Summer School of Time
The first Summer School on time policies
Dates: 10-14th June
Format: on-line (10-12th) and on-site in Barcelona (13-14th)
Languages: the on-line Summer School (10-12th June) will be fully in English, and the on-site Summer School (13-14th June) will be, in Catalan and English.
The Summer School of Time is the first European training programme on time policies, an instrument that institutions can use to tackle time unrest (including time poverty) and transform the 21st-Century society in order to make it more egalitarian, more efficient, more sustainable, and healthier.
The School is aimed at public officials, practitioners, researchers, and interested citizens and organisations. It seeks to provide both theoretical and practical knowledge on time policies and the right to time, a concept that embraces the individual and collective right to self-determine how to use our time. The School will focus on motivating and empowering participants to make positive changes in their communities. Through case-based sessions, attendees will gain practical tools to address specific needs using time policies. Additionally, recognizing that effective time policies also rely on building relations among its practitioners, networking opportunities will be provided to foster mutual support among participants.
The School will offer two different formats to facilitate participants’ engagement: the on-line Summer School of Time, aimed at general citizens and interested organisations, and the on-site Summer School of Time, aimed at public officials and elected representatives from local, metropolitan, or regional institutions.
Participants will receive a certificate upon participation in all the on-line sessions.
Why is it urgent to discuss time?
Time is a growingly scarce and unequal resource. 20% of European citizens, rising to 34% among women with children, are experiencing time poverty: they do not have a literal minute for themselves after completing their necessary activities of work, sleep, and care. All of us are feeling this disturbing sensation of being under constant time pressure.
The consequences of time poverty and time inequality are far-reaching, affecting both individual well-being and social cohesion. Countless studies highlight the adverse impact of time poverty on mental and physical health, ranging from heightened risks of depression and obesity to anxiety and cardiovascular diseases. It corrodes the very fabric of our society, diminishing democratic participation and limiting social interactions with loved ones. It also hampers economic growth, as workers trapped in time-poor environments struggle to strike a healthy work-life balance, ultimately diminishing productivity. As a case in point, it is calculated that structural sleep deprivation leads to estimated losses in national GDP of 1% to 2%.
Objectives of the on-line Citizen’s Summer School
- Provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of time policies, right to time and time poverty and how they affect our daily lives.
- Offer engaging theoretical seminars on key topics such as health, digital disconnection and work, equipping the audience with tools and knowledge.
- Empower participants to take action and make positive contributions to their communities based on the knowledge and skills acquired during the online Summer School sessions.
- Equip organisations with practical tools to improve time organisation and working staff conditions.
Objectives of the on-site Public Officials' Summer School
- Knowledge Sharing: Facilitate in-depth discussions and exchanges of knowledge among experts, policymakers, and elected representatives on the importance of time policies in promoting societal well-being.
- Capacity Building: Equip participants with practical tools and methodologies to implement effective time policies tailored to their organization’s needs.
- Network Expansion: Create a platform for participants to establish meaningful connections, share experiences, and access ongoing support for their time policy initiatives beyond the summer school.
The on-line Citizen’s Summer School of Time sessions will feature theoretical seminars and practical training exploring time unrest and providing tools to implement time policies within organisations. These sessions are designed for anyone interested in exploring how better social organisation of time can be addressed from different areas of expertise, with a special focus on organisations searching for bettering their time and working conditions.
Due to the international approach of this School, the language of all on-line events will be in English.
Time Policies, key policies for the 21st Century
Monday 10th June, 14:00-15:30 CEST
What are Time Policies and what’s their impact on the different areas of interaction. Round table with local and international organisations and experts on the topics of Time & Care; Time & Sustainability; Time & Social – Economic Impact; Time & the Youth.
With the participation of:
- Maria Nikolopoulou, Vice-president of the Equality group at the European Economic and Social Committee
- Fanny Magini, Partnerships and Advocacy Expert at the City Resilience Global Programme of UN Habitat
- Alex Quinn, Policy Officer of the European Youth Forum
- Johanna Schima, Vice-president of “Make mothers Matter”
Facilitation: Marta Junqué, Director of the Time Use Initiative
Time, health, and screens
Tuesday 11th June, 11.30-13.00 CEST
Introduction to the concepts of chronobiology. Why is it important to respect our circadian rhythms? A debate with health experts focused on the importance of maintaining a balanced time routine that promotes healthy habits, adequate rest and conscious screen time, addressing it by perspectives on public policy, seasonal clock change and rest. The session will as well share practical tools on digital disconnection.
With the participation of:
- Hannes Jarke, Project Officer at Eurohealth
- Núria Gonzàlez Manzano, Analyst Coordinator at the Labour Relations Council of the Catalan Government
Facilitation: Lía Barrese, Coordination Assistant of the Time Use Initiative
Labour reduction debate: 4-day week or fewer hours?
Tuesday 11th June, 14.00-15.30 CEST
We are at the threshold of the new labor reform of our times, but what form should it take? Discussion among experts on the benefits and problems of 4 working days vs. reducing the working day. How is the situation across different countries in Europe?
With the participation of:
- Vicent Borrás, Professor and researcher at the Center for Sociological Studies on Daily Life and Work of the Autonomous University of Barcelona
- Mariluz Vega, Honorary Consultant of the Complutense University of Madrid and former official of the International Labor Organization
- Dale Whelehan, Chief Executive Officer of 4-Day Week Global
Tools for implementing time policies in your organisation
Wednesday 12th June, 14.30-16.00 CEST
How could I implement time policies in my organisation? This session will answer this question and provide a set of tools for helping private organisations move towards healthier and more efficient ways of organising their time. Practical session with the presentation of 2/3 case studies.
With the participation of:
- Marta Junqué, Director of the Time Use Initiative
- Lía Barrese, Coordination Assistant of the Time Use Initiative
- Marc Martorell, Consultat of the Time Use Initiative
The on-site Summer School of Time will focus on implementing time policies from the local, metropolitan, and regional levels. Hosted by the Barcelona City Council on 13-14th June at Picasso Museum (plaça de Jaume Sabartés 1, Barcelona), these sessions will be especially interesting for practitioners and public officials. They will delve into practical insights on how to implement time policies effectively to foster a more equal, healthier, sustainable, and efficient urban society.
The language of all on-site events will be both in English and Catalan.
Thursday 13th June
9:30 a.m. — Opening and welcome remarks
9:45 h — Opening conference: “2003-2024, 21 years of time policies in Barcelona City Council” by Imma Moraleda, Ex-city councillor at the Barcelona City Council (1995-2015). Currently Director of the Mayor’s Office of Santa Coloma
10:15 a.m. – Roundtable: “Labour market and right to time. Good practices. European experiences.”
11:15 a.m. — Coffee break
11:45 a.m. — Workshop: “Tools for time policies self-assessment in your local government”
12:30 h — Participatory workshop: “What does a proximity city mean?”
1:30 p.m. — Lunch and networking
Friday 14th June
9:30 a.m. — Conference by Íngrid Gómez Saracíbar, Women’s Secretary of Mexico City
10:00 a.m. — Roundtable 1: “Time policies in the world. Global experiences”
10:45 h — Roundtable 2: “Quantifying time: Indicators showing the impact of time on urbanism, poverty and mobility”
11:30 a.m. — Coffee break
12:00 p.m. — Presentation: “Time Dossier: What can cities do for the circadian rhythms?”
12:45 p.m. — Closing remarks
1:00 p.m. — Group visit to the Greenhouse of Ciutadella Park
Co-organised by: Barcelona City Council, Time Use Initiative
With the participation of: Local and Regional Governments Time Network
Co-funded by Time4All and the European Union
