VCSE Guidebook/Creating regional (e-)learning networks/Overview and classification of actor groups in networks: Difference between revisions

According to the profit-maximising principle, enterprises are inherently goal-oriented. Therefore, participation should have advantages for their business or at least result in additional benefits, which can be reputation, public relations and growth in knowledge. As far as continuing education is concerned, bigger companies normally cooperate with professional education centres or universities. SMEs often have certain retentions to join a vertical learning network, which integrates various sectors.

4. Other Regional Actor Groups

This is obviously the most heterogeneous actor group, consisting, for instance, of decision makers, administration, NGOs, cultural associations, citizens in general. Not only do they have highly varied characteristics and demands; also their learning trigger is generally not purpose or goal-oriented, but rather an end in itself and of informal character. Convincing them to join a learning process proves already difficult; having them take part actively is an even bigger challenge. Consequently, a regional learning process should be preceded by an exhaustive identification of needs and the sophisticated attraction of this actor group. In some cases, regional actors can simultaneously be attributed to one of the other actor groups from institutional point of view. In this case, the stronger affiliation to one of these four actor groups and the tasks that he/she assumes is decisive for the role that he/she plays in this network.