Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University (Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg / DHBW) was founded in 2009. It follows the successful dual principle of the former Berufsakademie, which was developed more than 40 years ago and is characterized by the close connection of theoretical studies and practical training in cooperating companies and social institutions. The DHBW has a unique educational structure, which combines on-the-job training with academic studies and, therefore, achieves a close integration of theory and practice, the main components of cooperative education. The DHBW is one of the largest institutions of higher education in the German Federal State of Baden-Wuerttemberg with over 9,000 partner companies, the Dual Partners, and more than 150,000 graduates. On three campuses and nine locations across Baden-Württemberg, 40,000 students are currently enrolled in nationally and internationally accredited study programs in the fields of business, engineering, and social work. With over 9,000 students enrolled, the DHBW Stuttgart is the DHBW’s largest member, and also one of the largest universities in Baden-Württemberg.
Website: www.dhbw.de
NUI Galway is a research-led university in the West of Ireland and is ranked within the 250 – 300 universities worldwide (The Times Higher Education (THE) World Rankings) and is among the top 1% of Universities worldwide based on data from QS World University Rankings 2019. In 2018 the University income exceeded €240 million of which over €61 million was from competitive external research funding. NUI Galway is involved in over >150 Horizon 2020 projects and has received over €75 million in funding from the programme up to November 2019. NUI Galway is currently coordinating nine ITNs (Pathsense, Tendon Therapy Train, Train-Ers; BrainMatTrain, BioImplant, DELIVER, DARE, PMSMatTrain, SOLAR2CHEM), 20 Individual Fellowships, 4 RISE and 1 COFUND projects in the MSCA programme. NUI Galway places a strong focus on providing a supportive and exciting environment for its researchers and was awarded the “HR Excellence in Research” logo by the European Commission in late 2013. In 2018 NUI Galway achieved the Athena SWAN Bronze award recognising the commitment of the university in advancing the careers of women in STEMM. In 2019, NUI Galway became a University of Sanctuary where it has undertaken a series of strategies to make it a more inclusive and equitable campus for all, particularly those in Direct Provision and members of the Traveller community, by providing access to higher education opportunities in a supportive environment.
Website: www.nuigalway.ie
“FRODIZO” is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization for the provision of health and social care services to elderly and disabled people in order for them to retain their maximum level of autonomy and wellbeing. FRODIZO organizes and participates in various educational and research activities and initiatives that promote active ageing, ageing well, independent living and social inclusion of the elderly and disabled.
FRODIZO runs also one of the national day care centers for the care of people suffering from dementia and their caregivers. It is located in Patras – West Greece.
Our main activities include
- Health and social care services to old aged people and disabled, as well as to older people suffering from chronic diseases
- Social inclusion activities such as the organization of social events and raising awareness campaigns
- Education and training that help preserve the quality of life of older people
- Education and training for caregivers of older people
Our personnel consist of professionals and scientists from different health and social care domains, such as gerontologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, physiotherapists, and administrative staff. In FRODIZO are also enlisted more than 50 volunteers that constantly participate in the different activities of the organization and enrich FRODIZO’s effectiveness and fields of intervention. Furthermore, our organization disposes of a very wide network of collaborating organizations and institutions of social and health care in the periphery of Western Greece, and on a national level.
Website: www.frodizo.gr
Wohlfahrtswerk für Baden-Württemberg is one of the biggest providers of services for the elderly in Baden-Württemberg, caring for around 2,000 elderly people with a team of 1,500 employees. We offer a range of residential options from sheltered housing to in-house residential care, residential communities for older people and a generation house, as well as a wide range of services for assisted living in one’s own home. For more than 200 years the foundation incorporated under civil law and its predecessors has been following two fundamental functions: to maintain social services and facilities and to encourage and implement innovation in the social sector. It is part of our foundation mission to encourage and implement innovation in social areas. We find new answers to the constantly changing lifestyle habits as people grow older, with a great number of pilot research, innovation and praxis projects on national and European levels.
Website: www.wohlfahrtswerk.de
CHALLEDU- inclusion | games | education is a non-profit organization that pioneers new models of learning, inclusion and engagement. CHALLEDU is one of the leading R&D experts in game-solutions for education and inclusion. Our team designs and implements playful experiences, games, formal and non-formal educational programs, tools, platforms and applications based on cross-sectoral, interdisciplinary approaches. We focus on 2 main sectors:
SOCIAL INCLUSION
The projects in this sector focus on inclusion and empowerment of marginalized groups, such as people with disabilities, people with health problems (i.e. dementia), older people, NEETs. The aims are: social inclusion, improved employability, development of skills and competencies, advocacy. The emphasis is given to create environments where people with different abilities, cultural backgrounds and skills, and different generations can interact with each other. The approaches in this sector involve non-formal and informal education, living labs, open co-creative workshops, game-based tools, and cross-sectoral approaches.
EDUCATION AND INNOVATION
We see education as a driver for positive societal, environmental, and innovative change. The projects developed in this sector focus on the promotion of entrepreneurship, STE(A)M education, civic and active citizenship, environmental challenges and agriculture, culture, and sustainable development. Our target groups include young people, adults, students, trainers and educators, professionals and institutions. Our approach encompasses forms of non-formal and informal education, game-based methodologies, role-model methodology, open-learning and digital tools, gamification, as well as cross-sectoral approaches.
Website: challedu.com
The Turku University of Applied Sciences (TUAS) is an innovative and multidisciplinary higher education institution, which creates international competitiveness and well-being for Southwest Finland. As one of the leading universities of applied sciences in Finland, TUAS hosts around 8,800 students studying for a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, with around 700 personnel. The range of our degree programs provides a good platform for interdisciplinary learning. In addition, we have developed the concept of #Innopeda, Innovation Pedagogy, a learning method, which combines studying with RDI (Research, Development and Innovation) and working life in a way that develops innovative thinking, creativity and transferable skills of students. With Innopeda, we successfully connect teaching, research and development activities, internationality and cooperation with working life. In the field of applied research, TUAS represents the top tier in the country, coordinating or acting as a partner in over 200 RDI projects every year.
Website: www.utu.fi/en