1. The impact of Digital Intermediaries in the
Emilia - Romagna Region based on the
local implementation of the MIREIA project
Grazia Guermandi – Regione Emilia-Romagna (IT)

2. Pane e InternetBread and Internet (B&I)
• “B&I” is the main e-inclusion programme of the Telematics
Plan of the Emilia-Romagna Region
– Started in 2009
• Targets: citizens and e-inclusion intermediaries
– 725 digital literacy courses
– 10.500 citizens
– 190 municipalities in the E-R Region
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3. Pilot case for MIREIA
• B&I selected as Pilot case for 'testing' the methodological
approach of the Impact Assessment framework developed by
the European Commission's Joint Research Centre – Institute
for Prospective Technological Studies (JRC-IPTS)
http://is.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pages/EAP/eInclusion/MIREIA.html
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4. MIREIA Impact assessment framework
Counterfactual Impact
Counterfactual Impact
Evaluation
Evaluation
Context Analysis
Context Analysis
Framework
Framework
Impact Measurement
Impact Measurement
Model
Model
Performance Assessment Model
Performance Assessment Model
Source: Misuraca et al, JRC-IPTS , European Commission , 2012
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5. From Digital literacy to ICT for employability
 “Bread, Internet & Jobs” (B&I&J)
• A specific action created to test MIREIA in ´real-life´
• to evaluate improvements in employability
• to verify the effects on users´ behaviors
• MIREIA used a robust methodology for testing
hypothesis
• Counterfactual analysis with Randomized Control Trial
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6. Implementation of the B&I&J Pilot for MIREIA
• 14 training courses of the Employment centres
• provinces of Parma, Bologna and Rimini
• Target: unemployed citizens
• TG = 148 people tested ex-ante, ex-post, after 3 weeks;
• nTG = 100 people reached interviewed in May 2013
Piacenza
Parma
Unemployment
Rate
6.32%
Ferrara
Modena
Bologna
Reggio
Emilia
Ravenna
Unemployment
Rate
6.91%
Forlì-Cesena
Rimini
Unemployment rate:
Emilia-Romagna Italy 7.08%
Italy 10.70%
Unemployment
Rate
6.91%
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7. Key results of the MIREIA piloting 1/3
• Behavioral changes in job searching methods:
• TG has increased the use of internet tools for job searching
Often
Quite often
Behavioural changes in
on-line job searching
(t-stud0,001)
Sometimes
Never
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8. Key results of the MIREIA piloting 2/3
• Behavioral changes in internet use for job searching:
• the number of job offers has increased for TG candidates
Absolute
numbers
Behavioural changes in on-line job
searching
(t-stud0,001)
Key
Behavioural
Changes
Proxy of
expected
impact
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9. Key results of the MIREIA piloting 3/3
•
´Nudge´ effects on local communities
• trained people help other people in learning how to use
Internet for job searching
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10. Lessons learned from MIREIA
• The application of MIREIA-IAF in ER provides evidence of:
• the importance of the role of eInclusion intermediaries
for promoting digital inclusion and employability
• the need to equip eInclusion intermediaries with
instruments and methodologies for impact assessment
• the need of strengthening coordination of activities at
regional level involving local partners
• the need to develop an Impact assessment “culture” at
the local level, through seminars, training and
workshops
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11. Added Value: the key role of intermediaries
• Intermediaries
• allow to address more specific actions to
targeted groups
• are able to engage target groups quickly and
effectively
• contribute strengthening the positive effects of
e-Inclusion initiatives
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12. Recommendations
• Introduce Impact assessment instruments, such as
MIREIA, in policy planning and monitoring
• Crucial role of counterfactual evaluation
• Take into account methodological challenges
• e.g. privacy issues and selection of control groups
• Share evidence gathered as knowledge base for
better integrating policy and implementation actions
• Impact assessment as strategic planning support
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13. For further information
•
Grazia Guermandi
Regione Emilia-Romagna
Email GGuermandi@regione.emilia-romagna.it
http://www.paneeinternet.it/
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