Summer Academy Programme

The goal of the Summer Academy is to equip practitioners with the relevant knowledge and instruments to conduct organisational development, promote self-discovery and deepen interaction between the public and private sectors in Local Economic Development. The content combines analytical instruments and frameworks with process facilitation, programme design and organisational development.

Day 1

Session 1      Transfer in: Reimagining territorial economic development

Session 2      Applying Systemic Competitiveness to foster sustainability and resilience of territories and their stakeholders

Session 3      Reimagining the role of organisations and institutions in economic change, upgrading and territorial economic development

Session 4      Responding to global disturbances affecting the development path of territories

Day 2

Session 5      Assessing the structure and key characteristics of the territorial economy

Session 6      Identifying different types of economic actors and understanding their role, relationships and effectiveness in responding to and shaping patterns of interaction and collaboration

Session 7      Understanding the potential comparative and competitive advantages of the territorial economy

Session 8      Understanding the history, trajectory, and potential future alternatives of the territory and creating options for change

Day 3

Session 9      Enabling decision making under conditions of complexity and uncertainty

Session 10    Designing a process of self-discovery, joint sense-making, learning and adjustment for economic development

Day 4

Session 11    Deep dive into elective themes, such as sustainability transitions, circular economy, climate-smart governance, technological change, quality infrastructure, the responsiveness of meso organisations or the impact of migration on territories

Day 5

Session 12    Designing and maintaining monitoring and evaluation systems that keeps track of progress, change and learning

Session 13    Integrating top-down policies and strategies with bottom-up feedback and requirements - bringing all the learning together in a coherent framework

The programme includes evening activities that are chosen for their relevance to the thematic content of the programme, and participants are expected to participate.

The evening programme also fosters networking and exchange of experience between the diverse participants.

Sunday evening: Welcome dinner at Hotel Grenzfall at 19:00
Monday evening: Sightseeing tour and dinner
Tuesday evening: Visit to an innovative organisation/location
Wednesday evening: Free evening
Thursday evening: Closing dinner