Dialogue event: Youth and Vocational Training in the Rhein-Hunsrück district

On February 6 2025, the Dialogue event “Youth and Vocational Training Here” took place at the Performance and Innovation Center of the DFH Group in Simmern, offering an engaging platform to discuss the challenges and opportunities of vocational training in the Rhein-Hunsrück district. The target group was primarily regional companies that offer training, but also labour and training market players, schools and educational institutions, as well as political stakeholders.

In the Rhein-Hunsrück RUSTIK Living Lab, the Institute for Rural Development Research (Living Lab coordinator) and the Regionalrat Wirtschaft Rhein-Hunsrück (practice partner) have been working together to better understand the needs of young people and regional companies regarding vocational training. This event provided an opportunity to present to an audience of 150 participants the key insights from the first large-scale survey, which involved around 300 young people.

The event featured a dynamic panel discussion with representatives from the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Transformation and Digitalization of Rhineland-Palatinate, the district administration of Rhein-Hunsrück, the DFH Group as one of the region’s key training companies, and the headmaster of a school in the Rhein-Hunsrück district. The discussion focused on identifying new perspectives and providing valuable impulses for the development of the regional training landscape. Another significant highlight was a presentation by the SINUS Institute, offering insights into the life worlds of young people and their relevance to career choices.

The event concluded with the announcement of the launch of an online survey targeting training companies in the region, marking another important step in the activities of the Living Lab within the RUSTIK project.

RUSTIK Project Meeting in Millstatt: A Successful Gathering

RUSTIK Project Meeting in Millstatt: A Successful Gathering

From October 14th to 17th, 2024, the RUSTIK project team held a productive meeting in the scenic town of Millstatt, Austria. This event brought together project partners, the External Advisory Board (EAB), and stakeholders to discuss key milestones and the next steps for the project as it moves into its third year of execution.

Key Highlights of the Meeting:
  • General Assembly & Project Updates: The meeting kicked off with a welcome from our hosts at RVN and reflections on the second year of the RUSTIK project. Can you imagine our 2nd year of Rustik as a journey on a sailboat? That’s what we did on our last meeting in Austria, having wind as our motivation, anchors as obstacles to overcome, rocks as the future risks, and land as our goal. Teamwork is key, so, in small groups, we discussed each of these tasks to reach a global vision. Partners shared insights and interactive sessions focused on Living Lab implementation and planning for the third cycle.
  • Living Lab Discussions: Lightning talks showcased the progress of data experiments in the Living Labs, with each lab providing updates. These presentations were followed by breakout discussions focusing on challenges, data experimentation, and the transition from research to policy. Some of the Living Labs also produced posters highlighting the results of their data experiments after completing the implementation phase, adding a visual dimension to their findings.
  • External Advisory Board (EAB) Meeting: Held in a hybrid format, the EAB provided valuable feedback on implementation and dissemination strategies. The discussions centered on key topics such as Functional Rural Areas, Rural Proofing, and the development of the Data Viewer tool, offering crucial insights for the next phase of the project.
  • Dissemination & Future Collaboration: Dissemination efforts were a key focus, with discussions on joint publications and future collaborations to extend the impact of the project beyond 2025.
  • Excursion to Nockberge Biosphere Park: The group enjoyed an excursion along the Nockalmstrasse to the artists’ town of Gmünd, which offered time for networking and exploring the local culture.
Looking Ahead:

With the meeting in Millstatt successfully concluded, the RUSTIK team is now focused on finalizing the third cycle of the Living Lab experiments and preparing for the mid-term conference in April 2025, which will be part of the Rural Pact Conference.

Stay tuned for further updates on our progress and upcoming events!

Unlocking Digital Potential: Gloucestershire’s Rural Renaissance

Gloucestershire, nestled in South West England, boasts a rich tapestry of rural life, home to nearly 650,000 residents. While urban centers like Cheltenham and Gloucester buzz with activity, our focus turns to the county’s rural heartland: Stroud, Forest of Dean, Cotswold, and Tewkesbury.

