Global efforts to advance youth-driven innovation for social change
Editors:
Sheri Bastien (PhD), Associate Professor, Section for Public Health Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Halla Holmarsdottir (PhD), Professor at the Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences
Key dates:
May 10th, 2016: Extended abstract submission deadline
June 15th, 2016: Selection of manuscripts to be peer-reviewed, notification sent to authors
Sept. 1st, 2016: Authors to submit full written papers
Oct. 15th, 2016: First round of peer review to be complete; comments and editorial decisions returned to authors
Nov. 20th, 2016: Return of first revisions to editors
Dec. 15th, 2016: Second peer reviews to be complete; comments and editorial decision returned to authors
Jan. 15th, 2016: Final manuscripts to be received and submitted to the publisher
Introduction
Building on our previous volume ‘Youth at the margins: critical perspectives and experiences of engaging youth in research worldwide’ (Bastien & Holmarsdottir, 2015), we aim to follow up on important issues central to youth engagement in research and social innovation. Youth-driven innovation for social change is increasingly recognized as holding potential for the development of sustainable strategies to tackle some of the most pressing global challenges of our time. Yet the literature on how to effectively engage and prepare youth to take a leadership role as social innovators is nascent at best. For instance, more knowledge about what constitutes an enabling environment which fosters innovation and develops the requisite skill set in youth, as well as what approaches are most effective for engaging youth as architects of change is needed. While sensitive to the need for contextual appropriateness, this volume will contribute to the development of shared understandings and frameworks for engaging and spurring youth-driven innovation for social change worldwide.
The promise of ‘frugal innovation’, which is the development of reliable low-cost devices specifically adapted to the needs of resource constrained settings, and ‘reverse innovation’, whereby innovations are first adopted by low- and middle- income countries before spreading to high income countries and, are increasingly being recognized as essential. In this volume, we intend to showcase examples of youth engagement in frugal and reverse innovation worldwide, alongside examples which demonstrate the tremendous potential of south-south learning, but also learning and youth innovation in the Global North.
Objective of the Book
The audience for this volume is both students and seasoned scholars alike. The contributions by the various authors will reflect and discuss key considerations associated with engaging youth in innovation and social change endeavors. We hope to include chapters which reflect on important policy considerations, such as rights-based perspectives on democracy and citizenship, the adequacy of school curricula to prepare students for engaging in social innovation, or the importance of open access of learning materials, and the effectiveness of microfinance and other approaches designed to support youth endeavors to case studies which showcase examples of youth-driven innovation and social entrepreneurship worldwide. Perspectives on the theoretical lenses utilized in the literature to support these approaches will be elaborated on to expand our understandings of the roots and rationale for a focus on nurturing youth as architects of change or change agents with potential to make an impact. Globalization and its impact on youth livelihoods will be a unifying theme in the volume and taken up as a theme in the chapters.
We welcome reviews and reflective pieces, and in particular, welcome case studies and chapters grounded in empirical data collected in diverse contexts. We encourage submissions both from academic and NGOs focusing on research or projects that have been conducted with youth in any setting worldwide.
Recommended topics include, but are not limited to the following themes:
-theoretical perspectives on the why and the how of youth-driven innovation and social entrepreneurship;
-critical perspectives on youth as change agents and social innovators;
-reflections on enabling environments to support youth-driven innovation and social entrepreneurship, the role of ICT and the issues of power and gender dynamics;
-Youth policy labs as a means to create spaces for youth engagement as social innovators, tackling sustainable development challenges
-innovative platforms for unleashing youth potential and participatory action research to engage youth in tackling global ‘wicked problems’ such as climate change, mental health, conflict, global health challenges;
-globalization and impacts on youth with respect to the youth bulge and livelihood prospects;
-methodological issues and approaches to engaging youth in innovative programs that foster innovation and social entrepreneurship;
Target Audience
The book is aimed at students, scholars, and professionals who are engaged in working with youth.
The book will provide state-of-the-art scholarship on ethical and theoretical considerations, methodology, and techniques for engaging youth in the research process.
Submissions
We welcome submissions from a broad field of social science disciplines, both from senior and junior researchers with diverse geographical and cultural backgrounds. This volume is intended to contribute to the knowledge foundation in educational and social science research by specifically seeking out those who work both across disciplines and are transdisciplinary in terms of their methodological approaches.
Submission Procedure
Authors are invited to submit an extended abstract and CV by May 10th, 2016. An extended abstract consists of a maximum of 1500 words which clearly states the aims and content of the proposed chapter. Contributions will be selected based on the following criteria: a) the relevance of the proposal to the theme of the book; b) the central theoretical and/or methodological contribution and significance of the work; c) coherence of assertions and arguments presented by the author(s); and d) the innovative aspect of methods and findings of empirical studies.
Please consult the key dates listed above for a detailed timeline for the publication. All submitted chapters will be peer reviewed. Contributors may also be requested to serve as reviewers.
The publishing date of the book is determined in agreement with the publisher. We are currently in dialogue with Palgrave Macmillan. An estimated publication date is early to mid-2017. Authors should carefully consider the production timeline when submitting a chapter proposal, as deadlines must be adhered to. All inquiries, chapter proposals and submissions can be forwarded via email to the editors Sheri Bastien (sheri.lee.bastien@nmbu.no) and Halla Holmarsdottir (Halla-Bjork.Holmarsdottir@hioa.no).