Page 30 - A Handbook for Academia, Industry and Policymakers: Reinforcing the Innovation-Employability Nexus in the Mediterranean

30 REINFORCING THE INNOVATION-EMPLOYABILITY NEXUS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

Research aims and objectives topics in-depth and UfM labelled projects were Methods of data collection
integrated as examples of regional practices that Figure 5
UfM launched this initiative to highlight best address the employability-innovation theme.
practices and available tools that can be put in
place in order to reinforce career opportunities
for students, graduates and researchers in the Data collection method
Mediterranean region. The publication targets What was originally planned as an in-person
universities, research centres, education one-day workshop to present the project plan 140 Online Surveys
2 surveys involving
ministries and complementary stakeholders, and gather feedback on the research plan and publications 35 organisations
cited
especially intermediary institutions and the methodological approach, was transformed into Literature Review
private sector. a series of remote meetings. As the outcome was 1.350 publications
uncertain, detailed preparations were undertaken
The publication will help UfM intensify its action on to structure the remote meetings to accurately
employment and labour as well as research and solicit the data needed and maximise the possible Mapping of Data
innovation, ensuring appropriate co-ordination inputs from participants. Figure 5, shows an Initiatives Stakeholder
with, and assistance to, the various stakeholders. overview of sources and methods of collecting 146 programmes Secondary Primary Meetings
It further supports UfM’s objective to establish primary and secondary data. 5
a Community of Practice, bringing together
experts and practitioners from public authorities, DIGITAL STEERING COMMITTEE
social partners and civil society organisations, to MEETINGS
discuss, assess and disseminate experience and Best Practice
good practices covering the priorities set forth by The UfM Project Coordinator issued an informal 65 examples Input UfM
selected
the Ministries centred around youth employment. call for speakers to present their own initiatives vations 14 meetings
Obser-
reports &
to the Steering Committee, dividing the thematic documents
Overview of research design focus into Employability for the first meeting
This publication relies on extensive input from on 5 May 2020, and Innovation for the second Southern and Eastern Mediterranean. A total and examples of best practice, in addition
of 1’350 publications were extracted in this
to insights on the relative importance of the
the UfM Steering Committee as to examples meeting on 19 May 2020. Preliminary findings manner and reviewed. These were narrowed Triple-Helix roles and key themes on the topics
of initiatives and best practice in the region from the desk review and results from the by theme, perspective, and country or region; of employability and innovation.
that have a positive impact on employability Questionnaire on Employability and Innovation eventually 140 publications were cited in the
outcomes, key themes to consider and direct were presented in the first meeting to the 45 final publication including several references MAPPING
contributions describing the projects in which participants (see sections below for details). to statistical information that informed the
these key stakeholders are themselves involved. The second meeting had 46 participants, some context, points for comparison and trends on A mapping of the initiatives identified in the
Additionally, an exploratory literature review was of whom also attended the first meeting. A list key indicators. Input to the desk research questionnaire (89) and from the desk review
undertaken to document theory and evidenced- of participants and a link to the official minutes included materials from UfM on previous (57) was developed, with a mini profile for
based innovations that could strengthen and presentations can be found at the end of meetings leading up to this project, reports each, identifying stakeholder perspective (the
practices. The literature review also identified this publication. on UfM labelled initiatives and case study Triple Helix), as well as geographical, financial,
best practices from the Mediterranean region research of specific examples on initiatives descriptive and regulatory information. After
that have demonstrated positive employment DESK RESEARCH in the target region. conducting a full review of the mapping, 24
outcomes or from other regions that could Using the lens of the Triple Helix framework, an themes emerged, and the initiatives were coded
be adapted. A certain amount of statistical exploratory literature review was undertaken QUESTIONNAIRE ON EMPLOYABILITY according to these theme areas for further
information was extracted from publicly available to identify relevant theory and evidenced- AND INNOVATION analysis and discussion with stakeholders.
databases, primarily the World Bank Databank based innovations, as well as best practices in
Development Indicators, UNESCO Institute for the Mediterranean region or that had potential Prior to the first Steering Committee meeting, a QUESTIONNAIRE ON PUBLICATION
Statistics and the Global Innovation Index, to to be adapted to the regional context. Articles semi-structured questionnaire was circulated THEMES
establish a clear vision of the current regional identified through traditional search strategies via e-mail to the Steering Committee who A second semi-structured questionnaire
context. skewed heavily towards a European or North completed it and also shared it with interested was circulated via e-mail to participants in
American context and therefore a manual parties in their networks. This yielded the Digital Steering Committee meetings to
Once this data was collected, it was analysed and targeted approach was adopted to find responses from 41 individuals from 35 share the emergent themes from the initiative
through the multiple lenses of the Triple Helix examples in the region or extract relevant organisations including universities, research mapping and ask for feedback on the relative
Framework to evaluate key themes and best country-level details from regional studies institutions, innovation centres, ministries of importance of the themes for eventual inclusion
practices through the diverse perspectives of beyond this project’s scope, such as studies on education as well as representatives from in the publication, and general feedback on
academia, industry and the government. Case the MENA region, which is the aggregation that the European Commission and the OECD. the process including availability for further
studies were elaborated to explore certain most commonly includes countries from the This group collectively identified 89 initiatives consultation in creating the publication.