Transition Focus: Digital Divide

Despite 96.49% Superfast broadband coverage, rural communities face significant digital disparities. According to Citizens Online (2022), up to 8% of adults lack basic internet access or essential digital skills. This gap hinders economic and social inclusion, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to bridge these divides.

Living Lab Initiative in Gloucestershire:

In Cirencester and neighboring parishes, we’re pioneering community-level datasets to understand digital needs and capabilities better. By collaborating closely with local stakeholders—from social housing providers to town councils—we’re developing a nuanced understanding of how digital access impacts daily lives. This initiative isn’t just about data collection; it’s about fostering a robust digital ecosystem where everyone can participate and benefit equally.

Policy Relevance:

Aligned with Gloucestershire’s comprehensive Digital Inclusion Strategy, our efforts aim to empower communities with digital literacy and equitable access. By integrating local insights and partnerships, we’re shaping policies that resonate deeply with rural realities. This approach ensures no one is left behind in our collective journey towards a digitally inclusive society.

Emerging Data Needs:

To address the complex challenges of data integration, we’re leveraging expertise from the University of Gloucestershire to develop interactive dashboards. These tools empower decision-makers with real-time insights, guiding informed strategies for sustainable rural development. Our focus is on enhancing digital connectivity, fostering digital skills among diverse demographics, and supporting local businesses to thrive in a digital-first economy.

Join us in navigating Gloucestershire’s dynamic digital landscape, paving the way for inclusive growth, resilient communities, and a future-ready county where everyone can thrive!

 

Съвместни усилия на живите лаборатории на RUSTIK на Балканския полуостров

Collaborative Efforts of RUSTIK Living Labs on the Balkan Peninsula

“Живите лаборатории” на RUSTIK вече активно провеждат своите експерименти с данни, като търсят начини за осигуряване на нови данни, идентифициране на нови източници и проучването им чрез иновативни методи. Експериментите имат за цел да помогнат на селските райони да се справят по-добре с ключовите преходи и предизвикателства, които преживяват.

  • Съвместни усилия на живите лаборатории на RUSTIK на Балканския полуостров

Две от лабораториите на RUSTIK – Zajechar и Троян-Априлци-Угърчин (ТАУ), които се намират на Балканския полуостров, но от двете страни на сръбско-българската граница, идентифицираха за изследване общо предизвикателство – неизползвания потенциал за сътрудничество между участниците в хранително-вкусовата промишленост като ресурс за териториално развитие.

За да се запознаят по-добре с двете територии и с начина на провеждане на сравнителен експеримент с данни, членовете на двете МИГ, а именно RARIS – Агенцията за регионално развитие на Източна Сърбия и Департамента по аграрна икономика към Аграрният факултет на Белградския университет, Местната инициативна група Троян-Априлци-Угърчин и Катедрата по социология на Софийския университет “Свети Климент Охридски”, организираха среща, домакинствана от сръбските партньори.

По време на срещата двамата регионални партньори представиха основните си социално-икономически предизвикателства с акцент върху участниците и политиките, свързани с храните. Бяха обсъдени идентифицираните източници на данни, както и инструментите за събиране на данни (въпросници и ръководства за интервюта). Бяха обсъдени идеи и материали за по-нататъшно концептуализиране на идентифицираните данни, като например анализ на социалните мрежи за сътрудничество по късите вериги за доставка на храни.

Двете лаборатории решиха да събират набори от сравними данни, да проучат сходни източници на данни и да се съсредоточат върху сходни целеви групи при провеждането на експериментите си. Целта е да се идентифицират общите и различните аспекти на “балканския синдром” на неизследвания потенциал за сътрудничество между актьорите в агро-хранителните вериги.

