Reclaiming Common Good: Enabling transition together

In a world that is rapidly and constantly changing, we face complex challenges that require a new way of thinking, doing and acting. Who is still concerned with the common good? On 4 March, SMEs, organisations, municipalities, farmers, research and education came together to explore how we can work towards sustainable change in connection with and for the Northern Netherlands region.
‘You need each other to make a difference and initiate the transition,’ he said.

Text: Annica Doornbos
Pictures: Iris Baas-Medendorp

The Reclaiming Common Good event was organised by the Region to Region for Regional Resilience research group and the Hanze lectureship in International Business.

Strengthening the region: from the outside in

Anu Manickam, associate lecturer at the Hanze, stressed the value of bringing together all stakeholders around the projects of her research group Region to Region for Regional Resilience. ‘This still happens too little. I hope new connections will emerge today, because that is the most important thing.’ The event tied in perfectly with the launch of her book Reclaiming Common Good, which she co-wrote with Karel van Berkel. It is about rediscovering collective thinking, as already emphasised by Plato and Aristotle, but which has fallen into the background under the influence of neoliberalism and individualisation.

 ‘The complex issues of our time can only be tackled together,’ says Anu Manickam. Strengthening the region requires a different way of working, with organisations learning to look from the outside in. ‘No single party can solve the challenges of these times alone; everyone brings a piece of the puzzle. By putting them together, we make real transition possible,’ Anu believes. The transition to adaptive governance is underway, but not everyone is ready yet. Anu Manickam: ‘In our projects, we support organisations in this shift so that they can anticipate change. This is a challenge for all sectors, but especially for healthcare and education, where day-to-day practices often prevail.’

Dialogue and interaction

The event was all about new perspectives, knowledge sharing and forging unexpected collaborations. During the event, there was room for dialogue and interaction. It was striking how participants from different sectors actively sought collaboration. Anu Manickam: ‘I see people from the agricultural sector taking a broader view and consciously seeking the conversation. That is exactly the approach of this meeting and great to see.’

During interactive table discussions, participants discussed various themes around regional transitions. For instance, one of the discussions focused on the role of AI within SMEs. How can AI contribute to sectors such as manufacturing and healthcare? Can it be a solution to staff shortages? The conclusion: Due to the lightning-fast development of AI, cooperation between companies and educational institutions is crucial. That way, as a company, you stay ‘in control’ and an innovation like AI becomes not a threat but an opportunity.

Anticipating change

Hugo Velthuijsen, director of the Hanze's Centre of Expertise Entrepreneurship, stressed the importance of anticipating change yourself: ‘Lecturers and associate lecturers are constantly innovating. Innovating is inspiring, at least, as long as you choose to do it yourself. But as soon as someone else decides you have to change, it feels less pleasant. It is therefore essential to convey to your employees and the next generation that change is something you have to actively engage with yourself.’
Hugo Velthuijsen indicates that collaboration also plays a big role in education: ‘At the Hanze, we teach students how to work together on complex challenges from different perspectives. This is essential for the professionals of the future.’ In addition, interregionalisation was discussed. Hugo Velthuijsen: ‘Many regions face the same problems, but the solutions differ. And that inspires. Interregionalisation is very important to create richness in solving problems.’

Government and common interest

Bert Nederveen, alderman at Municipality of Westerkwartier, addressed the role of government in addressing issues. ‘We won't solve the big issues of our time if everyone keeps doing what they always did. We have to do it together. Common Good is about seeking the common together. Government plays a crucial role in this, because we stand for the common good.’ He stressed the importance of carefully combining different interests, such as the interests of nature and agriculture with the interests of other organisations. Bert Nederveen is grateful to be able to do this together with Hanseatic and all other parties, especially also with the European partners: ‘By cooperating with other countries in the various projects, we can be well inspired.’

Connection first

From perspective Nature, Martijn van der Glas, project leader Climate & Energy at Natuur en Milieufederatie Groningen, gives his reflection on the afternoon: ‘Besides the fact that we have a climate crisis, we are also in the middle of a biodiversity crisis. Then it's obvious to include nature development when setting up energy parks. We used to be mostly very activist as an organisation, but now the connection is in full force.’

Added value in different areas

Dick Oudman, grants advisor at the Municipality of Westerkwartier, says that the problems and issues they face as a municipality cannot be solved alone. ‘This is precisely why it is important to join hands with education, but also with entrepreneurs, residents and researchers. Together we can tackle these complex issues,’ Dick Oudman believes. ‘At the Hanze, we see that they are strongly engaged in Engaged Learning: sharing knowledge and collaborating with the outside world.’ For the Municipality of Westerkwartier, the cooperation with the Hanze brings surprising connections. For example, they are working together in the Symbiosis project on a major challenge: insulating 500 homes a year. How do education and business better connect to solve the capacity problem? What innovative insulation methods are there? Within the Buffer+ project, we research new production methods and crops together with the Hanze, some of which even prove useful for insulation. The cooperation in these research projects provides added value for the municipality in several areas: internally, by working together differently, and externally, by sharing knowledge. Dick Oudman: ‘And in our project with Germany, we see how education, business and government work together differently. It is precisely these differences that offer valuable insights.’

Concrete and practical solutions

Jurgen Elshof, regional manager at VNO-NCW MKB Noord, underlines the importance of making it practical and concrete for companies: ‘The Hanze is a real knowledge institution, sometimes already working on topics that companies are not yet thinking about. That makes it challenging, but that is precisely why we as an employers' organisation look for directly applicable knowledge for our member companies. Entrepreneurs want to know: ‘What is coming my way now? What does this mean for me, what can I do with it, and does it deliver anything?' For businesses, it is important how theoretical models can be translated into concrete and practical solutions: how can businesses, residents and organisations really do something with this?’

Moving forward together

The event Reclaiming Common Good made it clear that major transitions can only be realised by working together. Government, education, entrepreneurs and residents need each other to find solutions to the challenges of the future together. The day's discussions and insights provide a valuable basis for further cooperation in the northern region and beyond.