Transnational Co-operation Programmes as a learning machine. The case-study of the Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013.

Abstract: The research aim of this thesis is to investigate the learning processes in INTERREG projects based on the feedback from different project partners in the Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013. Beginning with the learning processes at the individual level (between project partners) the author examines further the influence of transnational cooperation on learning processes within partner’s home organizations. Additionally, the author identifies the main barriers hindering learning processes at the both levels. The idea for this research arose from comprehensive literature analysis, which suggested that there is still a paucity of in-depth empirical studies on the learning processes in the INTERREG programmes. From a more personal perspective, the inspiration for this thesis derives from the discussions with experts during author’s internship at the Joint Technical Secretariat for the Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013 in Rostock. Through empirical analysis, the author identifies several categories which refer to learning at the individual and organizational level. These categories are based on the extensive feedback from interviews with seventeen selected project partners from the Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013. As an outcome of this dissertation the author wishes to gain a practical understanding of the learning processes at the transnational cooperation forum. Additionally, the conclusions for empirical analysis constitute an input to the ongoing discussion on the learning processes in the INTERREG projects.