RARIS и МИГ ТАУ представиха териториалните инструменти, които използват за подкрепа на местните участници, като например регионалната марка Balcanica Superior, действаща в Източна Сърбия, както и различни проекти, свързани с храните, разработени на територията на МИГ ТАУ.  Двамата регионални партньора – МИГ ТАУ и RARIS разчитат на проект РУСТИК да опознаят по-добре териториите си чрез данни и така да успеят да насочат подкрепа към местните участници в селските райони, които имат принос за подобряване работата на местните агро-хранителните вериги. Двамата партньори изразиха задоволство от това, че вече научат повече за своите територии, че вземат по-информирани решения и по-сигурно и широко използват данни, за да са по-ефективни в работата си.

RUSTIK съдейства за изграждането на 14 регионални “Живи лаборатории” в 12 държави от Европейския континент. Те се срещнаха за първи път в Барселона през 2023 г., за да насърчат обмена на знания.

През февруари 2023 г.беше дадено началото на изгражднето на регионалните „живи лаборатории“ в 14 селски района в Европа. Целта на срещата беше да насърчи обмена на знания, да обучи партньорите за работа по метода на „живта лаборатория“, да бъдат опознати по-добре регионалните особености в Европа. Събитието се проведе в рамките на два дни в Барселона и Осона в Каталуния. Домакини бяха фондация „Ерзилия“ и MCRIT.

По време на събитието за стартиране на регионaлните живи лаборатории участниците имаха възможност да подобрят знанията си за проекта RUSTIK и да разговарят с координаторите и пратньорите на проекта. Участниците също така се запознаха с това как пилотните региони могат да добавят стойност към инициативата и получиха незаменими знания за прилагането на подходите и методите на работа в RUSTIK. Това беше и първата възможност за обмен на идеи с партньорите от 14-те различни селски региона в дванадесет държави.

През първия ден на срещата беше представен проектът RUSTIK, а участниците се запознаха с ключовите концепции, които ще играят роля през целия период на проекта, и започнаха да проучват как тези концепции могат да бъдат приложени на практика в съответните пилотни региони. През втория ден фокусът се измести от идеите към действията. Участниците разбраха какво могат да очакват и да постигнат, когато започнат да въвеждат в действие “живата лаборатория” на RUSTIK в своите пилотни региони.

Интерактивните семинари дадоха възможност на участниците да проведат пряк разговор с ръководителите, отговарящи за всяка от предстоящите задачи в Живата лаборатория. Те имаха възможност да задават въпроси и да предоставят обратна връзка по разглежданите теми. А те включваха извършване на проучване чрез подхода за функционални селски райони на съответните пилотни региони под ръководството на Франко Мантино (CREA), идентифициране на съществуващите данни и нуждите от данни под ръководството на Андреу Улиед (MCRIT), приложение на подхода на „живите лаборатории“ под ръководството на Джанет Дуайър (CCRI) и създаване на панорама от политики за съответния пилотен регион под ръководството на Петри Кахила и Юха Халме (UEF).

Нашите домакини в Каталуния

Домакини на събитието бяха MCRIT и фондация Ersilia. През първия ден посетихме Sant Miquel de Balenyà, един от 14-те пилотни региона на RUSTIK. Градът е създаден след построяването на железопътна гара в района през 1875 г. и в момента има 1353 жители. Намиращият се наблизо природен парк Montseny е биосферен резерват на ЮНЕСКО. Sant Miquel de Balenyà се намира в региона на Осона (с население от 165 229 души), който е известен със своите колбаси и има съотношение от над шест прасета на човек.

RUSTIK Data Viewer Now Available! Empowering Rural Sustainability Transitions

Rustik Data viewer now available!

We are thrilled to unveil the launch of the RUSTIK Data Viewer, a powerful tool designed to revolutionise evidence-based decision-making and drive positive impacts in rural sustainability transitions.

What is the RUSTIK Data Viewer?

The RUSTIK Information System is more than just a tool; it’s a reliable resource crafted to facilitate comprehensive insights into rural sustainability transitions, encompassing social, economic, environmental, and digital dimensions. At its core, the system serves as a centralized platform, providing seamless access to data meticulously curated within the RUSTIK Database.

