Occupational therapists consider community-centered practices such as community developmentessential practice domains. In some parts of the world, community development is strongly embeddedin occupational therapy practice, while in other places this approach is emerging and need strengthening.This chapter outlines the synergy between occupational therapy, community development, sustainabledevelopment, and critical citizenship. In doing so, it will consider the profession’s understanding of thevalue of an occupational perspective in critically addressing community issues and aiming for sustainabledevelopment. A module to prepare occupational therapy students for their potential role in communitydevelopment processes is associated with case studies from three different continents. These examplesgive a rich image of community development approaches within occupational therapy practice.
Innovatie vergt kennis. Door een gebrek aan tijd en middelen is deze kennis voor MKB-ers vaak moeilijk te ontsluiten. Vanuit deze uitdaging zijn Communities of Entrepreneurship (CoE) ontstaan; een netwerk van ondernemende mensen, die ideeën, passie en inspiratie delen om elkaar te empoweren in het realiseren van ondernemingsdoelen. Benieuwd hoe?
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Objective: To predict mortality by disability in a sample of 479 Dutch community-dwelling people aged 75 years or older. Methods: A longitudinal study was carried out using a follow-up of seven years. The Groningen Activity Restriction Scale (GARS), a self-reported questionnaire with good psychometric properties, was used for data collection about total disability, disability in activities in daily living (ADL) and disability in instrumental activities in daily living (IADL). The mortality dates were provided by the municipality of Roosendaal (a city in the Netherlands). For analyses of survival, we used Kaplan–Meier analyses and Cox regression analyses to calculate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: All three disability variables (total, ADL and IADL) predicted mortality, unadjusted and adjusted for age and gender. The unadjusted HRs for total, ADL and IADL disability were 1.054 (95%-CI: [1.039;1.069]), 1.091 (95%-CI: [1.062;1.121]) and 1.106 (95%-CI: [1.077;1.135]) with p-values <0.001, respectively. The AUCs were <0.7, ranging from 0.630 (ADL) to 0.668 (IADL). Multivariate analyses including all 18 disability items revealed that only “Do the shopping” predicted mortality. In addition, multivariate analyses focusing on 11 ADL items and 7 IADL items separately showed that only the ADL item “Get around in the house” and the IADL item “Do the shopping” significantly predicted mortality. Conclusion: Disability predicted mortality in a seven years follow-up among Dutch community-dwelling older people. It is important that healthcare professionals are aware of disability at early stages, so they can intervene swiftly, efficiently and effectively, to maintain or enhance the quality of life of older people.
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Context Kernmotto van onze Ambitie 2025 is dat Avans naast een excellente en brede onderwijsinstelling ook kennispartner van de regio wil zijn. De komende jaren krijgt het praktijkgericht onderzoek een stevige boost. Tegelijkertijd is Avans tot nu toe nog maar beperkt zichtbaar geweest in Europese netwerken en programma’s, terwijl dit uitstekende bronnen zijn voor (maatschappelijke) meerwaarde van ons onderzoek, het onderwijs en voor de regio. Strategie De focus van de onderzoeksactiviteiten van Avans ligt op vier Centers of Expertise (CoE), twee expertisecentra en twee doorsnijdende thema’s. Hiermee spelen we in op de regionale, nationale en Europese vraagstukken. Belangrijkste doelstelling van dit project (Avans@EU) is om een strategie te ontwikkelen waarin onze CoE’s, lectoren, (docent-)onderzoekers en studenten op een gestructureerde manier aansluiting kunnen vinden bij de relevante Europese netwerken en programma’s. De lectoren en onderzoekers die beschikken over enige ervaring en een relevant netwerk gebruiken we als ‘lighthouse’ . Netwerken Het op- en uitbouwen van de Europese netwerken is een belangrijke doelstelling voor de CoE’s. De opgave in Avans@EU is daarom het identificeren van de netwerken, het valideren van de aanknopingspunten en het bepalen van de manier waarop aansluiting bij dit netwerk mogelijk is. Supportinfrastructuur Na afloop van het Avans@EU project hebben we een helder beeld van de inrichting van de supportinfrastructuur. Daarbij zetten we een Community of Practice op rondom de EU en een programma om de kennis over Europese programma’s en netwerken bij lectoren en (docent)onderzoekers te vergroten. Regionale Impact De impact die societal challenges (incl. SDG’s) en innovaties gaan hebben op de traditionele(re) industrie in het verzorgingsgebied van Avans is enorm. Door het ontsluiten van de kennis in de genoemde netwerken kan Avans als kennispartner voor het regionale partners dienen en studenten voorzien van actuele kennis.
In order to achieve much-needed transitions in energy and health, systemic changes are required that are firmly based on the principles of regard for others and community values, while at the same time operating in market conditions. Social entrepreneurship and community entrepreneurship (SCE) hold the promise to catalyze such transitions, as they combine bottom-up social initiatives with a focus on financially viable business models. SCE requires a facilitating ecosystem in order to be able to fully realize its potential. As yet it is unclear in which way the entrepreneurial ecosystem for social and community entrepreneurship facilitates or hinders the flourishing and scaling of such entrepreneurship. It is also unclear how exactly entrepreneurs and stakeholders influence their ecosystem to become more facilitative. This research programme addresses these questions. Conceptually it integrates entrepreneurial ecosystem frameworks with upcoming theories on civic wealth creation, collaborative governance, participative learning and collective action frameworks.This multidisciplinary research project capitalizes on a unique consortium: the Dutch City Deal ‘Impact Ondernemen’. In this collaborative research, we enhance and expand current data collection efforts and adopt a living-lab setting centered on nine local and regional cases for collaborative learning through experimenting with innovative financial and business models. We develop meaningful, participatory design and evaluation methods and state-of-the-art digital tools to increase the effectiveness of impact measurement and management. Educational modules for professionals are developed to boost the abovementioned transition. The project’s learnings on mechanisms and processes can easily be adapted and translated to a broad range of impact areas.
This project establishes a collaborative network centered around the Amsterdam Museum, comprising key stakeholders from prominent cultural institutions, including the Centraal Museum Utrecht and the Rotterdam Museum. The consortium is designed to explore the transformative potential of co-creation in museums, focusing on enhancing visitor engagement, fostering inclusivity, and integrating digital technologies into cultural practices. Key personnel will provide interdisciplinary expertise in communication and cultural heritage, facilitating a robust understanding of stakeholder dynamics and collaborative processes. The research aims to analyze how co-creation can bridge the gap between museums and their diverse audiences, creating a sense of ownership and connection. Initial observational findings suggest that co-creation practices significantly enhance visitor experiences while revealing stakeholders' desires for deeper collaborative opportunities. To achieve these objectives, qualitative methods such as semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic observations will be employed, delivering rich insights into the impact of co-created programming. An essential output of this project will be an academic publication aimed at foundational research on effective co-creation practices within the cultural sector. Furthermore, the consortium will pursue a larger grant application to secure sustainable funding for ongoing research initiatives, ensuring the long-term viability and impact of this collaborative network. This will not only advance academic discourse but also facilitate knowledge transfer between academia and museums, enriching cultural engagement strategies. Ultimately, the project aspires to enhance the visibility and societal relevance of cultural institutions, fostering innovative solutions to contemporary challenges through collaborative research and community involvement.
