6. Regional Development

Theme 6. Evaluation on regional development practices – economic and social perspectives incorporated

The practitioners, policymakers and the researchers are often seeking simple “best practices” models to plant to the regional economy or request the regional actors to imply popular models in order to enhance the economic development and wellbeing in the regions. However, policies for constructing regional wellbeing cannot be based on one 'best practice' model, neither they cannot be based only single-minded on the economic development or social aspects, but should reflect both sides of the wellbeing and development, as well as the different conditions; strengths and challenges of the respective regions. The regional wellbeing is incorporated many ways to the regional (economic) development, and the regional processes, practices and policies are reflecting the trends and progress of the region and its communities. Wisely chosen and verified criteria, indicators and evaluation methods take in concern all the above mentioned aspects, similarly as the regional differences, the differentiated regional economies; major industries, educational systems, innovation systems, intra- and extraregional networking, community activity, environmental and cultural aspects and for example living conditions.

We are seeking presentations and discussions on how to best integrate the idea of regional social wellbeing and region´s economic success, how to enhance internationalization and global diffusion of ideas and knowledge, and finally how to develop the criteria, methods and indicators to evaluate the link of today’s regional practices and future success. The session welcomes conceptual, empirical and evidence-based contributions dealing with topics of how differentiated regional conditions connected to criteria for regional development and wellbeing is integrated in the regional development policy (work) and policy practices in the various types of regions and regional settings. Similarly the session is interested in various cross-sectoral and space specific collaborative modes flourishing in the regions and communities - how these collaboration modes are supposed to be evaluated.

Topics to be covered in this session include but are not limited to:

• Conceptualising, theorising and understanding wellbeing practices and success in regions; economical sustainability combined the social, cultural and environmental sustainability (evaluation methods and indicators in: entrepreneurship, environment, housing, private and public welfare services, cultural issues, aspects of human capital),
• Institutions and the governance of regional development concerning balancing policies between international competitiveness and regional wellbeing (soft and hard institutions and measures combined),
• Regional engagement of the higher education institutions (HEIs; universities & others): How to evaluate and combine the academic efficiency and regional needs (the up-to-date progress on evaluation methods and practices on the regional engagement),
• Policy approaches to combining regional practices in economic development, wellbeing and sustainability, and/ or combining the present practices and the future prospects,
• The roles of intra-regional and extra-regional networks and cross-sectoral collaborative platforms and policies in regional development in different type of regions,
• Developing the relevant evaluation/monitoring methods and indicators for above