Context/background The COVID-19 crisis brought to the forefront societal challenges affecting all sectors of human activity. Numerous citizen initiatives strive to tackle these challenges through digitally enhanced, community-driven digital action (DA). These initiatives take place at the local, national and international level and highlight the dynamics and strengths of DA as a catalyst for social change in crises contexts. The three best known forms of DA in COVID-19 times, that the project addresses, are: -citizen science in COVID-19 times; -the maker movement (i.e. fabrication of medical equipment); -hacktivism (hackathons, datathons, open data sprints against COVID-19). In this realm of DA in the fight against the pandemic, HEIDI project (Digital action at HEIs as a catalyst for social change in the COVID-19 crisis) aspires to reposition HEIs with respect to society, inasmuch traditional models of knowledge creation and circulations have shifted, challenged by bottom-up, community-driven action and the networking of individuals worldwide. With the aim to offer HEIs a more central role in the ongoing debates about social change through skills development of HE staff and students and to situate HEIs as co-creators in solutions to the problems that surface with the pandemic, HEIDI project seeks to create collaborative frameworks between HEIs, voluntary-sector and civic society organizations. HEIDI has 5 objectives Objective 1 is to better understand the drivers and barriers of HE engagement in DA as a catalyst for social change in the current COVID-19 crisis. We will target a broad spectrum of representatives from the HE community, namely: HE decision makers, teaching and research staff, students, technical staff and librarians (O1). Objective 2 is to create the conditions for the co-creation of DA between citizens and HE staff and students. This will be achieved through awareness raising and training events for HE students, staff and community groups to allow a broader understanding of DA dimensions, as well as real opportunities for collaborative DAs between HE actors and community groups (10 DAs in partner countries) (O2). Objective 3 is to facilitate bottom-up innovation, driven by the communities themselves, as a means of civic engagement and digital upskilling of HE students and staff. Six grassroots DAs are planned among HEIs, social actors and people experiencing fewer opportunities (marginalized individuals and communities, immigrants and refugees who face exclusion). Training in the form of tailormade webinars will be part of this approach (O3). Objective 4 aims at developing digital skills of HE students and staff with regard to responsiveness to crisis situations. To do so, it will map gaps in skills at a prior stage, then develop a methodology for skills development through DA initiatives, and finally provide evidence and report upskilling gains through the activities foreseen (O4). Objective 5 addresses needs and requirements for DA during COVID-19 with community groups and within HE systems and it will be an opportunity to gain insights into HE practices that are still far from encompassing or limit the involvement of HEIs in DA. Round tables with both community stakeholders and HE decision makers will be key for the development of a guide to embracing bottom-up DA in HE practices. In addition, 5 multiplier events in London (35 participants), Valletta (30 p.), Paris (35), Nicosia (30p.) and Thessaloniki (30 p.) will be held to promote HEIDI results and ensure transferability. COVID-19 related risks with regard to social distancing and limitations in mobility have been considered. This ambitious and well designed project will engage more than 3,000 participants (HE actors and community groups) in 85 events ranging from co-creation opportunities at makerspaces for marginalized communities to webinars, to round tables with HE decision makers, to evidence-based publications and to student committing to DAs with voluntary sector organizations as part of their HE studies. Target groups We envision engaging in this project the following target groups: a. HE students; b. HE staff; c. administration and professional services HE staff; d. community groups, voluntary sector organizations and members of the public who engage in DAs. Partnership The consortium is composed of partners with complementary profiles: 3 HEIs (University of Malta, University of Paris and University College London), one SME (W2L, Greece) and one NGO (CIP, Cyprus). The partnership is well balanced geographically (UK, FR, MT, GR, CY). The network of 21 Associated partners who have provided support letters makes the reach of HEIDI results pan-European.
Through the project implementation, HEIDI aimed to achieve the following five objectives: Objective 1: Provide an in-depth understanding of the drivers and barriers of HE engagement in DA as a catalyst for social change in the COVID-19 crisis. Objective 2: Create the conditions for citizens to voice their concerns through co-creation processes with HE staff and students in DA projects, seek solutions and engage them in the knowledge production and sharing cycle. Objective 3: Facilitate bottom-up innovation, driven by the communities themselves, as a means of civic engagement and digital upskilling of HE students and staff. Objective 4: Create a pool of evidence based on solid, pan-European frameworks of digital skills that will help HE staff and students develop their digital skills and competencies through engagement in DA. Objective 5: Address needs and requirements for DA during COVID-19 with community groups and within HE systems and gain insights into HE practices that are still far from encompassing or limit the involvement of HEIs in DA.
COVID-19 has affected billions of people worldwide. Due to governmental restrictions, people had to digitally connect to work, learn, socialise and access information and other basic services. With digital activism gaining recognition from the pre-pandemic context, it comes as no surprise that many people went online to find solutions to societal challenges caused by or during the pandemic. Although top-down Digital Action (DA) was on the rise, facing its own challenges, fewer examples of bottom-up DA were available. Many academic and policy discourses emphasise that narratives of change, which incorporate voices and needs of those who drive these processes and who will be directly impacted, are essential and very much needed in terms of achieving societal transformation. HEIDI delivered 101 events, we engaged over 3,000 people through events and over 60,000 people through dissemination to raise awareness, train, share experiences, lessons learned, visions, discuss challenges as well as needs and requirements for future DA. By doing we provided the basis to support HEIs more effectively utilise DA in meaningful and effective ways which eventually empowers communities to address societal needs