RCE North East-2014
a) Criteria/ indicators used to assess aspects of RCE work/ project: Character count 300 words:
Potential projects are considered against the extent to which the individual project proposal would contribute to the achievement of one or more of the global objectives as determined by the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD). NECTER/RCE North East aims to act as a catalyst for organisations in the North East of England that promote Education for Sustainable Development (ESD); a major focus being the sharing of information and experiences of sustainable development between stakeholders in the region as well as contributing to global learning. The Great Debate completed its ETUDE (Engineering Transmission Using Deliberate Events) project which brought together engineers and the general public in creative ways. Other partners included the Great North Festival, the School of Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University as well as the Faculty of Engineering and Environment at Northumbria University.
The ETUDE project directly addressed three regional challenges through training and other events. The important questions posed were:
1. What do we need to develop brownfield sites and make the best use of them? How do we want to use them? What technologies can be applied to make them useable?
2. Should we exploit the UK’s onshore shale gas, if so under what conditions?
3. What is the current state of the North East’s infrastructure? How does it compare with the rest of the country? What should we prioritise over the next decade and the next half century?.
This project has been an exemplar of best transformative education practice. Twenty-six engineers participated in the project and four public events were delivered reaching 290 members of the public. Feedback from the engineers and audiences was very positive. The project report will be available on request from the end of September 2014.
The ETUDE project directly addressed three regional challenges through training and other events. The important questions posed were:
1. What do we need to develop brownfield sites and make the best use of them? How do we want to use them? What technologies can be applied to make them useable?
2. Should we exploit the UK’s onshore shale gas, if so under what conditions?
3. What is the current state of the North East’s infrastructure? How does it compare with the rest of the country? What should we prioritise over the next decade and the next half century?.
This project has been an exemplar of best transformative education practice. Twenty-six engineers participated in the project and four public events were delivered reaching 290 members of the public. Feedback from the engineers and audiences was very positive. The project report will be available on request from the end of September 2014.
b) Successes of the RCE and lessons learned: Character count 300 words:
In addition to the ETUDE project, there have been a number of positive achievements during the last twelve months. For example Jack Drum Arts is continuing its successful record of projects with Colour Your Life, in partnership with the Pioneering Care Partnership. This project is a social prescribing service funded by Durham County Council Public Health Department and includes arts, education, volunteering and timebanking.
The Great Debate, in partnership with Great North Festival and Lodestone studios, has built on the previous highly successful HYPODS (Hearing Young People on Development and Sustainability) project in 2013. The new project, Great Northern Youth Voices, directly benefited 34 people who where exposed to a variety of ideas and issues including freedom, agency, the wonders of engineering and the use of brownfield sites.
The Great North Festival (GNF) continues with its central focus being a concern for the young unemployed of the North East. A priority of GNF is to invite the region to host an expo to showcase creativity and innovation.
Cinema Politica Newcastle’s activities continue to bring documentary and debate to Newcastle upon Tyne. Since January 2011, around fifty films have been screened and a number of speakers have come to stimulate debate with the audience after the documentaries. In terms of the NECTER key objectives for 2014, these projects strongly support raising the profile of NECTER, and its partners, as well contributing to the achievement of the Global RCE objectives.
A new innovative project has been designed in collaboration with Sunderland and Redcar Colleges, Durham University (Project Lead), Lodestone Studios and Wirtualis a Polish specialist ICT SME. This project, NEET Network UK (NNUK), is a unique project and involves the application of advanced technology to the problem of reducing the number of hard to reach young people not in education or training. Stage one is located in the North East and stage two will involve colleges and RCE/voluntary partners in the other eight regions of England.
The lessons learned from the 2014 projects include the need to build on previous successes, yet not to be discouraged from attempting new ambitious projects that have global potential.
