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Archive of projects


Health-related projects


Work Adapted for all - Move Europe
The 9th Initiative of the ENWHP is increasing public awareness about the importance of retaining and encouraging return to work of chronically ill employees. This project aims to promote healthy and suitable work for people suffering the consequences of a chronic illness - either through enabling job retention or by supporting their return to work (RTW). The project works towards introducing effective workplace health practices, by creating a favourable culture and by providing guidance and a number of tools to employers, to help make a difference for employees with a chronic illness.    More on this project ...

Mental Health Promotion at Work
This current ENWHP project is developing a typology of mental health promotion initiatives at work as well as identifying models of good practice in the area.  It will report on these case studies in mid 2010.

Promenpol – Promoting Mental Health Policy
This DG research project is developing information resources and building toolkits in relation to the promotion of mental health in educational, workplace and residential homes for older people.  The project aims to act as a link between policy making and practice in the area of mental health promotion, providing useful information to policy makers on what works, while supporting practitioners to improve their practice.  The project has developed a database of more than 400 mental health promotion tools, a toolkit for each of the settings and is supporting the implementation of more than 50 field trials of mental health promotion throughout Europe.

Integrated Workplace Health Age Management
This Belgian led Leonardo project is developing training on how to deal with older workers in terms of integrated health management approaches.  The target group for the training is human resource managers, but it is also useful for any workplace actor involved in managing older workers.  The training is available both in face-to-face course (blended learning) and as an e-learning package. 

ELWHP
This Leonardo project is developing a training programme in Workplace Health Promotion for Occupational Health Physicians in Romania. The programme has been specifically designed to meet the needs of the target group and includes modules on both workplace health promotion and specialist subjects in occupational health.  The training programme is largely designed as a face to face training course bit it also includes e-learning elements.

Reintegrate
This Leonardo project is developing face to face and e-learning training courses for managers who have responsibility for ensuring return to work of people who are (longer term) absent from work due to illness or injury.  The project is based on a disability management approach to the issue, and provides a comprehensive approach both to establishing an effective return to work system and to what needs to be done when an employee goes absent.  The website for the project also provides assessment tools to measure individual and organisational training needs.

Move Europe
This ENWHP project, funded by DG-Sanco, has developed a campaign for promoting workplace health promotion across Europe.  It focuses on 4 areas – smoking prevention, stress prevention, physical activity and diet.  It has identified company practices which can act as models of good practice across all Member States in each of these areas.  These models of good practice will be presented at a conference in Perugia in April 2009.

European Risk Observatory
The Work Research Centre acts as the Irish correspondent for the European Risk Observatory.  This is an initiative of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work which seeks to identify new and emerging threats to employee health.  It does so by writing reports based on available national and EU level data on specific issues.

 

2007

  • The National Council for Ageing and Older People Project on The Role and Future Direction of Supportive Housing in Ireland

The overall aim of this project was to inform the strategic development of supportive housing for older people in Ireland. The project consisted of a literature review, a survey of voluntary sector and local authority housing providers, secondary analysis of quantitative data, qualitative interviews with key stakeholders and older people, data analysis and production of the final report. The report was published in 2007. You may access this project on the website http://www.ncaop.ie/research_housing .html

2006-2007

  • Older workers

This EF funded project undertook case studies of good practice in relation to the employment and retention of older workers. The project revisited a number of case studies that were undertaken in the late 1990's and also added new case studies to develop a database of organisational level initiatives which are available on the European Foundation's website. WRC undertook the Irish case studies for this project. For more information please consult the following link: http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/areas/populationandsociety/ageingworkforce.htm (Publication available from http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef070524.htm)

2005-2007

  • Employment guidance services for people with disabilities

This EF funded project, undertaken in two stages, examined policies and initiatives for promoting employment of people with disabilities with previous experience of working in 16 countries. It focused especially on employment guidance services. One of the major products from this project is a database of Employment Guidance Service initiatives in the area, which is available at: http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/areas/socialcohesion/egs/search.php (Publication available from http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef0633.htm)