 

Who Benefits from the RUSTIK Data Viewer?

This innovative system isn’t just for researchers and policymakers; it’s for anyone passionate about rural sustainability. From policymakers shaping legislative frameworks to academics conducting groundbreaking research, the RUSTIK Data Viewer caters to a diverse spectrum of stakeholders invested in rural development.

Key Features and Functionalities:

The RUSTIK Data Viewer boasts an intuitive user interface designed with your convenience in mind. Navigate effortlessly through layers of data, gaining valuable insights at every turn. Here’s a glimpse of what awaits you:

  • Layers Menu: Seamlessly transition between the European Core and 14 Living Lab Cores.
  • Area Draw Tool: Customize shapes and areas on the map to suit your analysis.
  • Measure Tool: Accurately measure distances to inform your decision-making process.
  • Information Tool: Dive deep into specific elements or locations on the map, accessing associated attributes with ease.
  • Zoom Functionality: From zooming into specific regions to gaining a holistic view of the entire EU extension, the zoom features empower you to explore with precision.

The Richness of RUSTIK Database:

The backbone of the RUSTIK Data Viewer lies in the extensive RUSTIK Database, meticulously curated to capture economic, social, and environmental indicators. From sectors and employment to quality of life and climate change mitigation, our database is a treasure trove of invaluable insights.

Unveiling Diverse Data Sources:

Our commitment to robust analysis extends to diverse data sources, including:

  • Data from European agencies and programs, such as Eurostat and the European Environmental Agency.
  • Insights from private actors, NGOs, and research institutions, enriching our understanding of consumer behavior and specialized research.
  • Geo-data scraping from platforms like Open Street Map and Google Maps, offering a wealth of geospatial information for in-depth analysis.

 

The RUSTIK Viewer isn’t just a tool; it’s a catalyst for change. Join us as we embark on a journey to transform rural sustainability transitions. Explore the RUSTIK Data Viewer today and be part of the movement towards a more sustainable future.

At RUSTIK, we believe in the power of data to drive meaningful change. With the RUSTIK Viewer, we empower you to make informed decisions that pave the way for a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow.

Visit our website to access the RUSTIK Data Viewer and unlock a world of possibilities. Together, let’s shape the future of rural sustainability, one data point at a time.

Enhancing Rural Development through Innovative Data Experiments: Collaborative Efforts of RUSTIK Living Labs on the Balkan Peninsula

Collaborative Efforts of RUSTIK Living Labs on the Balkan Peninsula

The RUSTIK Living Labs (LLs) are now actively conducting their data experiments, looking at how to provide new data, identify new sources and explore them using innovative methods. The experiments aim to help rural areas better manage key transitions and challenges they are experiencing.

Collaborative Efforts of RUSTIK Living Labs on the Balkan Peninsula

Two of the RUSTIK laboratories – Zajechar and Troyan-Aprilsti-Ugarchin (TAU), both located on the Balkan Peninsula but on either side of the Serbo-Bulgarian border, have identified a similar transitional challenge – the unexplored potential for cooperation between food-related actors as a resource for territorial development.

In order to get to know both territories better and how to conduct a comparative data experiment, the members of the two LLs, namely RARIS – Regional Development Agency Eastern Serbia and the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade and Local Action Group Troyan-Apriltsi-Ugarchin and the Department of Sociology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, organised a meeting hosted by Serbian partners.

During the meeting, both LLs presented their key socio-economic challenges with a focus on food-related actors and policies. Identified data sources were discussed together with instruments for data collection (questionnaires and interview guides). Ideas and materials for further conceptualisation of the identified data were discussed, such as social network analysis of short food supply chain collaborations.

Both laboratories have decided to obtain comparable data sets, explore similar data sources and focus on similar target groups when conducting their experiments. The aim is to identify common and different aspects of the ‘Balkan syndrome’ of unexplored potential for collaboration.

