New/ Update/ Wake-up
New: Apply- Existing: Update your group info- Wake-up: Inactive Groups, revitalize
Deadline to apply/update: 17 February 2023
Background
This call for Cumulus Working Groups (CWG) mobilizes the existing CWGs to update, to defrost some not active at the moment, and also to welcome new ones to start sharing knowledge and best practices.
The 1st ever Cumulus Working Group is X-Files for the development of internationalization. It was founded in April 1998 in Prague Czech Republic during the first Cumulus conference. Over the years, many working groups have been and are active, among those active today are e.g. CWGs are ReVeda for research, Art and Design Teacher Education and Pedagogy, Digital Culture, Leadership and Strategy, Business, Industry and Innovation, Sustainability, Food Think Tank, Textiles and Fashion, Contemporary Art. Please check CWGs here.
What is a Cumulus Working Group?
CWGs are unique open intensive thematic focused groups of voluntary individuals that are experts of a Cumulus member institution willing to present and to share their knowledge and experience in a particular field, discipline, or topic. The group is an action of passionate people among the Cumulus members inspiring them to share and meet ideally online and/or onsite repeatedly during annual Cumulus conferences and under the Cumulus umbrella outside our any other Cumulus activity. The sharing aims to add value to the work of an individual, the home institution but also impacting positively the society and the planet. A CWG functions as a hybrid, but a physical presence, e.g., organizing its meeting also onsite during a Cumulus annual conference is welcomed.
Why this Call?
The aim of the call is also to enable those active already existing CWGs to keep their dynamics going on and inspire them to work also in between of the two Cumulus annual conferences, to clarify some operational in their work and to enable them to share the outcomes where Cumulus website is an important tool. The call may not meet all special features of the groups today, but it gives a general framework understanding the evolution of the groups. The call also inspires new ones to be born.
What is the role of a Cumulus Working Group in Cumulus?
CWGs are fundamental thematic pillars of Cumulus association strengthening the affiliation of the members and the sense of community, sharing knowledge and best practices. The group assures continuity in Cumulus as an evolving process of knowledge development and sharing.
CWGs offer their expertise as a group of people of Cumulus. They can be also invited to be in charge for some activities in collaboration with a Cumulus partner by and with the Cumulus Executive Board and the Secretariat.
CWGs are open, committed bottom-up groups of voluntary individuals of Cumulus member universities
1) enabling to include people from the other Cumulus member institutions or Cumulus partners or any other within the framework the association can provide,
2) interested in assuring diversity in terms of perspectives, background, cultural, expertise and geographical context and equivalent,
3) understanding the importance to include people that are not necessarily attending each Cumulus conference or any other meeting or event organized by the group under the umbrella of the association, as well as being ready to include guests and other contributions e.g. local guests as well as other associations or bodies,
4) serving Cumulus members and others beyond by sharing their meeting and activity outcomes,
5) understanding the activity of the CWG is strongly welcomed also to take place online.
6) not competing or organizing something similar as in the program of Cumulus e.g. taking place during a Cumulus conference or any other action taken by the association via its CEB or secretariat.
What is the structure of a Cumulus Working Group?
CWGs have:
1) a NAME: The CWG has a name as Cumulus “xx” Working Group defined by the group understanding Cumulus Association, Cumulus, is the reference when the group presents.
2) a FOCUS The CWG has its focus with representing a) the goals, b) a plan of outcomes and explaining how the group fits inside Cumulus identity and strategy.
3) OUTCOMES: The CWG has its action plan. Though the group is also ready to take an action also outside its own plan. The request may come by CEB or the secretariat also take place with any partners.
3) a CHAIR:
The CWG has a chair and can have a co-chair under the umbrella of a Cumulus member institution as leader(s) of the group. These person(s) is/are responsible of taking care of the CWG, ensuring its program, continuity with an inclusive attitude.
The group itself decides on its coordination and chairmanship, though Cumulus Executive Board (CEB) and the Secretariat may contribute to a case of any challenge. The group has also other key people regularly working for the CWG. The coordinator/s and the key people constitute the key group.