2005-2007

  • Work Health 2

This project builds on the work of the Work Health 1 project by producing an example of a work related public health report which focuses on two of the main causes of morbidity in Europe - mental illness and cardiovascular disease. It uses publicly available data to illustrate the impact of work on these two illnesses and to show their mutual interrelationships and their relation with the workplace. The web link is as follows: http://www.enwhp.org ( Publication available from http://www.enwhp.org/index.php?id=509 )

2005-2007

  • ENAT - European Network for Accessible Tourism

ENAT has established a network in Europe for organisations interested in the issue of promoting accessible tourism. It promotes the issue in terms of policy development through supporting policy initiatives and it also supports the development of practice through providing networking opportunities for its members. The website is accessible from http://www.accessibletourism.org

2005

  • The National Council for Ageing and Older People Project on The Social Inclusion of Older People at Local Level.

This project set out to investigate the social inclusion measures for older people being undertaken at local level, and to examine the role and contribution of the County and City Development Boards (CDB's) in the social inclusion of older people at local level. The project consisted of qualitative interviews with CDB representatives, organisations representing older people and older people themselves. Document collation and analysis was also carried out, as was qualitative data analysis, a literature review and preparation of the final report. The project is now completed and the final report was published in 2005. Please refer to the following website http://www.ncaop.ie/research_socialinclusion.html

2005

  • Older workers in NMS

 This EF funded project undertook case studies of good practice in relation to the employment and retention of older workers in the New Member States. Dr. Richard Wynne acted as an advisor to this project. Publication available from http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef0626.htm

2004-2007

  • Optiwork

This DG research project has built models and tools to measure factors influencing the employment decisions of employers and job-seekers in relation to people with disabilities. Specifically, it has built models of national systems, employers' decision making in relation to employment of people with disabilities and individual level decision making. In addition, it has built tools that can be used to identify the main factors operating at these levels and to assess in economic terms the costs and benefits of employing people with disabilities at national, organisational and individual levels. These tools were piloted in 12 countries. The web link is as follows: http://www.optiwork.org/ (Publication available from http://www.optiwork.org/?p=deliverables

2004-2005

  • Workplace health initiatives for older workers

This DG Sanco funded project identified workplace health initiatives to promote the employment of older workers throughout the EU25. The link is as follows: http://www.enwhp.org (Publication available from http://www.enwhp.org/index.php?id=509)

2003-2005

  • Stress Impact

This ongoing project examined the issue of long-term absence from work due to stress related disorders. Funded by DG Research, it undertook three separate surveys - the first was a longitudinal survey of 400 long-term absentees drawn from the social insurance registers in 6 EU countries, the second was a qualitative survey of professionals who are dealing with the long-term absence, while the third was a qualitative survey of the families of long-term absentees. The study explored the processes whereby people become long-term absent due to stress related disorders and also examined how return-to-work processes operate. All publications from the project are available on the project website.  This project may be accessed through the following link http://www.surrey.ac.uk/psychology/stressimpact

2003-2005

  • Diversity management in the workplace

This Leonardo project has developed a model, a training framework and a portal website in the area of diversity management in the workplace. It is taking a holistic view of the issue rather than proposing a set of separate programmes targeted at various groups of interest. In addition, it seeks to use diversity in the workforce as a positive force for organisational and business development. The website is as follows: http://www.diversityatwork.net

2003-2004

  • Social exclusion through chronic illness 

This EF funded project examined the processes whereby people become socially excluded for reasons of chronic illness. It reports on the situation in seven countries in terms of how legislative and social insurance systems deal with the issue, it examines recent initiatives in the area in these countries and it proposes an instrument for the analysis of policy in the area. Publication available from http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef04115.htm (also http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef041152.htm)

2002-2004

  • Implementing infrastructures for promoting workplace health

This DG-Sanco project which was run by the ENWHP, developed 3 separate tools and instruments that can be used to promote workplace health.  These were:

    ·     The ENWHP Toolbox for Workplace Health Promotion
    ·     The business case for Workplace Health Promotion
    ·     National Forums on Workplace Health Promotion


The findings from this project were presented at a European Conference held in Dublin in June 2004.  Publication available here.

