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)?
Preliminary Programme of the Training School
| Day1: Monday 31.03.2025 – Introduction and practices | ||
| Time | Content | Organiser/Speaker |
| 9:15-10:00 | Registration | |
| 10:00-11:00 | Introduction to participatory approaches: what and why to use them? | Dr hab. Anna Urbaniak, Chair of PAAR-net, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland |
| 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 | Introduction to participatory approaches with older adults in mental health policy | |
| 15:00-16:00 | Exercise in groups. 3 themes: participatory approaches in public health, climate change and technology – Task: prepare a participatory approach session with older adults on one of the four themes – Plenary reports | |
| 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 | |
| Day 2: 01.04.2025 – Participatory approaches in depth | ||
| Time | Content | Organiser/Speaker |
| 9:30-10:00 | Registration | |
| 10:00-10:45 | What motivates older adults to engage in participatory approaches and stay involved over time? | Dr. Krzystof Klincewicz, University of Warsaw, Poland |
| 10:45-11:30 | Ethical aspects when applying participatory approach with older adults | Dr. Inga Gaižauskaitė, Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences, Lithuania |
| 11:30-12:00 | [Research carried out during STSM] | |
| 12:00-12:30 | Enhancing the digital literacy and participation of older adults: DigitalScouts | Jana Eckert, ISIS, Germany |
| 12:30-14:00 | Lunch break | |
| 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 – Finding them, involving vulnerable groups, introductions, explanations, settings, follow-up with the results, information – Plenary reports | |
| Day 3: 02.04.2025 – PAAR-net experience | ||
| Time | Content | Organiser/Speaker |
| 9:30-10:00 | Registration | |
| 10:00-12:00 | Working Group meetings – learning what PAAR-net is currently working on in domains of: health, care & support, community & place, technology & innovation, knowledge synthesis | Teraza Mensikova WG1 Marion SCHEIDER-YILMAZ WG2; Rogerio Ribeiro WG3; Davide Lucatoni WG4 |
| 12:00-13:30 | Lunch break | |
| 13:30-15:30 | World Café session: “Research beyond boundaries: Technology and Innovation in multidisciplinary and intergenerational contexts across 5 focus areas” | Teraza Mensikova WG1 Marion SCHEIDER-YILMAZ WG2; Rogerio Ribeiro WG3; Davide Lucatoni WG4 |
| 15:30-16:00 | Coffee break | |
| 16:00-17:30 | Young Researchers and Innovators’ Forum – Experiences from PAAR-net | Barbora Čakovská; Katrin Lehner |
| 17:30-18:00 | Wrap-up and evaluation | |
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.