Post-school education in shrinking rural regions: experiences and solutions from Scotland and Sweden

Nathalie Tent; Josefina Syssner; Ingo Mose; Frank Rennie

doi:10.14512/rur.1692

Authors

Nathalie Tent Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6618-7045
Josefina Syssner Linköping University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7607-7029
Ingo Mose Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6226-4496
Frank Rennie University of the Highlands and Islands https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7935-9985

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14512/rur.1692

Keywords:

Post-school education, shrinkage, rural development, resources, Sweden, Scotland

Abstract

Against the backdrop of shrinking populations, new strategies for maintaining services of general interest in European rural areas are required at both a European and a German level. With regard to this, the field of post-school education as a service of general interest is seen as playing an important role with considerable effects on regional development processes. Educational institutions, traditionally highly centralised, have been shown to influence decisions on staying in or leaving rural areas and thus can further intensify regional demographic developments. In this paper, we examine two examples of post-school educational opportunities in Scotland and Sweden that have been able to establish themselves in a rural setting affected by shrinking trends. Our interpretation is that the continued stability of these examples is due to the ability of local actors to utilise local resources in a meaningful way. The aim of this paper is therefore to contribute to a structured understanding of how local actors manage limited resources to provide services of general interest in the environment of rural, sparsely populated regions in the long term. To enable a systematised analysis of our data, we use an analytical framework originally developed to understand the resources generated by informal planning practices in rural areas.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Akademi Norr (2022): Akademi Norr. En koordinerad kraftsamling 2020-2022. n.p.

Arbo, P.; Benneworth, P. (2007): Understanding the Regional Contribution of Higher Education Institutions: A Literature Review. Paris. = OECD Education Working Papers 9. https://doi.org/10.1787/161208155312

Bathelt, H.; Glückler, J. (2005): Resources in Economic Geography: From Substantive Concepts towards a Relational Perspective. In: Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space 37, 9, 1545–1563. https://doi.org/10.1068/a37109

Batterbury, S.; Hill, S. (2005): Assessing the Impact of Higher Education on Regional Development. Using a Realist Approach for Policy Enhancement. In: Higher Education Management and Policy 16, 3, 35–52. https://doi.org/10.1787/hemp-v16-art22-en

Béal, V.; Fol, S.; Miot, Y.; Rousseau, M. (2019): Varieties of Right-Sizing Strategies: Comparing Degrowth Coalitions in French Shrinking Cities. In: Urban Geography 40, 2, 192–214. https://doi.org/10.1080/02723638.2017.1332927

Bernt, M.; Haase, A.; Großmann, K.; Cocks, M.; Couch, C.; Cortese, C.; Krzysztofik, R. (2014): How does(n’t) Urban Shrinkage get onto the Agenda? Experiences from Leipzig, Liverpool, Genoa and Bytom. In: International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 38, 5, 1749–1766. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2427.12101

Biggar Economics (2020): Economic Impact Assessment of the University of the Highlands and Islands. A report to the University of the Highlands and Islands. Midlothian.

Bontje, M. (2004): Facing the Challenge of Shrinking Cities in East Germany: The Case of Leipzig. In: GeoJournal 61, 1, 13–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-005-0843-2

Boström, L.; Dalin, R. (2018): Young people’s opinion on rural Sweden. In: International Education Studies 11, 6, 45–58. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v11n6p45

Breznitz, S.M.; Lawton Smith, H.; Bagchi-Sen, S. (2022): The Contribution of Students to Regional Economies: Reframing the Regional Innovation Systems Approach. In: Regional Studies 56, 6, 885–891. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2022.2053097

Brodda, Y. (2010): New Regional Development Concepts for Rural Peripheries. Experiences from Three European Case Studies (2001-05). Göttingen.

Brown, W.A.; Andersson, F.O.; Jo, S. (2016): Dimensions of Capacity in Nonprofit Human Service Organizations. In: Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations 27, 6, 2889–2912. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-015-9633-8

Bryson, J.M.; Ackermann, F.; Eden, C. (2007): Putting the Resource-Based View of Strategy and Distinctive Competencies to Work in Public Organizations. In: Public Administration Review 67, 4, 702–717. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2007.00754.x

Copus, A.; Kahila, P.; Dax, T.; Kovács, K.; Tagai, G.; Weber, R.; Grunfelder, J.; Meredith, D.; Ortega-Reig, M.; Piras, S.; Löfving, L.; Moodie, J.; Fritsch, M.; Ferrandis, A. (2021): European Shrinking Rural Areas: Key Messages for a Refreshed Long-Term Vision. In: Terra. Revista de Desarrollo Local 8, 280–309. https://doi.org/10.7203/terra.8.20366

