Purdue's Certificate Program In Open Source Economic Development

Strap On Your Goggles: It’s a Whole New Game

Certificate in Open Source Economic Development “Economies are not just metaphorically like open systems, they literally and physically are a member of the universal class of open systems.” - Eric D. Beinhocker, The Origin of Wealth: Evolution, Complexity and the Radical Remaking of Economics “The future ain't what it used to be.” - Yogi Berra

For three decades now, we’ve been witnessing a steady trickle of plant closings and lost jobs, and it now seems the dam has finally given way as we struggle through the current recession. Company towns and lifetime job security are notions of the past. At the same time, a different economy is emerging across the country. Unlike the older industrial economy, this new open source, networked economy is embedded in smaller companies with unfamiliar names. These new companies share some common characteristics. They are flexible, adaptive, and connected. They innovate. Our challenge, as economic development professionals, is to not only understand this innovation economy and embrace it but also to do begin doing our own work differently. For the foreseeable future we will continue to struggle with plant downsizing and closings and in most cases, these changes will be unavoidable. At the same time, globally competitive regions will continue to have the potential to attract talent and support innovative companies and people. That’s where prosperity will emerge and we need a whole new set of open-source tools so we can effectively help our local and regional economies participate in the innovation economy. Toward that end, the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute (OU/EDI) and the Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD) is partnering to offer a new certificate course in Open Source Economic Development (OSED). Many communities are already successfully using elements of OSED and Purdue has been incorporating OSED into projects with partners like the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Edward Lowe Foundation and other agencies and organizations. Some of the basics of OSED have been introduced in OU/EDI’s Advanced Strategic Planning course. What You Will Learn This comprehensive OSED certificate program will provide principles and take-home tools related to: –

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Understanding the role of temperament in open networks Linking and leveraging economic assets Mapping a region’s brainpower Translating brainpower into innovation

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Creating and supporting “hot spots” where innovation takes root Branding and telling a region’s story Promoting new models for civic leadership Learning the art and practice of strategic doing Using Web 2.0 tools in OSED

The Course Design The OSED Certificate program incorporates face-to-face instruction, monthly field work done back at home, and a Living Lab capstone experience. The first face-toface session will include a comprehensive introduction to OSED principles and tools. Participants will then return home to do field work assignments with monthly Virtual Base Camp sessions with the instructors. These sessions will utilize Purdue University’s Adobe Connect © platform. For the participants, only broadband connectivity and an inexpensive webcam is required. After six months of at-home field work, participants will return for one final face-to-face session that will include a Living Lab capstone experience in a community near Indianapolis. During this Living Lab, participants will work within a community to design and launch an OSED project. Upon successful completion of the course, each participant will receive an OSED Certificate issued jointly by the University of Oklahoma and Purdue University. Where and When The inaugural offering of the OSED Certificate program will be held in Purdue Technology Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. The dates are as follows: – – – – – – – –

September 28-30, 2009: OSED 101 Workshop in Indianapolis October 15, 2009: 2-hour Virtual Base Camp via video conference November 19, 2009: 2-hour Virtual Base Camp via video conference December 17, 2009: 2-hour Virtual Base Camp via video conference January 14, 2010: 2-hour Virtual Base Camp via video conference February 18, 2010: 2-hour Virtual Base Camp via video conference March 18, 2010: 2-hour Virtual Base Camp via video conference April 18-21, 2010: Living Lab Session in and around Indianapolis

Instructors The lead instructor for the OSED program is Ed Morrison. Ed is a long-time OU/EDI Advanced Strategic Planning instructor and the creator of the OSED model. Ed has worked with economic development professionals from all over the world. Ed is the Economic Policy Advisor to Purdue University. Assisting Ed is Scott Hutcheson, Acting Co-Director of PCRD and Assistant Program Leader for Purdue’s Extension’s Economic and Community Development program. Scott and Ed will be joined by others with specific expertise in open source economic development Cost and Registration The cost for the certificate course is $995. Lodging, transportation, and some meals are not included in the registration price. We are currently finalizing registration materials. To be notified when registration is available, please contact Peggy Hosea at [email protected] or 765-236-0955.