2002-2004

  • Work Health 1

This DG Sanco funded project has developed a set of workplace based statistical indicators for inclusion in public health statistics. The project aimed to ensure that public health statistics to be collected at EU level will adequately reflect the role of the workplace in influencing health in both a positive and negative manner. The report from the project lists and explains the chosen indicators and relates them to the larger list of Public Health Indicators collected elsewhere by DG-Sanco.The website is accessible from http://www.enwhp.org/index.php?id=509 

2001-2003

  • SDV-Netjob

This project undertook three main activities - the transnational transfer of an innovative model for the employment of people with disabilities, the development of a website portal on social dialogue and a survey of the demands and supply of IT skills. Funded by the ESF Article 6 programme, the project has achieved a high degree of success attracting thousands of website users and promoting the employment of people with disabilities in the IT industry. The website is accessible from http://www.socialdialogue.net

2001-2002

  • Models of best practice in workplace health promotion in Public Administrations 

This project undertook four case studies of best practice of WHP in Public Administrations.  Funded by DG-Sanco, it is part of the work of the European Network for WHP.  The case studies served as input to a European conference in the area which was held in Barcelona in June 2002.  Publication available here.

2000-2002

  • RETURN - between work and welfare - Strategies for return to work for the long-term disabled

This project examined workplace and welfare based responses to long-term health related absenteeism. In 6 EU countries. The project characterises workplace and welfare based rehabilitation systems, undertakes a survey of expert opinion in the area and will draft and test a company audit tool for disability management, a set of user guides to national systems and a set of ppolicy guidelines for policy makers in the area at EU and national levels. The project was funded by socio-economic research programme in Framework 5. This project is available at http://www.wrc-research.ie/return. 

2000-2002

  • Stress prevention in teaching national pilot 

This project tested the stress prevention methodology in approximately 100 Irish second level schools.  Funded by the Irish Ministry of Education and Science, it is intended that the methodology will be made available to all 2nd level schools.  Results from the pilot indicated that the methodology was acceptable, usable and that it succeeded in initiating effective stress prevention strategies in many schools.  Publication available from WRC (hard copy only).

2000-2001

  • Models of best practice in workplace health promotion in SMEs

This project undertook four case studies of best practice of WHP in SMEs.  Funded by DG-V, it is part of the work of the European Network for WHP.  The case studies will serve as input to a European conference in the area that was held in Lisbon in June 2001.  Publication available here.

  • Policy paper on workplace health promotion in SMEs

This project, undertaken for the European Network for WHP has developed a policy paper on WHP on SMEs.  It was presented and launched as part of the 2001 ENWHP Lisbon conference.  Publication available here.

2000

  • The contribution of OHS services to employability

This study undertook a set of 26 case studies in 13 countries of how OHS service can contribute to the employability of workers. Funded by the EU-OSH agency in Bilbao. Publication available in hard copy only. 

1998-1999

  • Models of best practice in workplace health promotion

This project, funded by DG-V, undertook four case studies of workplace health promotion in Ireland .  The results were used as an input to a European conference on WHP and are outlined in a book from the project.  Publication available here.

1998

  • New approaches to workplace health

This project, funded by the European Foundation, undertook a Europe wide survey of new approaches to dealing with health in the workplace.  Publication available here.

  • SHAPE

This DG-V funded project undertook a national level investigation of data and statistic which might be used to demonstrate the costs and benefits of occupational health and safety practice.  It was undertaken in all 15 Member States.  The project also proposed a methodology for calculating the costs and benefits of OHS at company level.  Publication available from WRC (hard copy only).