Dauser, D.; Fischer, A.; Lorenz, S.; Schley, T. (2021): Digital und regional vernetzt – Ansätze zur Optimierung der Lernortkooperation in der beruflichen Bildung. Ein Leitfaden zum Online-Selbstcheck. Bielefeld. https://doi.org/10.3278/9783763970032

Dib, C.Z. (1988): Formal, non-formal and informal education: concepts/applicability. In: AIP Conference Proceedings 173, 1, 300–315. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.37526

European Commission (2011): Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: A Quality Framework for Services of General Interest in Europe. COM(2011) 900 final. Brussels.

European Commission (2018): The 2018 Ageing Report: Economic & Budgetary Projections for the 28 EU Member States (2016-2070). Brussels. https://doi.org/10.2765/615631

European Commission (2020): European Commission adopted Report on the Impact of Demographic Change in Europe. Brussels.

Gareis, P.; Diller, C. (2020): Räumliche Aspekte der Studierendenmobilität. Stand der Forschung, eigene regionalstatistische Untersuchungen und die These vom „Bologna-Drain“ und möglichen Auswirkungen auf eine nachhaltige Hochschul- und Regionalentwicklung. In: Postlep, R.-D; Blume, L; Hülz, M. (eds.): Hochschulen und ihr Beitrag für eine nachhaltige Regionalentwicklung. Hannover, 260–286. = Forschungsberichte der ARL 11.

Hamm, R.; Koschatzky, K. (2020): Kanäle, Determinanten und Hemmnisse des regionalen Transfers aus Hochschulen. In: Postlep, R.-D; Blume, L; Hülz, M. (eds.): Hochschulen und ihr Beitrag für eine nachhaltige Regionalentwicklung. Hannover, 24–75. = Forschungsberichte der ARL 11.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (2018): Enabling our next generation. Young people and the Highlands and Islands. Maximising opportunities. Inverness.

Hjort, E. (2023): Marginalisation through the eyes of the othered: Young adults choosing to live in rural Northern Sweden. In: Journal of Rural Studies 97, 601–609. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2023.01.011

Hospers, G.-J. (2014): Policy Responses to Urban Shrinkage: From Growth Thinking to Civic Engagement. In: European Planning Studies 22, 7, 1507–1523. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2013.793655

Jonda, B. (2009): Wenn man gegen den Strom schwimmt und auf Kultur und Weiterbildung setzt. In: Neu, C. (ed.): Daseinsvorsorge. Eine gesellschaftswissenschaftliche Annäherung. Wiesbaden, 186–205. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-531-91876-1_11

Kratz, F.; Lenz, T. (2015): Regional-ökonomische Effekte von Hochschulabsolventen. In: Beiträge zur Hochschulforschung 37, 2, 8–27.

Küpper, P.; Milbert, A. (2020): Typen ländlicher Räume in Deutschland. In: Krajewski, C; Wiegand, C.-C. (eds.): Land in Sicht. Ländliche Räume in Deutschland zwischen Prosperität und Peripherisierung. Bonn, 82–97.

Kwiek, M. (2012): Universities, Regional Development and Economic Competitiveness: The Polish Case. In: Pinheiro, R.; Benneworth, P.; Jones, G.A. (eds.): Universities and Regional Development: A Critical Assessment of Tensions and Contradictions. New York, 69–85.

Landman, T. (2008): Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics. London. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203929780

Lang, T. (2012): Shrinkage, Metropolization and Peripheralization in East Germany. In: European Planning Studies 20, 10, 1747–1754. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2012.713336

Lang, T.; Haunstein, S. (2017): Wachsende Regionale Polarisierung in Europa. In: Nationalatlas aktuell vom 27. September 2017.

Maretzke, S.; Hoymann, J.; Schlömer, C.; Stelzer, A. (2021): Raumordnungsprognose 2040. Bonn. = BBSR-Analysen kompakt 04/2021.

Martinez-Fernandez, C.; Audirac, I.; Fol, S.; Cunningham-Sabot, E. (2012): Shrinking Cities: Urban Challenges of Globalization. In: International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 36, 2, 213–225. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2427.2011.01092.x

Mose, I. (2018): Ländliche Räume. In: ARL – Akademie für Raumforschung und Landesplanung (ed.): Handwörterbuch der Stadt- und Raumentwicklung. Hannover, 1323–1334.

