooted in values Grounded in learning and research Grounded in learning and research

Social inclusion and learning Pressures of globalized markets Pressures of globalized markets Threats of instability Threats of instability Information explosion - knowledge deficit Information explosion - knowledge deficit Demographic change Demographic change New forms of work organization New forms of work organization Quality and standards Quality and standards

Strategic learning priorities Addressing change Addressing change Communications Communications Research Research Learning anew Learning anew Opportunities from fluid socio-economic conditions Opportunities from fluid socio-economic conditions

Learning focus for social inclusion Lifelong contexts Lifelong contexts Community Community Virtual environments Virtual environments Work Work

Key trends and themes Aging Aging Women and labour market participation Women and labour market participation Immigration Immigration Disability Disability Cultural and religious difference Cultural and religious difference Conflict and stress Conflict and stress

Diversity and the world of work Permanent feature of the labour market Permanent feature of the labour market Impact of legislation Impact of legislation Central aspect of HRM best practice Central aspect of HRM best practice Problem solving approach Problem solving approach Cascades learning organizationally Cascades learning organizationally Customers are diverse too Customers are diverse too

Diversity and Business Excellence Maximizes employee potential Maximizes employee potential Reduces economic cost of difference Reduces economic cost of difference Taps into creativity of non-standard workers Taps into creativity of non-standard workers Develops innovation in design and market anticipation Develops innovation in design and market anticipation Promotes challenges and change to meet existing needs Promotes challenges and change to meet existing needs

Equality themes Historic framework Historic framework Civil rights Civil rights Ethical practice Ethical practice Conflict resolution Conflict resolution Equal opportunities Equal opportunities

US Perspectives Civil rights and legacies of racism Civil rights and legacies of racism Affirmative action Affirmative action Centrality of work Centrality of work Opportunity focus Opportunity focus Common benefit Common benefit Diversity management Diversity management

A word about Ireland Historic conflict and colonial legacies Historic conflict and colonial legacies Economic marginalization to boom Economic marginalization to boom Institutionalization Institutionalization In from the margins In from the margins Fragmented identities and change Fragmented identities and change Demographic transformation Demographic transformation

Changing Ireland 147 languages spoken 147 languages spoken 8% of population foreign citizens 8% of population foreign citizens Religious and cultural diversity Religious and cultural diversity Full employment Full employment Dynamics of difference Dynamics of difference

EU perspectives Principles of equality Principles of equality Anti-discrimination legislation Anti-discrimination legislation Social inclusion Social inclusion Ideals versus reality Ideals versus reality Lack of common standards Lack of common standards

EU issues Expansion Expansion Lisbon Declaration Lisbon Declaration Thematic pillars: Thematic pillars: Innovation Innovation Adaptability Adaptability Lifelong learning Lifelong learning Equal opportunities Equal opportunities

Equality and work Legal compliance Legal compliance Tokenism Tokenism Equality and quality Equality and quality Internal customers Internal customers External customers External customers Equality to diversity management Equality to diversity management

Diversity issues Cost or benefit? Cost or benefit? Burden or opportunity? Burden or opportunity? Threat or strength? Threat or strength? Planned or unplanned? Planned or unplanned? Change for whom? Change for whom?

Linking diversity Learning Learning Creativity Creativity Problem resolution Problem resolution Change management Change management Improved communications Improved communications Identifying potential Identifying potential Innovation Innovation

Embedding diversity Ensure continued competitiveness Ensure continued competitiveness Maintain employment levels Maintain employment levels Increase work opportunities Increase work opportunities Fund imaginative social programs Fund imaginative social programs Establish a platform for meaningful inclusion Establish a platform for meaningful inclusion

Negative aspects Combat prejudice Combat prejudice Reduce conflict Reduce conflict Overcome poor communications Overcome poor communications Contain time and cost issues Contain time and cost issues Relevance Relevance

Positive aspects Improve employee relations Improve employee relations Locate new talent sources Locate new talent sources Improve communications Improve communications Develop flexible working Develop flexible working Achieve legislative compliance Achieve legislative compliance Improve corporate image Improve corporate image Better export access Better export access

Addressing barriers Training Training Education Education Social partner dialogue Social partner dialogue Expanded HRM function Expanded HRM function Glass ceilings Glass ceilings Expanded R&D Expanded R&D Demonstrated organizational support Demonstrated organizational support

European Challenges Need to set realistic targets Need to set realistic targets Need for some kind of coherent vision Need for some kind of coherent vision Need to avoid outmoded clichés Need to avoid outmoded clichés Need to support innovative lifelong learning Need to support innovative lifelong learning Need to re-construct development model Need to re-construct development model Need to ask hard questions about identity Need to ask hard questions about identity

Facing up to difference No return to “normal” No return to “normal” Permanent change Permanent change Nothing static Nothing static Integration or assimilation Integration or assimilation Self-questioning Self-questioning

Challenges Customer focus Customer focus Citizen focus Citizen focus Vision Vision

Thank you Multumesc Dr Alan Bruce Universal Learning Systems