1997-1999

  • Stress prevention in teaching methodology 

This project, developed by WRC in partnership with two other organisations, developed and tested a standalone methodology for the prevention of stress in 2nd level schools.  It provides a set of process instructions and a set of tools for implementing a stress prevention project.  Publication available from WRC (hard copy only).

1997

  • Marketing WHP

This EF funded project involved developing a position paper on the issue of how to more effectively market workplace health promotion.  It was subsequently presented at the 1997 Den Haag conference on the costs and benefits of OHS.  Publication available from WRC (hard copy only).

1995-1996

  • Methodology for workplace health promotion

This project, funded by DG-V, developed a methodology for undertaking WHP in companies.  Based on the training specification for WHP, the methodology provides a detailed ‘how to’ set of process instructions, supported by almost 30 tools which enable companies or external professionals to undertake a comprehensive WHP process.  The methodology is currently being used in a number of countries.  Publication available from WRC (hard copy only)

  • Violence at work

This project, funded by DG-V, undertook a survey of national programmes to prevent violence at work.  It also proposed a set of policy guidelines on how national authorities and the social partners should act to prevent violence in the workplace.  Publication available from WRC (hard copy only).

1993

  • Stress in nursing

This project undertook a national survey of stress in nursing for the largest nursing union in Ireland , the Irish Nurses organisation.  Part funded by DG-V and by the INO, more than 1000 nurses were surveyed.  A major report from the project was published by the Irish Nurses Organisation. Publication available from WRC (hard copy only)

1992 

  • Stress in teaching survey

During the course of 1992 the WRC undertook the largest investigation to date of working conditions, stress and health amongst Irish school teachers.  This involved developing, administering, analysing and reporting on a survey of 2800 teachers in a nationally representative sample.  Publication available from WRC (hard copy only)



Technology-related projects  

Technology trlal evaluation and technology assessment

CommonWell
CommonWell (www.commonwell.eu) is a project funded under the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme of the European Commission. The project aims to integrate and evaluate ICT-enabled health and social care services in order to improve the quality of life of older people and their families. WRC are leading the evaluation of the pilot trials in the four countries (Germany, Netherlands, Spain and UK).

INDEPENDENT
Independent is a project funded under the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme of the European Commission. The project aims to integrate and evaluate ICT-enabled health and social care services, and additionally gives a strong focus on integrating the informal sector (third sector NGOs and informal carers) in the overall care network. WRC are leading the evaluation of the pilot trials in the five countries (Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain and UK).

Telecare trials
WRC are currently or have recently provided consultancy support for the evaluation of a number of Irish telecare trials, including telecare for people with dementia and telecare to support independent living and informal carers.

Website assessment
WRC undertakes a range of assessments of websites on a commercial basis.  The largest of these is done for the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.


Technological innovation - policy support & market analysis

ICT and Ageing: European study on Users, Markets and technologies
This study for the European Commission involved benchmarking and analysis of market developments in 16 countries across the EU as well as the US and Japan.

MeAC study: Monitoring progress of eAccessibility in Europe
This study for the European Commission involved a major benchmarking and analysis of eAccessibility policy and status in 27 countries 


Disability, ageing and caring

ICT accessibility for people with disabilities: the economic and business case
This study for NCBI provided the first detailed analysis of the business case for eAccessibility in Ireland.  

Employer supports for working carers
This study for the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions focuses on employer-level supports for workers who are trying to reconcile working with informal care for older people, adults or children who need care because of old age, disability or long-term illness.

