Training School on Participatory Co-creation Methods
We are pleased to announce the second PAAR-net Training School for Young Researchers and Innovators, which will take place from March 31 – April 2, 2025 at Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
The topic of our Training School is Participatory Co-creation Methods. Training School 2 of PAAR-net will discuss approaches for exploring how participatory co-creation processes are developed and implemented. “Participatory co-creation” refers to involving older adults in creating research, projects, policies, or products, ensuring their voices and perspectives are included and are acted upon.
The training will introduce tools, techniques and frameworks, which can involve research techniques, case studies, or practical exercises. Overall, the goal is to enhance skills in facilitating collaboration and understanding how to engage diverse older adult participants effectively.
COST-Action Participatory Approaches with Older Adults
This Training School is part of the COST Action PAARNet which aims to further develop participatory approaches with older adults as a means of driving inclusive social innovation across research, policy, and practice, for heterogenous and fair ageing societies.
PAAR-net aims to gather, exchange and advance knowledge on participatory approaches with older adults (including those at risk of social exclusion) by asking the following questions:
- How can diverse groups of older adults be meaningfully involved to contribute their perspectives and experience (including those at risk of social exclusion) in participatory approaches to research, policy and practice development?
- How do participatory approaches with diverse older adults (including those at risk of social exclusion) impact research process and the quality of data gathered?
- How do participatory approaches impact those (academics and non-academics) involved in research (e.g., wellbeing, reciprocal learning, emancipation)?
Agenda of the Training School
| Day1: Monday 31.03.2025 – Introduction and practices (Room II-230) | ||
| Time | Content | Organiser/Speaker |
| 9:15-10:00 | Registration | |
| 10:00-10:10 | Welcome |
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| 10:00-11:00 | Introduction to participatory approaches: what and why to use them? |
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| 11:00-11:30 | Harnessing generational wisdom for climate change solutions: Sharing practices from cocreation and participatory social research | Dr Audronė Telešienė, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania |
| 11:30-12:00 | Citizen Science: Ecosystem perspective | Dr Eglė Butkevičienė, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania |
| 12:00-12:45 | Co-Design for Cognitive Health: Engaging older adults in the co-creation of assistive technology for maintaining brain health as we age | Dr Dympna O’Sullivan, Technological University Dublin, Ireland |
| 12:45-14:15 | Lunch break | |
| 14:15-15:00 | Research in Vulnerable Space: How to Provide A Safe Space for Participatory Co-Creation Processes | Dr. Ursula Trummer (Center for Health and Migra0on, Austria) |
| 15:00-16:00 | Get Connected to the Other, Stay Connected to Yourself: Working on Practical Cases on How to Build Participatory Action* | Dr. Ursula Trummer (Center for Health and Migra0on, Austria) |
| 16:00-16:30 | Coffee break | |
| 16:30-17:30 | Introduction and Interactive Exercises in Applying Participatory Approaches in Developing Self-learning Materials with Older Adults: AFECO – Empowering Older Adults to apply affordable age and eco-friendly solutions to age-in-place | Willeke van Staalduinen, AFEdemy, The Netherlands |
| 19:00 | Social dinner | |
| *Participants are welcome to bring their cases where they feel or felt (in case this lies in the past, and they want to share this experience) the need of support/counselling. | ||
| Day 2: 01.04.2025 – Participatory approaches in depth (Room II-230) | ||
| Time | Content | Organiser/Speaker |
| 9:30-10:00 | Registration (Day 2) and Coffee (Break on request) | |
| 10:00-10:45 | Ethical aspects when applying participatory approach with older adults | Dr. Inga Gaižauskaitė, Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences, Lithuania |
| 10:45-11:45 | Enhancing the digital literacy and participation of older adults: DigitalScouts | Jana Eckert, ISIS, Germany |
| 11:45-13:15 | Lunch break | |
| 13:15-14:00 | What Motivates Older Adults to Engage in Participatory Approaches and Stay Involved Over Time? | Dr. Krzysztof Klincewicz (University of Warsaw, Poland) |
| 14:00-15:00 | Interactive introduction and exercises of participatory approaches with informal caregivers – YoungCare Erasmus+ | Ines Saavedra, SHINE 2Europe, Portugal |
| 15:00-16:30 | Exercise in groups on working with older adults in participatory approaches | Willeke van Staalduinen (AFEdemy, The Netherlands) |
| Exercise content: Finding Older Adults, involving vulnerable groups, introductions, explanations, settings, follow-up with the results, information. | ||
| Day 3: 02.04.2025 – RESEARCH BEYOND BOUNDARIES | |||
| Time | Location | Activity | Speaker/Lead |
| 9:30-10:00 | Registration | ||
