Europe and North America Regional GCED Network

Based on these premises, this current research project emerged from the
discussions at the UNESCO APCEIU meeting of what was described as
North America and Europe Regional Network in Lisbon in 2018. Following
this meeting, a steering committee was launched by APCEIU that proposed a
research project aimed at addressing the following purpose of this group:
provide a networked approach to sharing information and knowledge, enabling
new collaborations, peer evaluations and support, and cost-effective research
and program implementation and dissemination.
This resulted in a follow-up meeting in Montreal, Canada, in 2019, where
we conducted a Social Network Analysis (SNA) exercise to test SNA as
an appropriate way to answer the questions posed by the EUNA Network
committee. The results of the Montreal SNA exercise were systematically
presented in the preliminary report issued in November 2020. In addition, we
used the social network actors list to conduct an initial web-based exploration
of the public representation of connections among some of the key actors. The
initial findings were also presented in the preliminary report.
After extensive data collection, which included interviews with all the key actors
in NA and EU and digital analysis of their websites and Twitter accounts, we
present the study data and analysis that maps the relationships that connect
them as a network. We also identify key institutions and individuals within the
network and/or associations between them. Social Network Analysis and digital
methods have allowed us to understand how actors involved in implementing
GCED in EUNA cooperate, especially which actors are involved, how they are
linked, and how the network is structured. This provides insights into not only
understanding how these organizations are currently linked in GCED work but
also where the network can be strengthened and supported in the future.
To conduct this research, the two principal investigators made up a research team
by contracting two Research Assistants, Carla Inguaggiato and Carrie Karsgaard,
who both have expertise in social network analysis and digital research methods.
Two additional research assistants, Francis Owusu, a University of Alberta
doctoral student working in the areas of policy network analysis, and Kester
Muller, a graduate student expert in ICT, have been hired by the University of
Alberta and Bologna University. Unfortunately, the progress of this project was
limited by the global pandemic and the restrictions that it placed on our personal
and professional lives. This impact continued during data collection and made
the completion of interviews particularly challenging. In addition, working across
time zones and with differing institutional practices and norms was incredibly
complex. Despite this, we have developed a very cohesive research team and
successfully completed all data collection and analysis (interviews and internetbased
analyses), with the exception of qualitative follow-up. However, we expect
to complete the qualitative part of the research by conducting two focus groups
with representatives of the participants by the end of June 2021.
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