 

 

2008

  • MeAC Study: Assessment of the status of eAccessibility in Europe.
Report for the European Commission. Available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/einclusion/docs/meac_study/
meac_report_exec_sum_05_11.pdf

 
  • Accessibility to ICT products and services by disabled and elderly people: towards a framework for further development of EU legislation or other co-ordination measures on eAccessibility.
Report for the European Commission. Available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/einclusion/policy/accessibility/ com_2008/index_en.htm#accessibility to ICT products study


  • ICT accessibility and social inclusion of people with disabilities and older people in Ireland: the economic and business dimensions.
Report for National Council for the Blind of Ireland. Available at:
http://www.cfit.ie/news-and-commentary-archive/22-wrc-research


  • ICT & Ageing: European Study on Users, Markets and Technologies.
Report for the European Commission. Available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/einclusion/library/studies/markets_ict_seniors/index_en.htm


  • Social impacts of ICT in the health domain.
Report for the European Commission. Available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/eeurope/i2010/docs/eda/social_impact_of_ict.pdf


  • Survey of Older People and ICTs in Ireland (2008).

Report to ASC programme. Available at:
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/NR/rdonlyres/373D1478-CD29-4DEA-97B0-1847E1B98BB1/32794/SurveyofOlderPeopleandICTsinIrelandResearchReportb.pdf


2003

  • Evaluation of EF website

This project, the evaluation of the EF website, involved running expert usability tests on the main EF web site, undertaking an online survey of users and developing a set of recommendations for further development of the site.  The project was undertaken in partnership with a Greek web development company.  WRC was the project leader.

2001-2003

  • SIBIS – Statistical indicators for the Information Society

This project was built on the work of ECATT by again undertaking a major survey of employers and employees of telework and e-commerce intentions and practice.  In addition, it also evaluated e-Europe action lines and developed a set of statistical indicators of the Information Society which may be used by national and European statistical agencies.  WRC was a research partner in this project.

2000-2003

  • ARCTIC

This project involved building a set of software tools for building collaborative work applications.  Our work in the project involved modeling telecollaborative work activities and feeding them in to the design of the applications building system.

1999-2000

  • PEPPER

This SPRITE project updated a previous methodology for the procurement of telephone systems by large public sector agencies.  WRC were involved in updating the methodology to take account of new ways of working (essentially involving matching new work methods to the increased functionality of modern telephony systems).  The work also involved making recommendations to telecommunications standards bodies.

1998-2000

  • ECATT – Electronic commerce and telework trends (ECaTT)

This Framework 4 project was a direct descendant of TELDET, as it undertook an even wider scale (10 Member states) survey of more than 10000 employers and employees on the issues of telework intentions and practice.  In addition, it surveyed intentions and practice with regard to e-Commerce.  More than 50 case studies of e-commerce and telework were also undertaken, and the situation in Europe with regard to these issues was compared to that of Japan and the US. WRC was a research partner in this project.

 

  • MAST – Remote team management for teleworkers

This ADAPT funded project developed a toolset for supporting the implementation of teleworking in large enterprises.  This toolset specifically addressed organisational and human factors issues in the process of implementation.  The project also developed a training course to support the implementation process.  WRC was the project initiator and manager.

1996-1998

  • TREND

This TEN (Trans-European Networks) project developed and rolled out an Internet based system for supporting telecollaborative work.  Our role in the project involved undertaking surveys of user requirements, contributions to modeling work and evaluation of the system developed in the project.

1997

  • Scenarios of ISDN usage in schools

The WRC have worked for one of the principal telecommunications research agencies on a number of commercial contracts, the latest of which was concerned with a project on implementing ISDN in primary levels schools.  In this contract, the WRC developed 15 different ISDN usage scenarios, whereby primary schools could make innovative use of the capabilities of ISDN for both administrative and educational purposes.  These usage scenarios are currently being assessed in a number of pilot schools.

1996-1997

  • HSPro-EU – Health and safety promotion in the European Union

The WRC was a major partner in the HSPro-EU (Health and Safety Promotion in the EU) project which started in January 1996.  This project, with partners in Greece, the Netherlands and Spain , built an internet system which provides information and tools for companies which enable them to enhance their health and safety and WHP practices.  Within this project, the WRC is responsible for developing information content and tools and for evaluation of usage of the system by SMEs and other organisations in the participating countries.  The system was used as the basis for the system operated by the EU OSH agency in Bilbao.