RARIS and LAG TAU have presented territorial instruments they use to support local actors, such as the regional brand Balcanica Superior operating in Eastern Serbia and various food-related projects developed on the TAU territory. Both RUSTIK LLs therefore expect to support local actors in rural areas, both public and private, collective and individual, business and policy makers, to learn more about their territories, make better informed decisions and adopt data-driven solutions.

Data Scraping Training Recap!

Data Scraping Training session Rustik toons at the workshop, talking to each other next to a giant computer with a presentation on it.

A Data Scraping Training session was hosted by MCRIT Multicriteria Planning, Work Package 2 (Co-design of data collection approaches, databases, and RUSTIK information system) leaders on 29 April, 2024. This training was tailored to meet the specific needs of Living Labs involved in the data experimentation process.

 What is Data Scraping?

Data scraping, also known as web scraping, is the automated process of extracting information from websites or databases. This enables us to efficiently gather large volumes of data for analysis, uncovering valuable insights and trends.

 Training Highlights

  • From Data to Geospatial Information: Participants learned how to convert raw data into meaningful geospatial information. This process is crucial for visualizing and understanding the spatial dimensions of the data collected.
  • Relevance of Geographical Information for RUSTIK: This part of the session highlighted the importance of geospatial analysis. Moreover, participants gained insights into territorial dynamics and learned how geospatial data facilitates informed decision-making in various domains such as urban planning, environmental management, and transportation logistics.

Scraping Techniques

Attendees discovered methods to extract data from various online sources, automating the process for streamlined workflows and access to up-to-date information. Tools such as Apify and Geofabrik were introduced.

  • Apify: A platform that allows users to automate web scraping tasks without writing any code, making it accessible to users of all skill levels.
  • Geofabrik: Provides geospatial data extracts and tools for OpenStreetMap, enabling users to access and process geographic data for a wide range of applications.
  • Transforming Scraped Data into Useful Information for Living Labs: the training focused on how to process and transform the data extracted from websites into actionable insights for the Living Labs‘ experimentation processes. Participants learned best practices for cleaning, structuring, and analysing the data to support their specific needs and objectives.

To conclude, as the training wraped up, it’s time to put the knowledge into action. Our Living Labs partners will leverage these tools for their data experiments. Stay tuned and follow the project to catch the exciting results!

Implementing rural proofing in EU countries and beyond: review of instruments and experiences

Implementing rural proofing in EU countries and beyond: review of instruments and experiences

The collaborative efforts of RUSTIK partners, including Francesco Mantino, Barbara Forcina (CREA Council for Research in Agricultural economics), Heidi Vironen, Liliana Fonseca (EPRC University of Strathclyde), and Petri Kahila (UEF University of Eastern Finland, Karelian Institute), have culminated in a comprehensive review of rural proofing instruments and experiences across both European and non-European countries. The complete report is accessible here.

In their examination, the report highlights concrete case studies which materialised the rural proofing concept in the formulation of policies and programs since the beginning of the millennium. While some national jurisdictions have achieved modest success, the report concludes that neither any country nor the EU as a whole can be deemed fully successful in integrating an effective and enduring rural proofing model into their administrative systems up to the present moment. To bridge this gap, the authors formulate the data and methodology needs to be tested within rural stakeholders in RUSTIK Living Labs.

What is rural proofing? Definition and policy relevance

The authors cite Jane Atterton, from the Scotland’s Rural College, who states that “Rural proofing is a systematic process to review the likely impacts of policies, programmes and initiatives on rural areas because of their particular circumstances or needs (e.g., dispersed populations and poorer infrastructure networks). In short, it requires policymakers to ‘think rural’ when designing policy interventions to prevent negative outcomes for rural areas and communities. If it is determined that a policy may have different – negative – impacts in rural areas compared to urban areas, policies should be adjusted to eliminate them”.

This concept was first introduced by a UK governmental publication in 2001 and was then included at EU level in 2016 in the Cork 2.0  declaration. Since then, regular mentions of the rural proofing mechanism are made in OECD and EU institutions’ strategies, reports and tools (Committee of the Regions in 2022) Rural proofing is also a pilar of the European Commission Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas, the new EU flagship initiative for Europe’s rural areas to which RUSTIK contributes to bring to the local level.

