Innovative Learning, Innovative Learning, Social Inclusion and Social Inclusion and European Development European Development StrategyStrategy

Dr Alan Bruce, ULS, DublinDr Alan Bruce, ULS, Dublin

InterAct International ConferenceInterAct International Conference

Iasi, Romania 23 September 2006Iasi, Romania 23 September 2006

Changing Times - Changing Changing Times - Changing NeedsNeeds

The innovation imperativeThe innovation imperative Boundaries to participation - inclusion in Boundaries to participation - inclusion in

what?what? Europe - policy or passion?Europe - policy or passion? Spectres at our gatesSpectres at our gates Seismic shifts - redefining workSeismic shifts - redefining work

Innovation in Context Innovation in Context (surface view)(surface view)

Doing what has not been done beforeDoing what has not been done before Invention and profitabilityInvention and profitability New frontiersNew frontiers Lisbon Agenda 2010 and the 4 pillarsLisbon Agenda 2010 and the 4 pillars Assumption of stable work patterns and linear Assumption of stable work patterns and linear

development modeldevelopment model

Innovation (behind the mask)Innovation (behind the mask)

Radical re-structuring of global marketRadical re-structuring of global market Impact of Information and Communications Impact of Information and Communications

TechnologiesTechnologies Entrenched impoverishmentEntrenched impoverishment Collapse of traditional agricultureCollapse of traditional agriculture Perpetual war and the defence economyPerpetual war and the defence economy

UrbanizationUrbanization

1950: 86 cities > 1 million people1950: 86 cities > 1 million people 2006: 400 cities > 1 million people2006: 400 cities > 1 million people 2015: 550 cities> 1 million people2015: 550 cities> 1 million people

Urban labour force doubled since 1980Urban labour force doubled since 1980 Hypercities of developing worldHypercities of developing world ““Planet of Slums” Mike DavisPlanet of Slums” Mike Davis Back to DickensBack to Dickens - falling wages; unemployment; - falling wages; unemployment;

destitution; diseasedestitution; disease

Globalization for realGlobalization for real

Total impact and acceleratingTotal impact and accelerating Adaptable and highly reactive marketsAdaptable and highly reactive markets New forms of work organization (adaptable; New forms of work organization (adaptable;

cheap; deregulated; dispensable)cheap; deregulated; dispensable) Competitive pressuresCompetitive pressures Citizens of an economy or of a nation?Citizens of an economy or of a nation?

Global ContradictionsGlobal Contradictions

Unprecedented wealth vs squalorUnprecedented wealth vs squalor World markets vs local powerlessnessWorld markets vs local powerlessness Open vistas vs restricted rightsOpen vistas vs restricted rights Free movement vs permanent exclusionFree movement vs permanent exclusion

Re-appropriating innovationRe-appropriating innovation

Linked to realities not models of the pastLinked to realities not models of the past Linked to human needsLinked to human needs Based in social relationshipsBased in social relationships Responds to change and shapes itResponds to change and shapes it Rooted in valuesRooted in values Grounded in learning and researchGrounded in learning and research

Social inclusion and learningSocial inclusion and learning

Pressures of globalized marketsPressures of globalized markets Threats of instabilityThreats of instability Information explosion - knowledge deficitInformation explosion - knowledge deficit Demographic changeDemographic change New forms of work organizationNew forms of work organization Quality and standardsQuality and standards

Strategic learning prioritiesStrategic learning priorities

Addressing changeAddressing change CommunicationsCommunications ResearchResearch Learning anewLearning anew Opportunities from fluid socio-economic Opportunities from fluid socio-economic

conditionsconditions

Learning focus for social Learning focus for social inclusioninclusion

Lifelong contextsLifelong contexts CommunityCommunity Virtual environmentsVirtual environments Work Work

Key trends and themesKey trends and themes

AgingAging Women and labour market participationWomen and labour market participation ImmigrationImmigration DisabilityDisability Cultural and religious differenceCultural and religious difference Conflict and stressConflict and stress

Diversity and the world of workDiversity and the world of work

Permanent feature of the labour marketPermanent feature of the labour market Impact of legislationImpact of legislation Central aspect of HRM best practiceCentral aspect of HRM best practice Problem solving approachProblem solving approach Cascades learning organizationallyCascades learning organizationally Customers are diverse tooCustomers are diverse too