5) a MENTOR: Cumulus Executive Board may nominate mentor/s for the CWGs, if so, the aim of the mentor is to support the work of the CWG in agreement of the CWG. The CWG mentor can report to CEB. CEB can also welcome mentors from outside its own outreach, though the aim is merely among Cumulus members.
What is not a Cumulus Working Group?
Some examples:
1) “Conversations”; Cumulus conference “slot” called “Conversations” are hosting mainly one-time events and open group meetings that can have the same format of a CWG but don’t assure the same CWG continuity and specific outcome. However, it is possible a CWG can emerge based on these meeting(s) during the Conversations in a Cumulus conference; then it is possible to get a Cumulus Working Group status in collaboration with the secretariat and Cumulus Executive Board.
2) A ”Cumulus Partner Event”: These can be initiatives like DESIS network, IxDA, DOGA Norway, AIGA, DINZ, ADR, ADI, ELIA, CILECT, EIDD, BEDA, WDO etc. in tune with Cumulus vision and strategy, hosted within the Cumulus conferences or outside this agenda enriching the contents offered to the members. They are also entitled to get placement in a Cumulus conference via Cumulus Secretariat in collaboration with the conference host. However, a partner can also collaborate with a CWG for its group meeting or for any other activity with a Cumulus partner and in collaboration with the secretariat and CEB.
How does a Cumulus Working Group work?
Practical and other
1) HOW TO BE ACTIVE
Cumulus conferences
Cumulus secretariat calls for Cumulus Working Groups to organize their meetings during the next Cumulus conference. The CWGs are part of the conference program. The call includes giving a deadline for the
a. CWG meeting topic and the session content.
b. speakers onsite or online.
Any other
Any other meeting of the CWG must also be negotiated and worked out in collaboration with the secretariat. CWG is aware of the hybridity of the meeting and may be partly or fully online by presenting or participation. These details negotiated with the secretariat and the host.
2) WHEN and HOW:
a. It is possible to organize a separate CWG meeting or event outside Cumulus conference annual agenda. If so, it takes place under the umbrella of Cumulus. Organized in collaboration with the Cumulus secretariat.
b. The lengths of a CWG session is 1,5-2 hours per day is the common format e.g. either with am or pm placement in the conference program. On request with the secretariat, the CWG can extended its meeting to max. one (1) day within the conference program. CWG can organize an extra day as pre- or post-conference CWG meeting, though this must be negotiated and organized in collaboration with the secretariat and understanding the resources of the host and the association.
3) DISSEMINATE
When CWGs disseminate, it takes place under the umbrella of Cumulus as the CWG group or in collaboration with a partner. The key tool is Cumulus website where the groups have a space allocated to them. Any other dissemination takes place in collaboration with the secretariat and using Cumulus media channels as the main ones. Another tool is to publish via Cumulus Think Tank publication and go online. If the group has any other idea for dissemination, the group contacts the secretariat for any next step. (Pls. see below the “outcomes”.)
The secretariat may give after the conference/meeting to the CWG a deadline to provide material shared in the Cumulus channels. If the group works, shares etc. in other social media or equivalent tools, the secretariat must have access as one of the administrators.
4) CWG CALLING
A CWG can have for its meeting its own call for papers or proposals. The call must be revised and exercised operatively with Cumulus secretariat. Any further support may be given by CEB.
5) NOT ALONE
The group can welcome in collaboration with the Cumulus secretariat, CEB and the conference host also other stakeholders to participate in a CWG action from industry, enterprise, NGO, governmental body etc. equivalent.
6) ECONOMY OF EXPERTISE
Cumulus secretariat and CEB can ask a CWG to serve with their expertise Cumulus by e.g., presenting in an event or a project mobilized by the secretariat and/or CEB. CWG can also propose a project where Cumulus to play a role.
7) LIVE, FREEZE OR…
CWGs exist relevant to other Cumulusians. To measure it, it can be the CWG activity, if the activity or participation in the meetings is very low over a time, CWG can be set frozen for a term by CEB and the secretariat in collaboration with the group. To note, any CWG CEB mentor can also support and also propose in these cases.
8) JOINING
If the CWG meeting is held during the Cumulus conference program, CWG members (coordinators, key-group) are ready to participate also in the actual conference for sharing and learning.