1996

  • TELTEST – Interoperability problems for teleworkers using EURO-ISDN

This project (>2mEcu), funded under the TEN-ISDN programme, examined inter-operability problems with EURO-ISDN in the context of teleworking.  Managed by the WRC, it produced specifications for a Common Teleworking Functional Architecture and a fiche of the kinds of interoperability problems which occur when teleworking via EURO-ISDN and their associated solutions.

1994-1996

  • TELDET – Telework development and trends in Europe

TELDET (Telework Development and Trends) was a project funded under the Telework Stimulation Action programme of DGXIII which undertook a survey of the demand and supply factors for teleworking in the five major European countries.  In addition, it carried out case more than 50 case studies of teleworking in all of the EU member States.  Within this project, the WRC was responsible for developing models of teleworking and for managing the case study work.  This project gave a unique overview of the then state of teleworking in Ireland and Europe , which is reflected in a book on the project (Korte and Wynne, 1996).

1995

  • EMPLOY – The employment impact of teleworking

The EMPLOY project, funded by DG XIII, examined the potential employment effects of teleworking in 6 major urban areas in Europe .  In Ireland, Dublin was selected for intensive study, which involved undertaking the first survey of teleworking potential among Dublin based enterprises, a number of case studies and the development of policy papers to encourage the growth of and maximise the employment potential of teleworking within the Capital.  This work also involved close liaison with the Public Authorities in the area, leading to a wide range of contacts with public sector bodies and a good knowledge of telematics developments within the Public Service and also of those promoted by the Public Services

1994-1995

  • TWIN - Networking teleworking centres for the disabled

The WRC was a contractor in the TWIN project (funded under the Telework Stimulation Action Programme of DG-XIII) which sought to develop networks of telecentres for the disabled throughout Europe .  This project identified 10 working telecentres for disabled people in 5 European countries and developed a range of links between them in order to enhance their capabilities to undertake trans-border teleworking.  In addition, the project developed a number of policy documents, which aimed to enhance the prospects for such teleworking for disabled people.

1988-1993

  • ORDIT – Organisational requirements development for IT

This software development methodology project (funded under ESPRIT) developed a method for capturing organisational (non-functional) requirements for IT systems.  Loosely based on Soft Systems and Socio-technical Systems methodologies, the project developed models and syntax for translating so called soft requirements into a specification language which system developers could use.

1988-1991

  • IT-USE

This project developed an interactive videodisk dealing with design and implementation issues in IT.  Our role in the project was to develop materials in relation to training and human factors in the IT design and implementation process

 

  • ADAPT / MAST
    Human Resources Community Initiative
  • ASTRID
    A Social and Technological Response to meeting the needs of Individuals with Dementia and their carers
  • ASTROLAVUS
    Development of an EU Certification System for Information Technology Qualifications
  • DiManT
    Diversity Management Tools for the Workplace

 

  • Employability
    Occupational Health Services and Employability
  • FAMILIES
    A study of the interactions between family trends and new work methods in the Information Society
  • IndiCaM@ICT
    Individual Career Management Tool in the Work Place, for Increased Mobility, Adaptability to Change, and Equal Opportunities in the ICT Sector
  • PEPPER
    Process re-Engineering and Procurement Planning extending EOTIP coverage as mandated by new work Requirements
  • Preventing stress in teaching
    A manual for preventing teaching stress in second level schools
  • RETURN
    Between Work and Welfare Improving Return to Work Strategies for long-term absent employees
  • SME
    European Network for Workplace Health Promotion / SME (Small and Medium Enterprises)
  • SPEKs
    Creating Value through Change: Anthropocentric approach bringing together Social Partners, Enterprises and Knowledge Providers
  • TEN-CARE
    Telecommunications-based Home-Care Services for European Citizens