Professionals such as gerontologists play an important role in thedesign, development and implementation of age-friendly services.and products, by using working methods and principles of co-creation.A Dutch undergraduate applied gerontology programme aims totrain students in the why, how and what of co-creation. The degreeto which students are intrinsically motivated to develop competenciesdepends on how their psychological needs are met. Theseneeds are autonomy, an awareness of competence and a sense ofrelatedness, as described in the self-determination theory. To nurturethe intrinsic motivation of the applied gerontology students, arealistic, powerful learning environment called the Living LabApplied Gerontology was designed and implemented. The aim ofthis paper is to present the design of this powerful learning environmentand to discuss its value for nurturing the students’ intrinsicmotivation for co-creation. Based on a focus group with eightstudents, we identify directions for further research and developmentof living labs.
This article analyzes how a city can generate instrumental, intrinsic, and institutional value from its event-related networks and platforms, based on the Hieronymus Bosch 500 program in the Dutch city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch). Interviews with key stakeholders traced program dynamics over more than a decade to reveal processes of network and platform development, encapsulated in a conceptual model of strategic value creation. The results indicate that networks served to generate flows of resources, while programming helped develop platforms for knowledge generation and dissemination, helping to focus attention on the city. The Bosch 500 Foundation managing the program played an effective role in developing and supporting networks, which in turn generated significant short-term instrumental and intrinsic value. However, the failure to establish a sustainable city-wide platform related to the Bosch program caused institutional value destruction, which many saw as a missed opportunity. The study of networks and platforms can benefit from a longitudinal approach as well as a broader, contextual view of event networks.
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Background The plantar intrinsic foot muscles (PIFMs) have a role in dynamic functions, such as balance and propulsion, which are vital to walking. These muscles atrophy in older adults and therefore this population, which is at high risk to falling, may benefit from strengthening these muscles in order to improve or retain their gait performance. Therefore, the aim was to provide insight in the evidence for the effect of interventions anticipated to improve PIFM strength on dynamic balance control and foot function during gait in adults. Methods A systematic literature search was performed in five electronic databases. The eligibility of peer-reviewed papers, published between January 1, 2010 and July 8, 2020, reporting controlled trials and pre-post interventional studies was assessed by two reviewers independently. Results from moderate- and high-quality studies were extracted for data synthesis by summarizing the standardized mean differences (SMD). The GRADE approach was used to assess the certainty of evidence. Results Screening of 9199 records resulted in the inclusion of 11 articles of which five were included for data synthesis. Included studies were mainly performed in younger populations. Low-certainty evidence revealed the beneficial effect of PIFM strengthening exercises on vertical ground reaction force (SMD: − 0.31-0.37). Very low-certainty evidence showed that PIFM strength training improved the performance on dynamic balance testing (SMD: 0.41–1.43). There was no evidence for the effect of PIFM strengthening exercises on medial longitudinal foot arch kinematics. Conclusions This review revealed at best low-certainty evidence that PIFM strengthening exercises improve foot function during gait and very low-certainty evidence for its favorable effect on dynamic balance control. There is a need for high-quality studies that aim to investigate the effect of functional PIFM strengthening exercises in large samples of older adults. The outcome measures should be related to both fall risk and the role of the PIFMs such as propulsive forces and balance during locomotion in addition to PIFM strength measures.
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The transition towards an economy of wellbeing is complex, systemic, dynamic and uncertain. Individuals and organizations struggle to connect with and embrace their changing context. They need to create a mindset for the emergence of a culture of economic well-being. This requires a paradigm shift in the way reality is constructed. This emergence begins with the mindset of each individual, starting bottom-up. A mindset of economic well-being is built using agency, freedom, and responsibility to understand personal values, the multi-identity self, the mental models, and the individual context. A culture is created by waving individual mindsets together and allowing shared values, and new stories for their joint context to emerge. It is from this place of connection with the self and the other, that individuals' intrinsic motivation to act is found to engage in the transitions towards an economy of well-being. This project explores this theoretical framework further. Businesses play a key role in the transition toward an economy of well-being; they are instrumental in generating multiple types of value and redefining growth. They are key in the creation of the resilient world needed to respond to the complex and uncertain of our era. Varta-Valorisatielab, De-Kleine-Aarde, and Het Groene Brein are frontrunner organizations that understand their impact and influence. They are making bold strategic choices to lead their organizations towards an economy of well-being. Unfortunately, they often experience resistance from stakeholders. To address this resistance, the consortium in the proposal seeks to answer the research question: How can individuals who connect with their multi-identity-self, (via personal values, mental models, and personal context) develop a mindset of well-being that enables them to better connect with their stakeholders (the other) and together address the transitional needs of their collective context for the emergence of a culture of the economy of wellbeing?
The Sustainable Rivers Management (SRM) research group (HAN/VHL Universities of Applied Sciences) and the Smart Rivers Foundation (SRF) have identified an added value for collaboration in order to educate the professionals of the future. There they want to set up a joint research programme to link capacity building efforts amongst professionals with higher applied education. This project will boost the strategic partnership between the SRM group at HAN/VHL, SRF and its strategic partners. Smart River Foundation and Bureau Drift have identified the DNA or intrinsic nature of various river systems in the Netherlands (NL) using 20 years of expert knowledge. This approach is now increasingly being adopted by practitioners and policy makers in NL. The DNA of a river can only be determined after having analysed all the landscape factors involved and the interactions herein. These factors or layers are multidisciplinary and relate to the water system, abiotic and biotic variables and anthropogenic impact. However, a clear methodology for identifying the DNA of a river system is lacking. This project aims to develop this methodology and to test it internationally. A method for identifying the DNA of a river will support technical managers of Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Hoogwaterbeschermingsprogramma (Flood Protection Program, HWBP) projects in the Netherlands to realise spatial quality in their projects. Moreover, the Smart Rivers approach also becomes applicable to other river systems around the world. This will provide a sound basis for supporting existing and new international partnerships.
