CoSim Lab (Collaborative Simulation Lab to Ensure Children and Youth Inclusion/NEET) seeks to improve the inclusion and retention of children and young people who are at risk of falling outside meaningful education, employment or training pathways. The project focuses on how schools, health services, welfare agencies and municipalities can work together more effectively to provide coordinated and preventive support.
The proposal is led by colleagues at the Faculty of Health, Welfare and Organisation (HVO) at Østfold University College, with Associate Professor Marina S. Sletten as project leader and Professor Catharina Bjørkquist as co-leader. The consortium includes researchers from the University of Stavanger, as well as key regional partners such as Østfold County Council, Halden Municipality, Sarpsborg Municipality and KRED Norway.
The Innovation Research Group (IRG) at the Faculty of Computer Science, Engineering and Economics has a supporting role in the project. IRG’s contribution is primarily related to innovation processes, process mapping and value-stream perspectives that can help identify bottlenecks and develop more coherent pathways across services. As such, IRG is one of several contributors in a larger interdisciplinary initiative led by colleagues at HVO and carried out in close collaboration with a strong network of external partners.
If funded, CoSim Lab will generate new knowledge, practical tools and simulation-based methods to support more coordinated services for children and young people in vulnerable situations. The project also has the potential to strengthen collaboration between research environments, municipalities and welfare services working to reduce exclusion and promote participation, learning and future opportunities for young people.