Subject: The diploma thesis is focused on an in-depth research analysis of the issue of digitalization in the territory, identifying different types of problems according to different types of rural areas by using the experience of local actors. This thesis in particular will examine the experience of municipalities and local actors regarding digitalization in the Grand Est region, which corresponds to European Union NUTS 1 region FRF and NUTS 2 regions FRF1, FRF2 and FRF3.
In the theoretical part, an in-depth research analysis of previous works and data concerning the issue of digitisation of rural areas will be conducted. On the one hand, it will consist in using scientific publications. On the other hand, the analysis will focus on the different institutional sources and competent authorities in the field, such as: OECD at the international level, the European Commission, ESPON and the European Investment Bank at the European level, the INRIA, ARCEP and national ministries at the national level and the Grand-Est Region, the Directions Départementales des Territoires (DDT) and the Réseau Rural Grand-Est at the regional level. This multiscalar approach will allow to observe the different priorities perceived by the different institutional levels.
In the practical part, the work conducted in this thesis will consist of an empirical verification of the issues encountered by the different local actors involved in the digital transition. Using questionnaires/surveys submitted either electronically or from phone interviews, rural actors will voice their experience with digitisation, outline the main issues they encounter or encountered and assess the impact of digitisation on their activities. Rural actors will be comprised of representants of municipalities, union of municipalities and LAGs, as they are invested in territorial development and are more likely to represent the interests of local residents. Questionnaire questions will focus on digital skills and the access to institutional support. The results from the practical part will be compared with the results from the theorical part.
Aim of the thesis: The main purpose of this thesis is to give a comprehensive overview of the issue of digitalization in rural areas by giving a voice to rural actors of different types and with different locations who are affected by the issues of digitalization. Firstly, the rural actors will be submitted to a questionnaire to identity the main issues they encounter. Secondly, the results of the questionnaires will be compared with regional, national and european policies and surveys on digitalization and territorial development. The final goal is to assess the discrepancy between the experience of the actors on the ground and the perspective of the public authorities.
Research Plan
Subject: The diploma thesis is focused on an in-depth research analysis of the issue of digitalization in the territory, identifying different types of problems according to different types of rural areas by using the experience of local actors. This thesis in particular will examine the experience of municipalities and local actors regarding digitalization in the Grand Est region, which corresponds to European Union NUTS 1 region FRF and NUTS 2 regions FRF1, FRF2 and FRF3.
In the theoretical part, an in-depth research analysis of previous works and data concerning the issue of digitisation of rural areas will be conducted. On the one hand, it will consist in using scientific publications. On the other hand, the analysis will focus on the different institutional sources and competent authorities in the field, such as: OECD at the international level, the European Commission, ESPON and the European Investment Bank at the European level, the INRIA, ARCEP and national ministries at the national level and the Grand-Est Region, the Directions Départementales des Territoires (DDT) and the Réseau Rural Grand-Est at the regional level. This multiscalar approach will allow to observe the different priorities perceived by the different institutional levels.
In the practical part, the work conducted in this thesis will consist of an empirical verification of the issues encountered by the different local actors involved in the digital transition. Using questionnaires/surveys submitted either electronically or from phone interviews, rural actors will voice their experience with digitisation, outline the main issues they encounter or encountered and assess the impact of digitisation on their activities. Rural actors will be comprised of representants of municipalities, union of municipalities and LAGs, as they are invested in territorial development and are more likely to represent the interests of local residents. Questionnaire questions will focus on digital skills and the access to institutional support. The results from the practical part will be compared with the results from the theorical part.
Aim of the thesis: The main purpose of this thesis is to give a comprehensive overview of the issue of digitalization in rural areas by giving a voice to rural actors of different types and with different locations who are affected by the issues of digitalization. Firstly, the rural actors will be submitted to a questionnaire to identity the main issues they encounter. Secondly, the results of the questionnaires will be compared with regional, national and european policies and surveys on digitalization and territorial development. The final goal is to assess the discrepancy between the experience of the actors on the ground and the perspective of the public authorities.
Recommended resources
PĚLUCHA, Martin (2019). Smart Villages and Investments to Public Services and ICT Infrastructure: Case of the Czech Rural Dev elopment Program 2007-2013. European Countryside [online]. 2019, roč. 11, č. 4, s. 584-598. eISSN 1803-8417. DOI: 10.2478/euco-2019-0032.
ESPON (2017). The territorial and urban dimensions of the digital transition of public services. ESPON, Luxembourg, October 2017, ISBN: 978-99959-55-14-4
Nieto, E. (2019). Smart Villages: A new concept for rural development. The Scitech Europa, 17th May 2019. On-line article available at: https://www.scitecheuropa.eu/smart-villages-rural-development/95112/
OECD (2010). Strategies to Improve Rural Service Delivery. OECD Publishing, Paris. http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264083967-en
OECD (2014), Innovation and Modernising the Rural Economy. OECD Rural Policy Reviews. Paris: OECD Publishing.
Sept, Ariane. (2020). Thinking Together Digitalization and Social Innovation in Rural Areas: An Exploration of Rural Digitalization Projects in Germany. European Countryside. 12. 193-208. 10.2478/euco-2020-0011.
Zerrer, Nicole & Sept, Ariane. (2020). Smart Villagers as Actors of Digital Social Innovation in Rural Areas. Urban Planning. 5. 78-88. 10.17645/up.v5i4.3183.
Riccio, Pierre-Michel & Bonnet, Daniel. (2019). Stratégie numérique et développement des organisations.
Vincent, Boly & Marche, Brunelle & Monticolo, Davy & Camargo, Mauricio & Hörlesberger, Marianne. (2021). BE DIGITAL AND RESPONSIBLE : THE CASE OF GRANDEST TERRITORY IN FRANCE. 1151-1164. 10.52202/060557-0088.
Recommended resources
PĚLUCHA, Martin (2019). Smart Villages and Investments to Public Services and ICT Infrastructure: Case of the Czech Rural Dev elopment Program 2007-2013. European Countryside [online]. 2019, roč. 11, č. 4, s. 584-598. eISSN 1803-8417. DOI: 10.2478/euco-2019-0032.
ESPON (2017). The territorial and urban dimensions of the digital transition of public services. ESPON, Luxembourg, October 2017, ISBN: 978-99959-55-14-4
Nieto, E. (2019). Smart Villages: A new concept for rural development. The Scitech Europa, 17th May 2019. On-line article available at: https://www.scitecheuropa.eu/smart-villages-rural-development/95112/
OECD (2010). Strategies to Improve Rural Service Delivery. OECD Publishing, Paris. http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264083967-en
OECD (2014), Innovation and Modernising the Rural Economy. OECD Rural Policy Reviews. Paris: OECD Publishing.
Sept, Ariane. (2020). Thinking Together Digitalization and Social Innovation in Rural Areas: An Exploration of Rural Digitalization Projects in Germany. European Countryside. 12. 193-208. 10.2478/euco-2020-0011.
Zerrer, Nicole & Sept, Ariane. (2020). Smart Villagers as Actors of Digital Social Innovation in Rural Areas. Urban Planning. 5. 78-88. 10.17645/up.v5i4.3183.
Riccio, Pierre-Michel & Bonnet, Daniel. (2019). Stratégie numérique et développement des organisations.
Vincent, Boly & Marche, Brunelle & Monticolo, Davy & Camargo, Mauricio & Hörlesberger, Marianne. (2021). BE DIGITAL AND RESPONSIBLE : THE CASE OF GRANDEST TERRITORY IN FRANCE. 1151-1164. 10.52202/060557-0088.