Communities of practice

Communities of practice are a group of people who share a common concern, a set of problems or a passion about a topic and who deepen their knowledge and expertise by interacting on an ongoing basis. Communities of Practice follow a particular methodology which is based on theories of learning in action – learning while doing. They have proved an effective tool for practitioners in local government in the UK, where the IDeA’s Communities of Practice have brought together thousands of practitioners in fields as diverse as education, adult social care and community engagement. At the European level, Community of Practice on Inclusive Entrepreneurship (COPIE) brings together a wide variety of stakeholders to discuss issues relating to inclusive entrepreneurship, local development and social entrepreneurship.