Youth Innovation in SkåneAn Ethnographic Study

By I.Dimitrievski, M.Fraser Berndtsson,R.Liepytė, M.Pumputytė, A.Steponavičiūtė

Innovation stems from people. In order for the region to become the most innovative in Europe by 2020, the citizens will need to become the most innovative.

The role of the government is to give the tools for innovation to new generations. These tools need to be adjusted and fine-tuned to suit and be usable for the new generations, if they are to be used.

The aim of the project was to explore the creative and innovative practices of youth in Skåne, to gain insights that may be used for enhancing the innovative spirit in Skåne’s youth.

Why Applied Cultural Analysis?

Applied cultural analysis provides us with a theoretical and methodological framework to explore the often hidden logics of the mundane.

The ethnographic focus on routines and everyday events invites a dialogue with the people on the ground.

Our qualitative methodology allows us to pinpoint significant aspects that quantitative methods often overlook – like lifestyles, everyday practices, values, meanings, and the small details that build up the bigger picture.

We bring various schools of thought together and combine them with diverse ethnographic methods (fieldwork, participant and non-participant observation, individual and group interviews, communicative group activities and focus groups, visual documentation).

Environments: Academic and vocational schools, NGO and municipal run youth centers

Field sites:Helsingborg, Lund, Östra Ljungby, and Malmö (Rosengård)

Follow the youth – diversity and inclusion

InnovatorsWe are all innovators, but nobody is born an innovator.

We need structured freedom and innovation network in order to establish an innovation mode.

People become more developed as innovators through practice, practice, and more practice.

While we practice, we need

Scaffolding: mentors and peers bridge the gap between our skill level and what we want to achieve. They help us, and by watching them do it, we learn to do it ourselves.

Experience: as we achieve good results gradually undertaking more difficult and realistic projects, we gain confidence and see greater possibilities ahead.

The evolution of the innovator

Beginner

Embo

died

ab

ilitie

s Scaffolding =Mentors + peers bridge the gap between our present skill-level and our goals

Motivation

Experience of fun and making a difference in the world

Professional/master

“If you don’t have the chance to communicate with anyone, you can’t develop as a person or do anything”.

Anna, 16

“Maybe when we are in the group we are inspiring each other”.

Eva, youth worker

Innovation is a social phenomenon. It requires:

Communication youth-to-youth, youth-to-parents, youth-to-teachers. Safe and comfortable environment conducive to good interpersonal communication.

Interpersonal communication

Emotional experiences Self-expression Interests and aspirations Making a difference Bringing a dream closer to reality

Motivation

Doing something new, acting creatively brings the reward of positive emotional experiences – fun, excitement, feelings of achievement.

Emotional experiences

Self-expression

Interests and aspirationsBy doing things – by innovating – youth is involved in a life-long project: to realize their hopes, interests, and aspirations.

Making a difference

Bringing a dream closer to reality

I like playing music, it’s my dream. And I like showing people how I make it. Who knows if I, like, get money. There was one guy whose name is Fred. He’s on YouTube. And he was like me. Like nothing. And now he’s a millionaire.

Ismail

They innovate now to open up possibilities in the future.

39

Scaffolding – bridging the gaps

IsmaIl and Per recording a song

41

Scaffolding step-by-stepFrom a lyric to a recorded song

Scaffolding over the long haul From internship to street festival to youth consultants managing projects and finding funding by themselves

To have effective scaffolding, effective mentors are needed. These are people like teachers, youth workers, and coaches.

Mentoring is a juggling act. Mentors must balance: Helping youth and allowing them to do it by themselves Structure and freedom Encouragement and strictness Other factors

All these needs will differ from youth to youth, project to project.

Mentors need resources and support.

Scaffolding and mentors

Usefulness for more people

Chan

ge b

eyon

d th

e or

igin

alThe evolution of innovation

More basicE.g. Battery chargera) Specifications providedb) For personal use

IntermediateE.g. Cookbooka) Realization of own ideab) Own designc) Originally for use by family and friends, but interest spread and more copies sold

More developedE.g. Music CD

a) Independently realized project from composition through production

b) For public consumption through radioand sales of the CD

Innovation is a process which happens over time and space:

long term development from childhood to adulthood in diverse settings of everyday life

Innovation friendly

environment (mindset, structure,

resources)

Motivation(fun, companionship, make a change, self-identity, expression)

Mentors and partners

(support, bridge the gap between present

abilities and goals)

Recommendations

Approach youth innovation in the region from the ground up

Broaden the definition of innovation

Be inclusive

Remember the importance of the unquantifiable. Feelings matter.

If you can only do one thing…

Policy

makers

Youth and youth workers

Thank you for your attention!