Newly launched MOOC on Smart Specialisation in the EU Enlargement and Neighbourhood Region
The Joint Research Centre has released a new Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), now available through EU Academy, the EU-owned online knowledge hub. The course was developed from the extensive work done by the JRC in the promotion of the Smart Specialisation Framework for the EU Enlargement and Neighbourhood Region, with the support of the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR).
EU's Enlargement policy deals with the countries currently aspiring to become members of the European Union and the concept of EU’s Neighbourhood encompasses the efforts towards the closest possible political association and economic integration with southern and eastern neighbours of the EU. The MOOC analyses the main phases of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of a Smart Specialisation Strategy while considering the specificity of each territory. More specifically, the course highlights how the S3 approach can be adapted to address challenges in different contexts.
Launched on July 2023, this open access online training resource serves as a window for policy makers (EU, national and local levels), innovation stakeholders, practitioners and consultants, students in the innovation related fields and everyone interested in innovation to come together and learn first-hand from analysts and renowned experts.
The MOOC includes seven modules aimed at disseminating the guidance and methodological approach, as well as practical examples, lessons and experiences from EU the Enlargement and Neighbourhood Region plus additional materials. The first introductory module describes the main pillars of Smart Specialisation and explains how the S3 concept can be used globally. Then the focus is set on the development of the institutional capacity for Smart Specialisation and on the mapping of the economic, innovative, scientific and technological potential of territories by quantitative analysis. Next, users learn about the qualitative analysis and the stakeholders’ dialogue via the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP). The last two modules cover the preparation of a functional policy mix and the actual implementation of a Smart Specialisation Strategy.
The course offers a dynamic way to grasp the main concepts before putting in practice the strategic steps designed from current and real cases. The pedagogical approach centres on the practical challenges faced during the most critical part, the design process.