Living Learning Lab (LLL) - Creating an attractive periphery for living & working
We seek to address the complex development challenges facing rural villages in Slovenia by joining students, travelers, and local providers to live and work together, forming a laboratory to develop and propose new solutions to drive change. We aim to bring vibrancy, entrepreneurship-oriented thinking, and a spirit of co-creation to local communities, give students practical and project-based experience, and give responsible travellers the opportunity to give back and create a positive impact.
National
Slovenia
Primorska region (municipality of Miren Kostanjevica)
Mainly rural
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
No
No
As individual(s) in partnership with organisation(s)
First name: Tadej Last name: Rogelja Gender: Male Please describe the type of organization(s) you work in partnership with: 1. Institute FromZero a.k.a FromZero Alliance (non-profit organisation) has its heart in Slovenia, but works in worldwide projects.
Through its research, education and experience design, the alliance is changing work & travel for the better.
Website: https://fromzero.global/
2. UP Faculty of Tourism Studies - Turistica. UP FTŠ Turistica remains the first higher education institution in Slovenia to study and teach tourism in a multidisciplinary way.
Website: https://www.turistica.si/en Age: 29 Please attach a copy of your national ID/residence card:
By ticking this box, I certify that the information regarding my age is factually correct. : Yes Nationality: Slovenia Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Vojščica 32 Town: Kostanjevica na Krasu Postal code: 5296 Country: Slovenia Direct Tel:+386 41 825 569 E-mail:tadej.rogelja@gmail.com Website:https://fromzero.global/
The initiative addresses the complex development challenges facing rural/peripheral villages in Slovenia from different angles. These can be attributed to reasons such as disconnectedness, out-migration (brain drain), size (micro businesses), finances, remoteness, human resources, infrastructure, time, education, digital literacy, etc.
The LLL initiative aims to address these challenges by promoting intergenerational and multidisciplinary collaboration by physically bringing together university students, experts (travellers/nomads/education partners) and local micro providers for a week. They will live and work together in a selected village/community, forming a temporal laboratory, to address various local challenges and develop/propose new solutions to drive change. Through the initiative, we aim to (1) bring more vibrancy, entrepreneurship-oriented thinking and spirit of co-creation to local communities (2) give undergraduate and postgraduate students the opportunity to learn from practice (gain practical and project-based experience), so that they are better equipped for the future and can improve their portfolios (CVs) and (3) give responsible travellers/nomads the opportunity to give back and creating a real positive impact in the places they visit - their diverse professional backgrounds and experiences can contribute greatly to such goals/gatherings. Besides the above mentioned “commitments”, all participants will also have plenty of time for leisure activities (guided tours, local gastronomic delights, evening gatherings, activities, etc.).
Periphery
Communities
Living learning lab
Experiential project-based learning
Regenerative tourism
The main sustainability goals of the Living Learning Lab initiative are to empower local stakeholders, promote economic development and environmental protection in peripheral villages in Slovenia, and address issues such as depopulation, uncompetitive economies, brain drain, lack of infrastructure, low income levels, limited access to services, and social issues.
To achieve these goals, the initiative brings together responsible and sensitive digital nomads/travellers with diverse professional backgrounds, university students and local tourism providers who spend a week in the village to understand the problems and develop new solutions by living and working together. This approach enables the exchange of knowledge and resources between the different groups and promotes a more sustainable and equitable community.
In addition, the initiative can set an example in this context by promoting sustainable tourism practices, supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs, and strengthening the community's sense of ownership and commitment to the development of the region. By promoting and celebrating local culture and traditions, the initiative can help preserve the village's heritage and foster a sense of pride in the local community.
Furthermore, promoting sustainable agricultural practices will be accomplished by engaging local farmers and experts in the initiative to support the implementation of practices that conserve natural resources, promote biodiversity, and support local food systems. Sustainable transportation options will be promoted to reduce the region's carbon footprint and improve air quality. The initiative will also focus on waste reduction and recycling programs in the region.
Last but not least, the initiative will focus on biodiversity conservation. In light of recent catastrophic fires that hit the region (http://bit.ly/3DjUD8u), emphasis will be placed on finding positive links between ecological restoration and tourism development.
