Active8-Planet in the Land of the Thunder Dragon
I immediately embraced Ellen’s proposal, and soon after, we found ourselves embarking on a journey to Bhutan together. Our collaborative trip spanned from the 1st to the 14th of October, aligning with the Erasmus+ Capacity Building project known by the engaging acronym – the HAPPY project. The so called “Gross National Happiness” (GNH) has been the most significant national priority for Bhutan since the 1980s, and it has evolved into the guiding purpose of Bhutan’s development. To increase GNH and support sustainable development and well-being, people- and planet-centred development projects involving qualitative research methodology and data are needed to deepen the understanding of real life at each societal level. Hence, the Active8-Planet and the HAPPY projects go hand in hand!
And what a journey we had in the picturesque settings of Bhutan! The key aim of the 5-days workshop was to familiarize and train 15 Bhutanese participants on the added value of qualitative research when addressing the needs and requirements of external stakeholders though a customized people- and planet-centred development project. Ellen and I had the privilege of collaborating with four Bhutanese Colleges: Royal Thimphu College, Sherubtse College, College of Language and Culture Studies, and Norbuling Rigter College. We transferred the methodology, tools and experiences from the Active8 Planet project and customized them to the requirements of the Bhutanese higher education contexts. Participants firstly identified and framed stakeholders’ needs and expectations and learned how to delve deeper into these requirements and understand them thoroughly. Using the Active8-Planet canvases they articulated the challenges, research questions, and research approach with methodology. They began to understand the significance of actively seeking and integrating feedback from stakeholders throughout the entire process. During a short field work experience they implemented a pilot project and reflected on gained experiences. Finally, they learnt on how to integrate the Active8-Planet methodology into existing or designing new study courses. The workshop ended with participants pitching their project proposals to external stakeholders to receive their feedback and to gain their long-term commitment for a joint project implementation.
What truly left us inspired was the enthusiasm and engagement displayed by the workshop participants. Their dedication was so profound that they voluntarily extended their working hours to craft compelling people- and planet-centred project proposals for the stakeholders. During our journey together, we collectively embraced these fundamental principles:
- Placing People and Planet at the Heart: We firmly believe that our research and development activities should revolve around people and planet, making their needs and aspirations our guiding stars.
- Shifting from Experts to Collaborators: It is vital to shed our “expert hats” and immerse ourselves in the perspectives of the people and planet. By doing so, we can truly understand their challenges, needs and aspirations.
- Co-Creation for a Better Tomorrow: We are moving from the conventional approach of developing “for the people & planet” to a more inclusive model of developing “with the people & planet.” Together, we become co-creators of meaningful, relevant, and sustainable products, services, and solutions that can transform our futures.
A huge Kadrin chhe (Thank you) to Bhutan and to all participants for this enriching experience!