| 10:00-10:15 | Room I-201 | Welcome by the Vice-Rector of Mykolas Romeris University, and the Chairs of PAAR-net |
|
| 10:15–12:00 WG Meetings (Parallel–hybrid sessions) | Room I-414 WG1 Meeting linkRoom I-416 WG2 Meeting linkRoom I-417 WG3 Meeting link Room I-201 WG4 Meeting link | WG1 Health, Care and Support WG2 Community and Place WG3 Technology and Innovation WG4 Synthesis and Quality Criteria | WG1 Lead: Tereza Menšíková, Diane Seddon & Isabelle TournierWG2 Lead: Marion Scheider-Yilmaz, Charles Waldegrave & Anniriikka Rantala WG3 Lead: Rogerio Ribeiro & Seran Demiral WG4 Lead: Davide Lucantoni, Tamar Yellon & Maqhias Drilling |
| 11.30 – 12.00 | Room II-230 | Gender Equality Plan Draring | Eleanor Bantry White, Gender Equality Officer of PAAR-net & Selected representatives to join focus discussion |
| 12:00-13:30 | Lunch Break | ||
| 13.30-13.45 | Room I-201 Room I-414Room I- 416 | World Café Session Introduction: Technology and Innovation in Multidisciplinary and Intergenerational Contexts Across Multiple Focus Areas Health-TechnologiesUrban Design & Age-Friendly Cities | Lead: Rogerio Ribeiro, Eleanor Bantry WhiteGroup Lead: Willeke van Staalduinen, Seran Demiral |
| 13.45 – 14.30 World Café session (Group work in separate rooms-on-site)* | Room I-417Room I-201Room II-230 | Generative Artificial Intelligence Accessibility Digital Citizenship Food, Energy & Green Technologies | Group Lead: Sonay Caner Yıldırım, Cecilia Sik-Lanyi Group Lead: Ittay Mannheim, Mariana Buciuceanu-Vrabie Group Lead: Krzysztof Klincewicz, Magdalena Zatorska |
| 14:30-15:30 | Room I-201 | World Café Session Conclusion: Rapporteurs’ Summary | |
| 15.30 – 16.00 | Rotonda Hall–Ground floor | Coffee Break | |
| 16.00 – 17.30 | Room I-201 YRI forum link | Young Researchers and Innovators’ (YRI) Forum: Experiences from PAAR-net grantees of Short-term Scientific Mission (STSM), ITC Conference, Virtual Mobility (VM) | Group Lead: Barbora Čakovská (Slovenska Polnohospodarska Univerzita) Speakers: Katrin Lehner, YRI leader (Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences), Sonay Caner Yıldırım (Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University), Marion Scheider-Yılmaz (Université Grenoble Alpes) |
| 19:00 | Social dinner | ||
Who can apply?
- Training Schools are mainly aimed at PhD students or post-doctoral researchers, employed by or officially affiliated to an institution or legal entity (public or private, as Home Institution);
- In accordance with COST strategy, PAAR-net supports Young Researchers and Innovators (YRI, under the age of 40) affiliated in a legal entity in Inclusiveness Target Countries/ Near Neighbour Countries (ITC/NNC). Nevertheless, more senior academics, researchers and policy-makers may also apply. Priority will be given to YRIs. See the COST Annotated Rules for details: https://www.cost.eu/uploads/2024/11/COST-094-21-V2.0-Annotated-Rules-for-COST-Actions-Level-C.pdf
Eligibility for financial support:
- Trainees from COST member countries;
- Trainees from approved NNC (near neighbour countries) institutions;
- Trainees from approved European RTD Organisations.
Financial support for trainees
Successful applicants may be eligible to apply for financial support through the COST Action. There are 20 grants available for trainees. Grants will be awarded according to COST Annotated Rules, not exceeding 1200 Euros per person. This amount includes travel reimbursement and a daily allowance for maximum four days.
Please note that trainee grants do not necessarily cover all expenses related to attending the Training School. The Trainee Grant is a contribution to the overall travel, accommodation and meal expenses of the Grantee.
Trainees who are self-funded are also welcome to apply to attend the Training School. Prior to the Training School, all Trainees must register on e-COST.
Language skills
Unless otherwise indicated, all the modules will take place in English. The ability to speak, read and write fluently in this language is a requirement for participation.
How to apply
You are kindly invited to complete the following application form and to provide the requested documents and arguments in favour of your application.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1UqeFrzeS_KSA4Wt2kYvFZXrxk0_9T5FtNIfNtqneblU/edit?ts=67568b59
Please note: At the end of the form, you will be asked to attach separate documents: your CV including publications, a 1-page synopsis of your research topic and a 1-page description of the motivations in relation to the PAAR-net COST Action Training School including your expected learning outcome that is relevant for the further research.
Participation in all COST Training schools is subject to a selective application process. Selection is based on those applications that most clearly correspond to the overall objectives of COST Action CA22167 and to the content of this Training School.
Submission Deadline:
20.01.2025 (midnight GMT).
Gražina Rapolienė, Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences, Email: [email protected].
Notification of the results will be sent by 31.01.2025.
Successful applicants will receive information on workshop details and local arrangements including accommodation.