Master's Thesis - University of Vienna
Village renewal and the so-called concept "self-reliant or endogenous
regional development" aim at the comprehensive improvement of local
and regional living conditions. In addition to the economic aspects like
the strengthening of regional economic circulations and the preservation
and creation of jobs, immaterial aims are of immediate importance. These
include the strengthening of local and regional self-confidence, the development
and promotion of direct responsibility of the inhabitants, the enhancement
of community feeling, the reflection on the cultural characteristic and
the enhancement of ecological awareness.
Sustainable regional development intends to open and preserve development
opportunities for the economy and society, in this case, they contribute
to the realization of sustainable life-styles and do not exceed ecological
limits. The preservation of living quality of present and future generations
is in focus of attention.
Regional culture enables new forms of revitalization of forgotten or lost
cultural forms. It also forms the background for the development of regional
concepts and for the anchoring of initiatives and projects into the social
and economic life of a region.
Regional identity plays an important role for the direct responsibility
of the regional population and its participation in economic and social
development of the region.
Cultural tourism is part of the strategy of self-reliant regional development.
Rural regions see in it the chance to achieve an economical improvement
by use of regional cultural potentials and marketing of regional culture.
Strategies of the self-reliant regional development emphasize the use
and activation of endogenous resources and potentials. In this case, rural
adult education is seen as a regional development factor. It plays a decisive
role as well in the qualification of people as in activation, intermediation
and support of projects.
The regional documentation, information and training centre in the Castle
of Katzelsdorf is a project of village renewal and self-reliant regional
development. Within the scope of this thesis examples of similar institutions
in Austria and Europe are shown in a state-of-the-art study. A survey
about supply and demand of further education was carried out by sending
a questionnaire to all households of Katzelsdorf. One of the results of
this survey is the demand of a wider supply of courses.
A regional library and archive will be established and will contribute
to the conservation of the cultural heritage of the region "Bucklige
Welt" and to an active discussion about the regional cultural and
natural heritage.
The visitor centre will give visitors a first impression of the cultural
and natural heritage of the region.
The information centre will give the inhabitants of Katzelsdorf and of
the region "Bucklige Welt" manifold informations. They will
be informed about new and interesting things from the region for different
spheres of life.
The training centre will offer professional and general education to the
local and regional population and will provide people an opportunity to
qualify themselves and to develop their creative abilities.