Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities Through Co-creation Between Universities and Businesses (BUSCO)
Research summary
BUSCO project supports building sustainable and resilient communities through co-creation between universities and businesses in Tanzania and Finland.
The goal is to improve the capacity of 2 Tanzanian universities (University of Iringa (UoI) and Sebastian Kolowa Memorial University (SEKOMU), located in the Southern Highlands and Tanga region) to promote sustainable community development, entrepreneurship and communities� resilience in their environment.
In the long run, we aim to make a contribution to an enhanced standard of living, improved actualization of human rights and to improve the employment opportunities in the communities.
Description
There are 5 main activities in the project:
1. Curriculum review
Curriculums are revised in the Faculties of Tourism, Business, Law, Community Development and Psychology/Counselling: practical collaboration with the working life and the communities is enhanced, and entrepreneurship studies and a human rights approach are strengthened.
2. The joint online master programme
The joint master programme on Community Development, Human Rights and Conflict Resolution is piloted in 2017-2018 in Tanzanian partner universities and in Diak, Finland.
3. Thematic living labs for communities and businesses
A Living Lab is a co-creative model where community and business collaboration is developed and established in cooperation with local stakeholders, university staff and students. Living labs are introduced on Ecotourism, Entrepreneurship, Counselling, Legal advice and Community Development.
4. Improvement of e-learning and ICT facilities
Moodle learning platform, ICT- and e-learning facilities are improved, and ICT and e-learning trainings are organized for the university staff and students.
5. Quality assurance mechanisms and tools
Quality assurance mechanisms are strengthened in curriculum review, pedagogical processes and selected administrative processes of the universities.
Key Results to be Achieved:
1. Universities have an improved capacity to promote sustainable local community development and entrepreneurship:
2. Universities are able to co-create new business opportunities for the benefit of the community though Living Lab method
3. The developed library-, ICT and online learning facilities are in use and universities are able to run online programme.
4. Renewed university curricula are in use, and they meet the needs of the communities to promote employment to a greater extent than before the project activities.
5. New quality assurance methods and tools integrated and in use in curriculum development, pedagogical processes, selected administrative processes and in the collaboration with the communities.
More information
Research info
Research title
Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities Through Co-creation Between Universities and Businesses (BUSCO)
Research timeline
1.3.2017 - 1.3.2020
Keywords
Co-creation Communities and businesses Entrepreneurship and community resilience Living labs Resilient communities Sustainable communities Sustainable community development
Region
Africa
Countries
Finland, Tanzania, United Republic Of
Institution
Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, Finland
Helsinki, Finland
Funding instrument
Ministry for Foreign Affairs (ICI, HEI-ICI, N-S-S), Business Finland
Head of research
Elsa Keskitalo
Research team
Dr Elsa Keskitalo, Mr. Heriel H. Mfangavo, Dr. Wilson N. William, Dr. Evariste Habiyakare
Partners
Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, Finland, University of Iringa, Tanzania, Sebastian Kolowa Memorial University, Tanzania, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Finland.
Contact information
Niina Maenpaa
+358 040 507 62 60
niina.maenpaa@diak.fi
Open link
Record last updated
17.12.2018