The New Bauhaus initiative seeks to provide a positive aesthetic and quality of experience for people in rural areas. This includes improved design, positive emotions, and cultural benefits. In order to meet these objectives, the initiative has promoted intergenerational collaboration, given students and travellers/nomads the opportunity to gain and give practical experience, and provided leisure activities to further enhance the experience.
The initiative also seeks to provide travelers and young students with a range of cultural benefits while they explore the beauty of rural areas. These include: experiencing the unique culture and customs of rural communities; appreciating the strong sense of community in rural areas; making meaningful connections with local people; savoring the freshness of local produce; taking part in traditional activities such as agriculture; and enjoying the slower pace of life in rural areas. By taking part in the initiative, travelers can also experience the tranquility and peace of rural living and take part in outdoor activities such as hiking, biking.
The local community will be positively influenced by the income of highly experienced and well rounded international people as well as by students, who will provide fresh energy, enthusiasm and new world views. As the Living Learning Lab will consist of people from all over the world, all the parties will benefit from the diverse cultural exchange. At the same time the initiative aims to be respectful towards the preservation of the host’s values and traditions.
One of the goals of the LLL is to open up new life perspectives for all participants (students, locals and travelers). With a "living learning laboratory" we want to offer everyone a living laboratory to try out new habits, access new knowledge and ways of life. We see great value in mixing these three different interest groups - they are very diverse in terms of income, age, cultural background, etc. Even within the groups, there can be a lot of diversity, as we can have travelers from completely different cultures, ethnicities, and professional backgrounds. The same is true for students. We will influence this by interviewing candidates about Zoom to get to know them better and get a sense of their motivation to contribute and help shape an LLL. However, we realize that inviting a diverse group to a dinner party does not equate to inclusion, but inviting them to dance does. Therefore, the biggest task is to create activities and spaces during the LLL where each participant feels respected and valued. This is achieved by building the LLL on co-creation and giving back (knowledge, time and energy - these are our most important values). The values of the LLL are clearly communicated in the design, activities and communication before, during and after the event. This gives our participants the opportunity to raise their voices, participate in the decision-making process, and help shape the event - hopefully giving them a true sense of belonging.
As for the financial accessibility of the event, we are currently soliciting feedback from students via an online survey on whether they are willing to pay for the event. We recognize that students are the most price-sensitive group, so we are seeking alternative funding through scholarships and sponsorships to make attendance as affordable as possible for students. We will have two spots available for students who are willing to volunteer at the event, but receive a free stay at the event - so anyone can apply.
The targeted citizens (local providers and community residents) will benefit from brain gain, know-how, networkings, fresh ideas and the happenings (revitalization of the space). Although the LLL will only take place only one week, the impact will be long-lasting! Ultimately, the aim of the project is to change the resident˙s mindsets and find effective solutions. As part of the event, we will set up a temporary co-working space (playground) equipped with the latest technology available for residents to play around and learn from good use cases. The equipment will be sponsored by the Faculty's sTOUdio department.
In this initiative the local level is the most important and with it we are working closest. Since the start of the planning phase we are working closely with the local stakeholders. All of the activities will be coordinated and implemented together with the local municipality.
At the regional level: To implement the initiative successfully and to create the most impact we know how important it is to bring together different stakeholders from the region. In our initiative we will include different local tourism offices form the region. All of these offices will provide their own input from the local environment. That can be introducing their traditions, showcasing their tourism offer, sponsorships.
At the national level: since the last 4 years we have been intensively working all over Slovenia’s rural areas and helping rural tourism providers. Currently, we are working closely with Slovenian Tourism Association which connects different local clubs, charities and associations connected to tourism. All the workshops and learnings from our initiative will be packaged and transferred also to other associations through which we will maximaze the impact in the whole country.
At the European level: As our international reach is the strongest in Europe, we expect the highest attendance will come from here. We are already in contact with different universities around Europe (University of Algrave, Munich University of Applied Sciences, University for Sustainable Development Eberswalde, University of Lisbon, etc.) that are interested in the collaboration of organizing such Living Learning Labs in their region as well.
Various fields of knowledge will be involved in the design and implementation of the LLL initiative, including:
Community Development: students and experts will work with local stakeholders to understand the specific needs and challenges of the village and will help facilitate community member engagement and participation in the initiative.
Economic Development: students and experts may work with local businesses and entrepreneurs to develop sustainable economic opportunities and support the growth of local businesses.
