BUILDING THE CULTURE OF SOCIAL INNOVATION IN HIGHER EDUACTION Erasmus Project

Project Title

BUILDING THE CULTURE OF SOCIAL INNOVATION IN HIGHER EDUACTION

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Open and distance learning; Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

The main purpose behind the idea to create and implement the Building the Culture of Social Innovation in Higher Education project was to lay new development paths for European higher education institutions (HEIs) in social sciences and change the current paradigm of teaching entrepreneurship at HEIs.

There are currently approximately 840 MA programmes and approximately 200 BA programmes in social sciences offered by European universities and the demand for courses in social sciences is on a steady rise (www.masterstudies.com).
Higher education institutions play a significant role in shaping a new generation of social entrepreneurs prepared and driven to solve problems of a dynamically evolving and dangerous world. However, they encounter numerous obstacles, most importantly a lack of a coherent vision for social innovation and a lack of academic staff.
Project activities addressed the needs of Central European students, which had been defined through surveys, by implementing social innovation at HEIs through means including: increasing the flexibility of learning pathways, including courses taught by students in their curricula and using massive open online courses (MOOCs).

The BCSI project was implemented in a partner consortium that consisted of 4 organisations, including 3 HEIs, namely Collegium Civitas (Poland), the University of Northampton (UK), the University of Iceland (Iceland), and the organisation Ashoka (Poland).
The project has THREE ESSENTIAL GOALS:
1. To support the implementation of social innovation at European universities (mainly in Central Europe) through developing and mainstreaming useful instruments that respond to the needs of HEIs such as model curricula, step-by-step guides, instructional videos and source books
2. To change the model of teaching entrepreneurship by making it more practical and student-oriented through the development, testing and implementation of flexible and project-oriented learning pathways
3. To include and promote quality e-learning courses through the development and dissemination of a MOOC in SI design
The project was based on the following pillars:
1. A comprehensive and consistent implementation concept, which included the ‘design & test’ formula, strong commitment from project partners and the network of affiliated parties and institutions, i.e. so-called ‘heralds of social innovation’, to shaping project activities in a way to ensure that it suits current needs of the target audience
2. An innovative approach that combines educational activities addressed at students, a mentoring programme for incubation, using open communities learning in a formal learning format and using elements of massive online education in social innovation
3. Strong, complementary partnership, which enabled us to build a complete environment for academic entrepreneurship to grow, including HEIs, business incubators, entrepreneurs and community organisations.

The project has impact on the following groups:
DIRECTLY on:
HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, through the adaptation and use of learning tools and curricula, redesigning the learning environment, improving teaching quality,
enhancing research and increasing availability by STUDENTS by receiving a practical and flexible education and a competent staff of educators and mentors.
EDUCATORS, through learning new, innovative, flexible and student-oriented teaching methods and the ability to teach social innovation in and outside a group.
MANAGERS, through obtaining a comprehensive tool for building a university strategy for social innovation missions.
PARTNERS, through thorough preparation for the implementation and dissemination of social innovation ideas.
INDIRECTLY on:
SOCIAL INNOVATORS, who will strengthen their networks, among other things, providing SOCIETY with open access to high quality education in entrepreneurship and a new staff of socially-oriented innovators who will work to improve the quality of our lives.

The following results were achieved in the project:
1. a study was conducted in SI implementation at HEIs
2. tools were prepared for educators, mentors and trainers managing HEIs such as manuals, guides, presentations, videos, infographics and animations
3. three courses were created in SI for degree programmes in sociology, new media and management
4. a 30-hour e-learning course was created in SI design for students and a 40-hour e-learning course for educators
5. a summer school was organised for students in SI design
6. social innovation trade fairs and video conferences were organised in all partner countries.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 245769,55 Eur

Project Coordinator

COLLEGIUM CIVITAS & Country: PL

Project Partners

• HASKOLI ISLANDS
• THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHAMPTON HIGHER EDUCATION CORPORATION
• Towarzystwo Inicjatyw Twórczych “e”
• Ashoka Innowatorzy dla Dobra Publicznego