Mose, I. (2022): Die schottischen Highlands and Islands. Wandlungsprozesse einer ländlichen Peripherie. In: Geographische Rundschau 74, 6, 44–49.

Mose, I.; Jacuniak-Suda, M.; Fiedler, G. (2014): Regional Governance-Stile in Europa. Eine vergleichende Analyse von Steuerungsstilen ausgewählter LEADER-Netzwerke in Extremadura (Spanien), Warmińsko-Mazurskie (Polen) und Western Isles (Schottland). In: Raumforschung und Raumordnung 72, 1, 3–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13147-013-0268-1

Pee, L.G.; Kankanhalli, A. (2016): Interactions Among Factors Influencing Knowledge Management in Public-Sector Organizations: A Resource-Based View. In: Government Information Quarterly 33, 1, 188–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2015.06.002

Peer, V.; Penker, M. (2016): Higher Education Institutions and Regional Development. A Meta-Analysis. In: International Regional Science Review 39, 2, 228–253. https://doi.org/10.1177/0160017614531145

Peters, B.G. (1998): Comparative Politics. Theory and Methods. London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-26926-6

Postlep, R.-D.; Blume, L.; Hülz, M. (eds.) (2020): Hochschulen und ihr Beitrag für eine nachhaltige Regionalentwicklung. Hannover. = Forschungsberichte der ARL 11.

Rennie, F. (2003): The use of flexible learning resources for geographically distributed rural students. In: Distance Education 24, 1, 25–39. https://doi.org/10.1080/01587910303052

Rennie, F.W.; Greller, W.; Mackay, M. (2002): Review of International Best Practice in Service Delivery to Remote and Rural Areas. Edinburgh.

Sartori, G. (1991): Comparing and Miscomparing. In: Journal of Theoretical Politics 3, 3, 243–257. https://doi.org/10.1177/0951692891003003001

Schatz, L. (2017): Going for Growth and Managing Decline: The Complex Mix of Planning Strategies in Broken Hill, NSW, Australia. In: Town Planning Review 88, 1, 43–57. https://doi.org/10.3828/tpr.2017.5

Scottish Government (2021): Rural Scotland Key Facts 2021. Edinburgh.

Scottish Government (2022): Integrated, place based business support pilot: Evaluation. Edinburgh.

Sirolli, E. (2012): How to Start a Business & Ignite Your Life: A Simple Guide to Combining Business Wisdom with Passion. New York.

Sousa, S.; Pinho, P. (2015): Planning for Shrinkage: Paradox or Paradigm. In: European Planning Studies 23, 1, 12–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2013.820082

Statistiska centralbyran (2021): Den Framtida Befolkningen i Sveriges Län Och Kommuner 2021-2040. Demografiska rapporter 2021. Örebro.

Steiner, A.; Atterton, J. (2014): The contribution of rural businesses to community resilience. In: Local Economy 29, 3, 228–244. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269094214528853

Syssner, J. (2006): What Kind of Regionalism? Regionalism and region building in Northern European peripheries. Frankfurt am Main.

Syssner, J. (2020): Pathways to Demographic Adaptation. Perspectives on Policy and Planning in Depopulating Areas in Northern Europe. Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-34046-9

Syssner, J. (2022). What can geographers do for shrinking geographies? In: Fennia – International Journal of Geography 200, 2, 98–119. https://doi.org/10.11143/fennia.120536

Syssner, J.; Meijer, M. (2017): Informal Planning in Depopulating Rural Areas. In: European Countryside 9, 3, 458–472. https://doi.org/10.1515/euco-2017-0027

Syssner, J.; Siebert, C. (2020): Local Governments and the Communication of Demographic Decline in Sweden and Germany: Who, What and Why? In: Journal of Depopulation and Rural Development Studies 29, 79–105. https://doi.org/10.4422/ager.2020.01

Tent, N.; Brad, A.; Klöden, J.; Adam Hernández, A.; Bannert, J.; Gebauer, A. (2021): A Review of the Challenges and Strategies of Delivering Services of General Interest in European Rural Areas. In: Europa XXI 41, 77–105. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2021.41.4

Wiechmann, T.; Pallagst, K.M. (2012): Urban Shrinkage in Germany and the USA: A Comparison of Transformation Patterns and Local Strategies. In: International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 36, 2, 261–280. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2427.2011.01095.x