Pilot Lab Educational Innovation in Rural Areas

Project approach and cooperation

In a cooperation project between the European Center of Just Transition Research and Impact-Driven Transfer (JTC), the Zentrums für Sozialforschung Halle e.V. (ZSH), its project „Wissensspeicher MSH” and the Kreisvolkshochschule Mansfeld-Südharz e.V. (KVHS MSH e.V.), ideas for educational opportunities in Mansfeld-Südharz are being developed together with the local population. The pilot lab aims to revitalise existing educational infrastructures in rural areas and make them suitable for long-term use.

Starting point and problem definition

Lifelong and individualised learning is becoming increasingly important, as traditional educational pathways are often no longer sufficient to meet the changing demands of structural change. Particularly in rural areas adult education can help to improve access to knowledge and training opportunities. During the previous project ‘Lasst die Bildung im Dorf!’ (meaning: Keep education in the village!)  digitally equipped educational spaces in seven municipalities in the district were set up, offering a wide range of educational opportunities. However, the use of these services varies significantly between locations: often there is a lack of either qualified lecturers or sufficient participants, and frequently the two are interdependent. There is also a need for local contact persons to support the organisation and implementation of educational services on site.

Research questions and methodological approach

The pilot lab systematically investigates the causes of these different usage patterns and addresses key questions: How can educational infrastructures in rural areas be revitalised in a sustainable manner? Which formats and approaches are suitable for attractive educational offers? How can voluntary support structures be set up and established in the long term? And what topics relating to structural change are needed in adult education in rural areas?

In terms of methodology, a comprehensive analysis of the current situation will first be carried out by visiting all existing learning locations and conducting qualitative interviews with local partners and the KVHS. Based on these findings, a pilot community will be selected in which no sustainable anchoring of educational offers has been achieved to date. There, co-creative idea workshops will be held with enablers and users to develop innovative educational formats tailored to the specific needs of rural areas. In the process, local (educational) networks will be established and existing structures strengthened – from associations and initiatives to dedicated private individuals.

Objectives and transfer

The aim is not only to revitalise existing educational spaces, but also to integrate them into local structures in a targeted manner so that they can be sustained by the community itself in the long term. The project results are documented in a workshop report that summarises best practices, challenges and solutions. Serving as a basis for knowledge transfer the report enables the KVHS to independently transfer successful approaches to other locations and other rural regions that can benefit from the experience.