Environmental Protection: students and experts can work with the community to promote sustainable tourism practices and conserve the village's natural resources.
Tourism/Travel: students and experts will be able to work with local tourism providers to develop sustainable tourism opportunities and promote the village as a destination for local and international tourists and travellers.
Digitalization: Students and experts will be able to contribute their experience and knowledge of digital tools and online business models that could benefit the local economy.
Education: Local tourism providers and experts can work with students to develop educational opportunities and experiences that align with the goals of the initiative.
Experts (travellers/nomads and education partners) from some or all of these different sectors - that we hope to attract to participate in the event - will interact with each other through a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach. They will work together to understand the issues, develop solutions, and implement the initiative. This process will allow for the sharing of diverse perspectives, knowledge, and skills and will lead to more effective and sustainable solutions. The added value of this process is that it will bring together a diverse group of individuals and organisations to collaborate and share expertise, resulting in a more holistic and comprehensive approach.
The LLL initiative is innovative in several ways when compared to the usual rural development measures:
It takes a holistic, multidisciplinary approach: by bringing together local and international experts from different fields, including community development, economic development, environmental protection, tourism, education, and digital nomads, the initiative addresses the complex challenges facing peripheral villages in Slovenia from a variety of angles.
It engages local stakeholders and community members: The initiative aims to empower local stakeholders and community members by involving them in the design and implementation of the initiative to foster a sense of ownership and community engagement.
It promotes sustainable tourism: the initiative focuses on developing sustainable tourism opportunities that preserve the village's natural resources, promote local businesses and entrepreneurs, and instil a sense of community pride.
It focuses on digitalization: the inclusion of digital nomads in the initiative brings an innovative perspective to rural development by using digital tools and online business models to support the local economy.
It uses a co-creation approach: the initiative brings together different stakeholders, including travellers/digital nomads, students, and local tourism providers, to live and work together in the village so that they can understand the problems and develop new solutions in a collaborative and co-creative process.
It addresses the brain drain: The initiative aims to attract and retain young and skilled professionals in rural areas through innovative and meaningful experiences.
Overall, the innovative nature of the initiative is that it brings together different perspectives, knowledge and skills to address the complex challenges facing peripheral villages/regions in Slovenia in a holistic and comprehensive way, with a focus on sustainability and community engagement.
The concept of a Living Learning Lab can be replicated in any peripheral/rural area around the world. The elements that can be transferred are:
Aspects of methodology: to implement the initiative successfully, we are gathering data about the needs and painpoints of all our stakeholders: local tourism providers, students and travelers. We have created surveys for each of these stakeholders and can be replicated to any partner.
Project management: with the organizing team, we have designed a project management structure in the application called Notion. All of the aspects of the project (marketing, sponsorships, methodology, etc.) are noted. We have also written a tutorial that guides every user step by step to effectively use the project management tools.
Marketing processes: any other partner who would have the intention to replicate our initiative would have our full support and would receive all the marketing materials needed. That includes visuals, strategies, marketing flows, copywriting.
The local tourism experience providers we help are mostly hidden and off the beaten track, coming from rural areas where employment opportunities are scarce. Sometimes they are forced to move to bigger cities where they have to look for opportunities. Meanwhile, rural areas are becoming less populated and losing their charm.
That is why our project is very important because we encourage these local tourism operators to stay in their communities by providing them with a supportive environment. We do this by offering: (1) professional knowledge, (2) helping them to become bookable and visible in the global tourism market, (3) support with digitalization.
Our project is embedded in all three pillars of sustainable development: social, economic and environmental. From the economic perspective, our initiative can generate additional income for the local community, maintaining and creating new job opportunities.
Socially, these events and new income opportunities are a reason for people to stay in their local communities while developing their skills and preserving local culture, knowledge and traditions. We also create meaningful, long-term connections between tourists and the local community and encourage intergenerational cooperation.
Regarding environmental sustainability, tourists can participate in activities run by locals that also focus on preserving their natural heritage. By limiting the number of tourists per experience and the timeframe when experiences are offered, we also limit our footprint on the environment. Our first recommendation to all involved is: you can offer less of what you do, but increase the quality & price.
Our project solves many problems that have arisen in tourism in recent years. These events tend to take place in rural areas, which means that tourists are diverted away from hotspots that are significantly overcrowded.