9) WHO PARTICIPATES
The CWG reports to the secretariat the list of participants with contact information after its every meeting.
About Cumulus Working Group outcomes
CWG should share its any outcomes of each CWG meeting and any other at the Cumulus website and social media in collaboration with the secretariat for example:
1) pictures, videos, abstracts, notes, summaries….
2) a communication channel (Slack)
3) a list of interesting references (bibliography; list of associations, researchers,…. )
4) a repository of case studies on a particular subject
5) a publication (Cumulus Think Tank publication series)
6) a MOOC…
WHAT TO DO?
New – Update on Existing – Wake-up of Sleeping = Groups
New: Apply/ Existing: Update your group info/ Wake-up: Inactive Groups, take your chance
Deadline to apply or update: 17 February 2023
A. To propose a NEW Cumulus Working Group
The group of interested individuals (that are affiliated to a Cumulus member) presenting in maximum 3000 characters in total the following information:
1) NAME of the CWG
2) SHORT DESCRIPTION of:
the field, focus and goals the group represents, potential outcomes and how these fit inside the Cumulus identity and strategy. Reasoning why this group must be created as a CWG.
3) OUTCOMES: Plan for disseminating the outcomes of the work of the group (both short term instant communication for example after each meeting, as well as long term activities that could include a plan to publish etc.)
4) CHAIR as a leading person of the group who is responsible of taking care of the CWG, ensuring its continuity with an inclusive attitude (name, email, other contact info, home university)
CO-COORDINATOR(S) One or two co-leader/-chair/s (persons with the same characters of the leader able to support the leader and to substitute him/her in case of absence as in item 3.). (name, email, other contact info, home university)
5) OTHER KEY PEOPLE regularly working for the CWG. A goal, if possible, is to have a minimum of 5 additional names from 5 different Cumulus members. (Name, email, other contact info, home university).
6) AOB: Any other by the group.
B. To UPDATE information about an ONGOING Cumulus Working Group
or revitalize a frozen one
The group of interested individuals (that are affiliated to a Cumulus member) presenting in maximum 3000 characters in total the following information:
1) NAME of the CWG (the existing one is sufficient, or a new name given)
2) SHORT UPDATE of:
the field, focus and goals the group represents, potential outcomes and how these fit inside the Cumulus identity and strategy. Reasoning why this group is important to exist as a CWG.
3) OUTCOMES: Plan for disseminating the outcomes of the work of the group short-term or long-term,
4) CHAIR as a leading person of the group who is responsible of taking care of the CWG, ensuring its continuity with an inclusive attitude (name, email, other contact info, home university)
CO-CHAIR(s) One or two co-leader/-chair/s (persons with the same characters of the leader able to support the leader and to substitute him/her in case of absence as in item 3.). Name, email, other contact info, home university given.
5) OTHER KEY PEOPLE regularly working for the CWG. A goal, if possible, is to have a minimum of 5 additional names from 5 different Cumulus members. (Name, email, other contact info, home university).
6) AOB: Any other by the group.
Call DEADLINE 17 FEBRUARY 2023
The material must be sent to Cumulus secretariat to [email protected] by 17 February 2023. The secretariat may work out the material further in collaboration with CWG prior to a CEB meeting.
CEB will go through the material supporting the group by evaluating CWG relevance and any qualitative issue with the right to propose to CWG e.g., any improvement, merger of groups, contribution by the members and Cumulus partners or equivalent. CEB may ask advice from experts outside the board and the secretariat.
A CWG known functioning or having been a silent over a while not participating in this call, CEB has the right to reorganize the group and its activity or freeze it.
The CWGs will go after this call to the attention of the General Assembly agenda for its approval, taking place during 12-15 April 2023 Cumulus Antwerp conference.
To keep in mind, the “Conversations” slot in a Cumulus conference offers to Cumulusians a possibility to get together as a group for an open meeting, but not automatically taking place as a recognized Cumulus Working Group CWG. CEB has the right to also open a call for new Cumulus Working Groups in the future.
Submit your application/update: [email protected]
More information: Cumulus Secretariat Eija Salmi [email protected].
Check out current CWGs here.
