The purpose of this PASCAL Special  Interest Group (SIG)  is to examine the interface between PASCAL and  the public policy sectors. While this topic is a very broad, it cuts across sectors and issues, including innovative resource sharing and the role of institutions of higher education, and those organizations that develop policy. It includes the development of intercultural activity. In this third issue, the themes of regionalism and the changing role of universities are considered.

Problem-Based Learning

Ilpo Laitinen of the city of Helsinki (Finland) and Chair of the SIG, reviews Problem- Based Learning (PBL) reminding us of its value as a constructivist teaching approach, implementing active learning. The paper provides a brief history of PBL in different areas of education, in particular, medical, health and business. Critical factors for success in implementing PBL are summarised and an example provided using a Seven-Step approach to PBL developed by FHWien, one of the leading universities of applied sciences in Austria.

Ilpo concludes with how PASCAL might integrate the PBL approach into its policy and programmes which could be trialled with external city partners.

Previous Issues:

ISSUE ONE: PUBLIC SECTOR INTERFACE March 2016 – Competitiveness and the Economy

http://pascalobservatory.org/pascalnow/pascal-activities/news/pascal-sig-public-sector-interface-competitiveness-and-economy-issu

ISSUE TWO: PUBLIC SECTOR INTERFACE – Summer 2016 – Cities as Platforms and Smart Cities

http://pascalobservatory.org/pascalnow/pascal-activities/news/cities-platforms-and-smart-cities-issue-two-summer-2016-pascal-sig-

ISSUE THREE: PUBLIC SECTOR INTERFACE - April 2017 Regionalism and the Changing Role of Universities

http://pascalobservatory.org/pascalnow/blogentry/news/pascal-sig-public-sector-interface-newsletter-issue-three-regionalism-and-c

Leone Wheeler

Content Editor