RCN 5G New Thinking Project now inviting applications to participate in our 3 planned study visits.
Following our 2 recent events on digital connectivity – which looked at connecting rural “not spots” and remote working hubs respectively, we are now pleased to invite applications for participation in 3 study visits being arranged between now and Spring 2022.
Applications are invited from people working in a paid or voluntary capacity in rural community development and/or policy within the statutory or VCSE (voluntary, community, social enterprise) sector. Each of the fully funded study visits will have a limited number of places and be dependent on the prevailing Coronavirus pandemic health protection regulations. Each visit will also comprise a mix of people from the statutory and VCSE sectors and include policy makers, practitioners and others.
The first, in November 2021, with the support of the Western Development Commission will be to look at the development of rural hubs in the west of Ireland and the role of the National Hubs Network in supporting their growth and development.
The second in January 2022 will be to Scotland in association with the Scotland 5G Centre and will visit the Crichton, a business and academic campus in Dumfries, which is hosting Scotland’s first rural 5G connectivity hub. The newly opened hub brings together technological expertise, academic research and local businesses in order to accelerate the potential of 5G to transform communities and economies throughout the south of Scotland. We will also be visiting a rural area at Loch Lomond to learn how better digital connectivity has been provided to and benefits this rural area.
Finally, we hope to visit England in spring 2022 to learn from the Mobile Access North Yorkshire project and also the 5G Connected Forest project at Sherwood Forest where a project is exploring the potential for 5G applications in the preservation of forests and their environment, and in enhancing the experience of visitors to the forest and surrounding area.
In each study visit, we plan to provide a rich learning and networking experience for participants and also expect them to make some use of the information, knowledge and contacts gained on their return. A straightforward application process has been established to help us select the right people for the limited number of places available and the application form can be accessed here. If you wish to apply, please do so by 5pm on Thursday 21 October.
For further information contact Nigel McKinney – nigel@ruralcommunitynetwork.org
Application form