Title: Social innovation in service delivery to youth in remote and rural areas

Authors: Andra Aldea-Partanen

Addresses: University of Oulu, Kajaani Unviersity Consortium, AIKOPA, P.O. Box 51 (Kehräämöntie 7, room V307b), 87101 Kajaani, Finland

Abstract: In remote and rural areas, the main problem is usually a population exodus. The remaining people generally and the remaining young people in particular are a challenging material for typical analyses in terms of human and social capital. Are there any chances for them? Are there any solutions found already? Could art, for instance, supply a potential solution? This paper brings to attention a case of reintegration of marginalised youth from remote areas, through art and technology, from the Kainuu region, Finland. The macro experiment, which took place at regional governance level, provides some of the regional institutional settings for the youth art training. The economic direct finality has not been the sole purpose of the youth experiment, but rather reconnecting with own identities, coupled with a rediscovering and revalorisation of one|s own self. The data is also analysed in connection with quadruple helix, and social living labs concepts.

Keywords: social innovation; social living labs; regional development; quadruple helix; service delivery; marginalised youth; young people; labour market; re-integration; art training; technology; Itelliset; Finland; living laboratories; rural areas; remote areas.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIRD.2011.038063

International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development, 2011 Vol.3 No.1, pp.63 - 81

Published online: 29 Nov 2014 *

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