Comparing rural proofing characteristics in different countries

In most countries, rural proofing is applied to policy impact on living conditions and well-being in rural areas: this implies taking into consideration a broad range of policies (from infrastructures, social services to environment and business development). This ensures a good margin of flexibility to screen out those policies not having a significant impact and concentrate the proof only on relevant policies. In some countries, rural proofing is activated when specific rural territories could be impacted by policies. The table on the next pages portrays this well and expands on the specific methodology and guidelines used in the different countries where a rural proofing mechanism has been experimented.

Rural proofing mechanisms and attempts in EU and non-EU countries

Country
Starting year
Thematic focus
Methodologies
Institutional responsibility
Application
Proofing on a broad range of policies
England
2000 National: Policies having impact on Infrastructures, services, working and living conditions, environment, equality Checklist; Decision Tree; Examples of possible assessment; Descriptive assessment of impacts; Annual rural proofing reports National: DEFRA (Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) oversees rural proofing across the government; Rural Affairs Board provides strategic guidance; each government Department has nominated ‘rural proofing lead’ Mandatory (in principle) with patchy application
Northern Ireland
  2015-2017 All national policy proposals having an impact on the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being of rural communities Rural needs impact assessment: coherence of likely impact with social and economic needs of rural areas; annual monitoring reports National: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Mandatory (in principle) with patchy application
Canada
 1998-2013 National: Federal policies and programmes from the perspectives of remote and rural regions. Some provinces have published their own Rural Lens and guidelines. Checklist; Rural Lens: process in 10 stages, including a template to fill, questions to answer and examples to follow. Guidelines for using it provided by the national level. “Rural Secretariat” within the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food (founded in 1996) Voluntary, no sanctions
New Zealand
 2008 Policies having impact on infrastructure, health, education, business development and equity Impact assessment checklist; process in 7 stages; Rural proofing guide; Ministry for Primary Industries published the guide and checklist. The implementation lies with the authorities responsible for a specific policy. Voluntary, no sanctions
Proofing on specific geographical/ thematic areas
Scotland
 2020 Policies with specific and differentiated impacts on Islands Communities Island Communities Impact assessment Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate and its Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands Mandatory (with justification for not doing it) only for policies having effects on Scottish Islands
Finland
 2007 National: Policies having impact on municipal merging, rural livelihoods, expertise, housing and services, accessibility, attractiveness factors and community cohesion. Emphasis ono sparsely depopulated areas. Checklist, with 6 thematic areas and flexible application Rural Policy Council (MANE) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) Voluntary, no sanctions. Formalisation into legislation is being discussed in the Parliament.
Australia
 2003 Regional services Checklist; Regional Impact Assessment Statement (RIAS) Standardized guidelines as a template Department of Primary Industries and Regions of the Government of South Australia (PIRSA) Mandatory, for any legislation affecting regional services
USA
 2018 National for drug addiction in rural areas Rural Community Action Guide with best practices; Federal Rural Resource Guide with key challenges; Rural Community Toolbox website with all federal fundings and tools to build healthy drug-free rural communities The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) of the White House develops Federal drug policy and coordinate its implementation across the Federal Government. Political rather than a legislative commitment, and it is not mandatory.

Lessons learned for RUSTIK experiments

To conclude, rural proofing is strongly focused on policy assessment, whether spatially focused policies or not. This implies the definition of an appropriate list of questions to be explored and, in parallel, specific data concerning potential policy effects upon the concerned Living Labs of the project. For this, the deliverable lists the questions forming the basis for a place-based analysis depending on the types of policies considered. Moreover, the authors explore the necessary conditions for a successful data collection leading to robust evidence-based territorial policies and applying rural proofing mechanisms. All these elements will be practically explored in coordination with the RUSTIK Living labs from the end of 2024 onwards.