Fenton
Paul
Ad-Hoc Expert
Generic Skills
B.1. Understanding of integrated and sustainable urban development:
My understanding of integrated and sustainable urban development comes mostly from my work as consultant for EC initiatives, in-cluding 2 URBACT initiatives (4DCities and RetaiLink), Erasmus+ and H2020 competitive Calls. These initiatives have dealt with, among other topics, the revitalisation of urban spaces, the circular and sharing economies, the design for sustainable cities, social innovation, and meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Many have included outputs recommendations regards govern-ance, inclusion, quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all. Often, too, the initiatives require embedding transversal issues like gender and ethics, which often means engaging beneficiaries and stakeholders in new cooperation work, welcoming dif-ferent perspectives. My qualifications include a BA in Political Science and Masters in International Relations. My experience started over 30 years ago when I was a US Peace Corps volunteer for 2 years managing a self-help housing project in Costa Rica. I led a Study Tour to the UK for a team of Russian education experts to witness Good Practices in the use of ICTs and business approaches for local trainings. I’ve worked with street children in Honduras, Colombia, Mali and Senegal as a consultant for a UNICEF project, where solutions to the problem had to begin with urban stakeholders working together.
B.2. Understanding of exchange and learning processes at transnational level:
As an experienced project manager, consultant for international initiatives, and organizer for transnational workshops and meetings for almost 20 years, I have designed numerous learning and exchange opportunities, most recently on the following: a) strategic ap-proaches involving 4-Helix stakeholders for developing innovations; policy recommendations; and sustainability actions; b) Open Science, Open Innovation, Social Innovation, Responsible Research and Innovation; c) outreach activities, communication strate-gies, Exploitation and Dissemination planning and results; and, d) the co-preparation of project objectives, Key Performance Indicators, risk mitigation plans and Milestones, always working with international teams.
B.3. Proficiency in English:
English is my mother tongue. Fluent in both Catalan and Castellano, too, I’ve dedicated over 15 years being an English language teacher, translator and teacher of international relations. My project work is in English, and this involves all kinds of communications: workshop design and delivery, presentations, emails, phone conversations, videoconferencing, messaging using social media and having face to face meetings. Aware my audiences often have different levels of English, I take care to ensure comprehension by eliciting feedback, new ideas and questions, which all go to help enrich the communication exchanges. Apart from proposal writing and producing Deliverables in English, I’ve produced papers and presentations for transnational events and international publica-tions, and have also been published as a researcher and book reviewer. As on-line instructor and tutor at the university level, I’ve helped adult students and professionals improve their knowledge and communication skills in English for their careers and Master Diplomas.
Expertise for the design and delivery of transnational exchange and learning activities:
Summary Expertise for the design and delivery of transnational exchange and learning activities:
To sum up, I have 20 years experience in designing and delivering activities for the transnational exchange of practices and learn-ing. During this time, I’ve used a variety of user-centred methods, sensitive to the needs, capacities and expectations involved. For example: I’ve integrated Delphi Methods to consolidate findings/opinions in a short time period; Storytelling on real life experiences that can inspire new appreciations of situations, broaden perspectives and generate more interest on the topics, creating and communicating information via audio, video or text; On-line Forums to encourage voices otherwise not vocal, to strengthen common ownership of work, and to invite democratic reflections by peers; Inter-disciplinary Work Groups to take stock of proposal/project development situations and propose consensus-based actions; Social Media during different phases in dissemination and communi-cation strategies: a) pre-event for eliciting/generating interest; b) during the event for real time participation; and, c) post-event, for assessing relevance and impacts; Surveys, interviews and questionnaires to ascertain stakeholder opinion and the valorisation of results and future opportunities. I’ve coordinated dissemination and communication work for many transnational initiatives and consulted on numerous winning EC project proposals.
Expertise support to local authorities and other stakeholders in designing & delivering integrated and participatory policies
E.1. Knowledge on participatory methods and tools for co-production and implementation of local polices :
I’ve integrated a range of participatory methods in the planning and implementation of policy work, derived from my teaching experi-ence as well from ongoing lifelong learning. Many methods are inspired by the Engage H2020 Action Catalogue, found at http://actioncatalogue.eu/ and from the H2020 ORION project’s Deliverable D3.1 Menu of co-creation methods found at http://www.orion-openscience.eu/ . I’ve also applied Community of Practice approaches for outreach to different stakeholders, plus adopted consensus-building exercises for the mediation of differing views and interests. Results have been integrated in the policy briefs and/or recommendations for local actions by institutions and public authorities. Some of the projects that I helped shape the design of policies include Carers and Fusemba (from LLP), MetaCampus (IST), and my work in the Delphi II project, for the development of a competency system and policy recommendations on Open and Distance Learning for the Russian Federation Ministry of Education and Science.
E.2. Knowledge on integrated approach for the design, delivering, monitoring and evaluation of urban strategies/policies:
For UOC and other clients, I've had the opportunity to contribute advice on how to integrate 4-Helix audiences in the development of urban-based innovation and supportive policies. Some of the topics include designs of urban spaces and ICTs and smart cities, Many have also dealt with gender in the context of higher education institutions integrated in large urban areas, where gender equality plans, actions, policies and monitoring all have interdependencies with developments in other parts of each urban community. GEDDI- see https://www.gedii.eu/about/ and TARGET - see https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/210054_en.html (both gender projects in H2020) can be highlighted.
E.3. Awareness of the main policy and funding schemes for sustainable urban development at EU and national level:
For keeping up to date on policy and funding instruments and priorities for sustainable urban development, I follow the newsletters I sub-scribe to (Digital Agenda, DG Growth news, DG Research & innovation news, IPR Help Desk) and to the websites resources and publications found at URBACT: URBACT III Programme and many of URBACT’s Networks on Inclusion, Economy, Integrated Urban Development, Governance, Environment. I attend InfoDays, Brokerage Events and other conferences for getting the latest information on both international and national opportunities and practices. As consultant for proposal development on projects dealing with urban issues, I benchmark relevant project’s products, services and research, and then advise project developers and implementers to be aware of and use the sustainable urban development state of the art in new practices and/or policies.
E.4. Ability to understand specific local situations and adapt tools and content to different local realities:
Helping to ensure the planning and delivery of integrated participatory policies in international projects, I first work with partners on getting local needs assessments, capacity and competency analysis, assessments about their target audiences, and more information about the kinds of practical approaches that can best work in different contexts. The follow-up joint workshops and bilateral meetings using videoconferencing help bring about a consistency in use of project methods and tools, so that each participant can both learn from – and transfer- the good practices of others for use in local actions. My primary roles have been as co-designer of the participatory strategies, planner of timings and stages of events, and as reporter or responsible for the relevant Minutes and post-event summaries for wider publics. In addition, I’ve been workshop designer and deliverer in transnational initiatives, with the focus on ensuring meaningful participation, the inclusion of different views, and the definition of Key Performance Indicators to prove impacts acheived. See, for example, the planning for the work in H2020’s ACT - Communities of Practice for Accelerating Gender Equality and Institutional Change in Research and Innovation across Europe. See http://research.uoc.edu/portal/en/ri/difusio-publicacions/noticies/noticies-OSRT/2018/noticia_actgentic.html
Summary Expertise:
Informations
Residence location:
Spain
Languages:
English - Mother tongue
Foreign Languages level:
Foreign languages:
Foreign Languages level:
Foreign languages:
Email:
paulbadalona@gmail.com