Recovery of cultural heritage through higher education-driven open innovation

The project aimed to provide resilient and sustainable solutions through innovative methods like open innovation (OI) and citizen science (CS) to benefit society, focusing on how universities coul...

Basic aim: Increase HEIs capacity, resilience and extroversion, using OI and contribute to the revival of cultural heritage in times of crisis. Specific objectives: 1.Document the positive impact HEIs collaborative outreach on cultural heritage and CHOs recovery through citizen-driven OI, gathering evidence on gaps and untapped potential 2. Enable HEIs to strengthen European identity by revitalising values & safeguarding cultural capital 3. Equip HEIs to address social needs 4.Offer training opportunities to HE staff & students on OI practices 5.Bring innovative learning & teaching methods and practices to HEIs and CHOs in the post-pandemic era 6.Enrich their insight and resources by prioritising identification, documentation, conservation, and dissemination of local cultural creation and tacit knowledge 7.Develop models for OI collaborations 8.Demonstrate financial and social sustainability of crowd-based cultural heritage Ps 9.Enhance active student participation in solving real life challenges 10. Enable people with fewer opportunities 11. Assess OIs added value 12. Provide a HEIs policy framework 13. Assess and showcase the sustainability of crowd-based cultural heritage projects by HEIs.14. Provide HEI-driven models of OI.

The eCHOing project successfully implemented a comprehensive series of activities aimed at fostering the engagement of higher education institutions (HEIs) in the revival of cultural heritage organisations (CHOs) across Europe. The project was coordinated by The Norwegian University of Science and Technology and was organized into five key project results (PR), each contributing to its overall objectives. PR1 led by OSYGY federation, Paros Greece: Mapping and Awareness Raising Desktop Research and Survey: The project collected and analyzed 38 European practices of HE engagement in cultural heritage revival, resulting in the selection of 10 outstanding practices. Publication and Dissemination: A detailed report was published in an open-access format, supported by infographics and translations into five partner languages. Virtual multiplier events were held to raise awareness of HE-driven open innovation projects benefiting society. PR2 led by Tartu University, Viljandi, Estonia: Course Development and Implementation Course Design and Piloting: A framework for a course was developed, piloted, and delivered as six open educational modules integrated into HE curricula. The course was attended by HE students and CHO representatives, who received certificates upon completion. Open Innovation Projects: Students submitted 24 project proposals in support of Cultural heritage sector, supported by HE mentors while attending accredited courses organised by eCHOing consortium. PR3 led by NTNU university, Trondheim, Norway: Methodology Development and Application Guidelines and Piloting: The project drafted and piloted a methodology for organizing open innovation (OI) projects. This included guidelines on roles, quality assessment, and practical aspects, refined through feedback from CHOs and HEIs students and staff. Cooperation and Implementation: CHOs created and implemented action plans based on the developed methodology, which was translated into partner languages. PR4 led by Santa Anna University, Pisa Italy: Cooperation and Project Implementation Open Innovation Projects (OIPs): The project facilitated the cooperation between HEIs and CHOs through signed agreements and the implementation of 24 OIPs. These projects were closely monitored, and the outcomes were documented in detailed reports. Publications and Policy Briefs: Lessons learned were compiled into a publication, with insights translated and disseminated to influence policy and sustain CHOs through civic engagement and open innovation. PR5 led by Web2Learn, Thessaloniki, Greece: Impact Assessment and Sustainability Impact Analysis: The project assessed its impact through surveys conducted at different stages, analyzing the governance, financing, and social engagement of the involved entities. Final Reports: The findings were documented in an impact report, with a focus on how open innovation influenced academic curricula and teaching practices. Dissemination events: 1. LTTA workshop organised by NTNU and OSYGY with 46 participants from all partner countries was held in Kea, Greece, in April 2023. During this 5-day workshop, participants collaborated on specific open innovation project ideas to test the draft methodology developed in PR3. Leaders of local associations (OSYGY) were invited for a match-making workshop, with 9 of them attending. This workshop featured a practice-oriented methodology, where participants were divided into working groups consisting of students, representatives from Greek NGOs, and facilitators from the eCHOing partners' team, ensuring a structured and effective process. 2. Physical/Virtual Multiplier Events (PME, VME): To disseminate the findings and foster a broader impact, the project organized both physical and virtual multiplier events. These events engaged stakeholders, policymakers, and the general public, highlighting the project's results and promoting the sustainable involvement of HEIs in CHO activities. In addition to the above several events were organised in local languages to facilitate the participation of small local organisations. As for the Project management throughout the project, there was ongoing project management, quality control, ICT and innovation management, and dissemination efforts. The project also dealt with challenges such as timeline adjustments, budget reallocations, and ethical issues, all while maintaining smooth cooperation among partners. An advisory board was also established to advise on different issues by representatives of the Associated partners, https://www.ntnu.edu/echoing/associated-partners. Despite some delays and challenges, the project exceeded expectations, delivering more results and impact than initially planned. The consortium's ability to adapt, coupled with effective leadership and communication, ensured the successful and timely conclusion of the eCHOing project. The consortium governing the project is adequately representing a wide range of expertise, as 4 Higher Education Institutions and 1 university library (NTNU, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Sofia University ST Kliment Ohridski, University of Tartu) join hands with a web education specialist (Web2Learn) and an NGO of 16 cultural associations: OSYGY. This mix of knowledge, skills, experiences and networks guaranteed a layered approach toward a diverse range of stakeholders. see https://www.ntnu.edu/echoing/partnership

