Ulster University is one of a consortium of key partners, working along with the South West College, to be awarded €3.5 million in PEACEPLUS funding to launch the Smart Rural Innovation Driven Empowerment (STRIDE) programme.
The initiative, designed to address the unique challenges faced by rural communities, brings together Ulster University, along with Alacrity, Atlantic Technological University, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, and Leitrim County Enterprise Fund.
The ultimate goal of STRIDE is to enhance the quality of life in rural areas, enabling more effective delivery of social and economic services while promoting long-term community sustainability.
To support this goal, Ulster University colleagues, Professor Trevor Cadden (Dept of Management, Leadership & Marketing), Professor Laura McCauley (Department of Global Business & Enterprise), Dr Joseph Rafferty (School of Computing), Professor Ronan McIvor (Department of Accounting, Finance & Economics) and Rachael Withers (Dean’s Office, UUBS), will be working with the partners on the project to develop design thinking skills to support the community to develop social innovations.
In addition, colleagues from the University will be mentoring and support the community innovators to develop their ideas and supporting the entire project by developing the digital platform for STRIDE to share and disseminate the innovations and connect all stakeholders and community.
Professor Trevor Cadden, Professor in Operations Management, Ulster University’s Department of Management, Leadership & Marketing, commented:
“Ulster University is delighted to be working on the STRIDE project. Our cross-faculty team will collaborate closely with project partners to develop design thinking skills that empower communities and foster urgently needed social innovations to tackle the region’s socio-economic challenges. Ulster will also lead the development of an innovative online platform designed to connect stakeholders, share knowledge, and accelerate the spread of new ideas and solutions across the region. In addition, we will contribute to the creation of technical solutions that address key transformational challenges.
Having grown up in, and still living in, rural Fermanagh, I witness the challenges faced by our communities every day. Being part of an initiative that empowers these communities to drive real and lasting change through skills development, community engagement, and the application of technology is truly exciting.”
STRIDE will operate out of two key innovation hubs - The Workhouse in Enniskillen and The HIVE in Carrick-on-Shannon. With a team of specialist staff embedded within rural communities across Fermanagh, Tyrone, Leitrim and Sligo, the programme aims to empower local citizens by using cutting-edge digital technologies to tackle societal and economic challenges.
On confirming the project funding, SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said:
“Congratulations to the three truly innovative and transformative projects awarded PEACEPLUS funding today.
“Promoting socio-economic inclusion is crucial within the PEACEPLUS programme and our Smart Towns and Villages investment area is designed to target and address specific needs using modern technology.
“PEACEPLUS will support the creation of jointly developed solutions for Smart Towns and Villages, to incorporate digital hubs, which will enable remote working and ICT-themed social innovation approaches to developing new models of delivery for key services, including health and education.
“This will provide greater access to and awareness of telecommunications, with an area-based approach taken to enable communities to maximise technology to improve social and economic conditions in their areas.”
Welcoming the funding announcement, the Principal and Chief Executive of South West College, Celine McCartan endorsed the project and set out a vision for it:
“This funding allows us and our partners to co-create digital solutions with local citizens, helping to address the specific challenges facing rural communities. By supporting their long-term sustainability and encouraging regional balance, we can make a real impact.”
In addition, STRIDE, which is supported by the PEACEPLUS Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), will create a ‘Digital Empowering Communities Portal’ - a vital tool for sharing the support available and promoting the innovative digital solutions developed through the programme.
Over the next four years, STRIDE aims to engage over 1,000 rural citizens and key public agencies through a bespoke Design Thinking Programme. This initiative will help communities collectively identify pressing local issues and co-develop digital solutions. The programme will lead to the development of 88 challenge projects, including eight large-scale transformational initiatives.
Find out more:
For more information about the STRIDE initiative, please contact Dr Trevor Cadden by email to t.cadden@ulster.ac.uk
Photo caption:
Photographed at the launch of the STRIDE project on 16 May are the partner representatives from Ulster University, (from L-R):
Dr Joseph Rafferty, Professor Trevor Cadden, Professor Laura McCauley and Professor Paul Humphreys (Associate Dean of Research and Innovation, Ulster University Business School).