Diversity and Business Diversity and Business ExcellenceExcellence

Maximizes employee potentialMaximizes employee potential Reduces economic cost of differenceReduces economic cost of difference Taps into creativity of non-standard workersTaps into creativity of non-standard workers Develops innovation in design and market Develops innovation in design and market

anticipationanticipation Promotes challenges and change to meet Promotes challenges and change to meet

existing needsexisting needs

Equality themesEquality themes

Historic frameworkHistoric framework Civil rightsCivil rights Ethical practiceEthical practice Conflict resolutionConflict resolution Equal opportunitiesEqual opportunities

US PerspectivesUS Perspectives

Civil rights and legacies of racismCivil rights and legacies of racism Affirmative actionAffirmative action Centrality of workCentrality of work Opportunity focusOpportunity focus Common benefitCommon benefit Diversity managementDiversity management

A word about IrelandA word about Ireland

Historic conflict and colonial legaciesHistoric conflict and colonial legacies Economic marginalization to boomEconomic marginalization to boom InstitutionalizationInstitutionalization In from the marginsIn from the margins Fragmented identities and changeFragmented identities and change Demographic transformationDemographic transformation

Changing IrelandChanging Ireland

147 languages spoken147 languages spoken 8% of population foreign citizens8% of population foreign citizens Religious and cultural diversityReligious and cultural diversity Full employmentFull employment Dynamics of differenceDynamics of difference

EU perspectivesEU perspectives

Principles of equalityPrinciples of equality Anti-discrimination legislationAnti-discrimination legislation Social inclusionSocial inclusion Ideals versus realityIdeals versus reality Lack of common standardsLack of common standards

EU issuesEU issues

ExpansionExpansion Lisbon DeclarationLisbon Declaration Thematic pillars:Thematic pillars:

InnovationInnovation AdaptabilityAdaptability Lifelong learningLifelong learning Equal opportunitiesEqual opportunities

Equality and workEquality and work

Legal complianceLegal compliance TokenismTokenism Equality and qualityEquality and quality Internal customersInternal customers External customersExternal customers Equality to diversity managementEquality to diversity management

Diversity issuesDiversity 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 diversityLinking diversity

LearningLearning CreativityCreativity Problem resolutionProblem resolution Change managementChange management Improved communicationsImproved communications Identifying potentialIdentifying potential InnovationInnovation

Embedding diversityEmbedding diversity

Ensure continued competitivenessEnsure continued competitiveness Maintain employment levelsMaintain employment levels Increase work opportunitiesIncrease work opportunities Fund imaginative social programsFund imaginative social programs Establish a platform for meaningful inclusionEstablish a platform for meaningful inclusion

Negative aspectsNegative aspects

Combat prejudiceCombat prejudice Reduce conflictReduce conflict Overcome poor communicationsOvercome poor communications Contain time and cost issuesContain time and cost issues RelevanceRelevance

Positive aspectsPositive aspects

Improve employee relationsImprove employee relations Locate new talent sourcesLocate new talent sources Improve communicationsImprove communications Develop flexible workingDevelop flexible working Achieve legislative complianceAchieve legislative compliance Improve corporate imageImprove corporate image Better export accessBetter export access

Addressing barriersAddressing barriers

TrainingTraining EducationEducation Social partner dialogueSocial partner dialogue Expanded HRM functionExpanded HRM function Glass ceilingsGlass ceilings Expanded R&DExpanded R&D Demonstrated organizational supportDemonstrated organizational support

European ChallengesEuropean Challenges

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

Facing up to differenceFacing up to difference

No return to “normal”No return to “normal” Permanent changePermanent change Nothing staticNothing static Integration or assimilationIntegration or assimilation Self-questioningSelf-questioning

ChallengesChallenges

Customer focusCustomer focus Citizen focusCitizen focus VisionVision

Thank youThank youMultumescMultumesc

Dr Alan BruceDr Alan BruceUniversal Learning SystemsUniversal Learning SystemsDublinDublinIrelandIreland

abruce@ulsystems.comabruce@ulsystems.com