The Great Debate, in partnership with Great North Festival and Lodestone studios, has built on the previous highly successful HYPODS (Hearing Young People on Development and Sustainability) project in 2013. The new project, Great Northern Youth Voices, directly benefited 34 people who where exposed to a variety of ideas and issues including freedom, agency, the wonders of engineering and the use of brownfield sites.
The Great North Festival (GNF) continues with its central focus being a concern for the young unemployed of the North East. A priority of GNF is to invite the region to host an expo to showcase creativity and innovation.
Cinema Politica Newcastle’s activities continue to bring documentary and debate to Newcastle upon Tyne. Since January 2011, around fifty films have been screened and a number of speakers have come to stimulate debate with the audience after the documentaries. In terms of the NECTER key objectives for 2014, these projects strongly support raising the profile of NECTER, and its partners, as well contributing to the achievement of the Global RCE objectives.
A new innovative project has been designed in collaboration with Sunderland and Redcar Colleges, Durham University (Project Lead), Lodestone Studios and Wirtualis a Polish specialist ICT SME. This project, NEET Network UK (NNUK), is a unique project and involves the application of advanced technology to the problem of reducing the number of hard to reach young people not in education or training. Stage one is located in the North East and stage two will involve colleges and RCE/voluntary partners in the other eight regions of England.
The lessons learned from the 2014 projects include the need to build on previous successes, yet not to be discouraged from attempting new ambitious projects that have global potential.
c) Challenges experiences: Character count 300 words:
The two significant challenges for NECTER RCE North East in 2013-2014 have been the lack of finance and the need to expand the research aspect of NECTER’s activities. Whilst NECTER partner organisations have successfully attracted or shared in funding from a variety of sources for projects, NECTER itself remains short of funds for basic operational activities such as office expenditure and travel costs. The need to raise funds for NECTER is one of the four key objectives for 2014, along with raising the profile of NECTER and its partners; visiting partners and potential partners to explore ideas for new projects; and, finally; to enhance the research activity of the RCE.
The Committee has encouraged partner organisations to explore potential projects that would contribute to some or all of the NECTER key objectives for 2014. One substantial proposal for a project that was approved by the NECTER Committee was the NEET Network UK (NNUK) project. This project involved a considerable of work to design the project, including methodology and detailed costing. The proposal required in the North East (stage one) the participation of two further education colleges, NECTER and an associate organisation, and a specialist ICT SME. The Lead Provider for the NNUK project is Durham University. Stage two of the project is intended to involve a further education college and an RCE/voluntary partner in each of the other eight regions of England. Due to the size of the proposal (£1,881,022), the NNUK proposal has been successfully subjected to the rigorous scrutiny of the Durham University Research Approval Process. The NNUK project meets all of the four NECTER key objectives and was submitted to the Minister for Skills and Equalities in the summer. Due to a Cabinet reshuffle, the proposal was delayed whilst a new Minister settled in his new role. Fortunately the new Minister is supportive of NNUK proposal and the project team are optimistic of receiving government funding.
The Committee has encouraged partner organisations to explore potential projects that would contribute to some or all of the NECTER key objectives for 2014. One substantial proposal for a project that was approved by the NECTER Committee was the NEET Network UK (NNUK) project. This project involved a considerable of work to design the project, including methodology and detailed costing. The proposal required in the North East (stage one) the participation of two further education colleges, NECTER and an associate organisation, and a specialist ICT SME. The Lead Provider for the NNUK project is Durham University. Stage two of the project is intended to involve a further education college and an RCE/voluntary partner in each of the other eight regions of England. Due to the size of the proposal (£1,881,022), the NNUK proposal has been successfully subjected to the rigorous scrutiny of the Durham University Research Approval Process. The NNUK project meets all of the four NECTER key objectives and was submitted to the Minister for Skills and Equalities in the summer. Due to a Cabinet reshuffle, the proposal was delayed whilst a new Minister settled in his new role. Fortunately the new Minister is supportive of NNUK proposal and the project team are optimistic of receiving government funding.