The project outcomes, in the form of Project Results (PR) and subsequent Deliverables (D) are listed below. PR1: AN OPEN-ACCESS PUBLICATION “GOOD PRACTICES OF HE ENGAGEMENT IN THE REVIVAL OF EUROPEAN CULTURAL ORGANISATIONS THROUGH OPEN INNOVATION” D1.1: Open access publication D1.2: Infographics D1.3: Infographics in 5 partner languages PR2: AN OPEN-ACCESS 6-MODULE ONLINE COURSE ON HIGHER-EDUCATION OPEN INNOVATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF CULTURAL ORGANISATIONS D2.1: 6 modules /15h learning hours/module, 90h total) D2.2: 6 modules of 15 learning hours each accredited by HEIs PR3: METHODOLOGY FOR OPEN INNOVATION PROJECTS DRIVEN BY HEIs FOR THE BENEFIT OF EUROPEAN CHOs D3.1: Draft methodology D3.2: Piloting the methodology D3.3: Methodology ready for implementation D3.4: Final version after PR4 D3.5: Delivery of action plans by CHOs PR4: REPORT: “LESSONS LEARNED AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO HEIs” D4.1: Cooperation Framework D4.2: Template creation for activity reports D4.3: Collection of all activity reports on OIPs D4.4: SWOT analysis based on survey results D4.5: Publication “lessons learned and recommendations for HEIs” D4.6: Policy brief for HEIs “actions for revival of CHOs through civic engagement and open innovation” D4.7: Translations of Policy brief in partner languages D4.8: Video series “Be an agent of change for European cultural heritage” PR5: MODEL OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF OPEN INNOVATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION D5.1: Framework of analysis (3 variables for determinants related to governance, financing, and social engagement are identified and on the basis of them, a framework to analyse the project impact) D5.2: 3 surveys (for 3 collection times) completed by at least 200 participants (HEIs and CHOs) D5.3.: Impact report drafted, peer reviewed and finalised for delivery. D5.4: Release of Impact report D5.5: Publication on HE change with regard to academic curricula and teaching practices in light of OI for the benefit of CHOs D5.6: Translation of A5 synthesis in BG, EE, EL, IT NO and EN Since more Activities than the ones described in the approved project proposal were implemented (cf. Implementation Section above), there are also more deliverables. In Annex 1 — all Results and Deliverables uploaded on the Project Results Platform are listed. There were also the following horizontal activities running throughout the project lifecycle: (1) Project Management (Financial & Physical Object) P1-NTNU (Norway) partner responsible (2) P5-UT (Estonia) partner responsible Quality Management and Evaluation, (3)PE W2L (Greece) partner responsible ICT & Innovation Management, Dissemination, (4) DIssemination, Exploitation & Sustainability, P2 SA (Italy) partner responsible, instead of SU (Bulgaria) in the initial proposal (5) P6 OSYGY (Greece) partner responsible-Management of CHOs-HEIs cooperation. Additionally, the below extra activities were agreed, designed and performed by partners but they were not included in the approved project proposal. Their purpose was to guarantee a common approach and to facilitate the participation of all people involved. They were useful in terms of setting a common ground for the successful implementation of such a forward-looking project. Moreover, they were considered significant for the replicability & up-scaling of the project. PR1: (1) Creation of Supplementary Tools: QUALITATIVE CRITERIA for OI INDEX, MAPPING AND MATCHING GUIDE, and GLOSSARY, (2) Translation of key documents in partner native language (to facilitate the participation of beneficiaries-participants), (3) Physical and Digital Meetings with Associated Partners PR2: (1) Online seminars-tutorials to members of Associated Partners (All Partners) (2) Translation of key documents in partner native language (to facilitate the participation of beneficiaries-participants) (All Partners), (3) Physical and Digital Meetings with Associated Partners PR3: (1) Translation of key documents in partner native language (to facilitate the participation of beneficiaries-participants), (2) Physical and Digital Meetings with Associated Partners, (3) Focus group Interviews with Associated Partners (NTNU), (4) A (published & uploaded on BM) Open Innovation guide, added as Supplement to Methodology PR4: (1) Translation of key documents in partner native language (to facilitate the participation of beneficiaries-participants), (2) Physical and Digital Meetings with Associated Partners, (3) PR5: (1) Translation of key documents in partner native language (to facilitate the participation of beneficiaries-participants) 3 extra digital Multiplier Events in the 2nd and 3rd year of the project (Responsible partners: NTNU, OSYGY, W2L partners) Since more Activities than the ones described in the approved project proposal were implemented (cf. Implementation Section above), there are also more deliverables listed.