STEPUP
Social Entrepreneurship
Strengthening innovative social entrepreneurship practices for disruptive business settings in Thailand and Myanmar
The STEPuP Project
Aims to modernize existing social entrepreneurship practices and promote innovation in Thai & Burmese HEIs by integrating advanced learning tools for the creation of disruptive business ideas into existing academic structures, while strengthening the university-business collaboration through participatory schemes on a local and regional level
STEPUP Partner Institutions
Project Overview
Social Entrepreneurship is an economic reality in many Asian countries such as Thailand and Myanmar, however, it usually applies to small businesses struggling to make money with no prospect to grow. Social entrepreneurs either do not know that they are social entrepreneurs or have no knowledge on how to scale their business to make a real impact on society. Additionally, social entrepreneurship is not a desirable career path for young people, which is partly due to in higher education institutions. Innovative, disruptive business ideas need to emerge to not only tackle the societal challenges in countries, but also to give students the possibility to acquire skills needed by the labour market to allow them to play an active role in society and achieve personal fulfilment.
Project Objectives
- To strengthen teaching staff capacities and student skill sets through innovative teaching & learning methodologies by offering trainings combining theoretical and practical inputs & study visits;
- To introduce new technologies, software and ways of producing learning content by modernising technical infrastructure of Thai & Burmese HEIs – creating, equipping and the Social Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hubs;
- To enhance the students learning experience by developing innovative social entrepreneurship case studies in cooperation with established social entrepreneurs, to apply the innovative methods learned and prepare the students for innovative thinking & acting in “real life” contexts;
- To promote greater access to high quality educational materials on the topic of teaching & learning methods and technology enhancement, providing Open Educational Resources to regional and international communities;
- To extend networks in social entrepreneurship innovation in national & international HE contexts joint publications and International Conference on Innovative SE practices.
STEPUP Definition of Social Entrepreneurship
“Social Entrepreneurship (SE) is the process of applying innovative business models to address social problems (for people and communities)by generating both profit and purpose. SE creates long-term value and achieves sustainable impact for society and the connected ecosystem.”
Project Beneficiaries
- HEI leaders and managers the areas business management/development, entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship.
- Academic staff focusing on business management and/or development, entrepreneurship as well as the social entrepreneurship.
- Students and student associations studying business programmes.
- Companies working in the field of social entrepreneurship.
- Business development agencies and political partners.
Project Outcomes
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Implementation and operation of 6 Social Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hubs (SEKHs)
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Conducting an Innovative Social Enterprise Case Challenge and implementation of networking activities–the established SEKHs will be used by students and social entrepreneurs.
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International Conference on Social Entrepreneurship
Project Information
Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education Joint Project
Project Number: 609711-EPP-1-2019-1-AT-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP
Coordinator: FH JOANNEUM Gesellschaft mbH (Austria)
Project Duration: 15.01.2020 – 14.01.2023
FRIENDS
Internationalization at Home