Completed project · 2017–2019
Regional Innovation Hubs Strengthening Social Entrepreneurship through Cross-Border Community Projects
Problem statement: Developing entrepreneurial competences is not a standard component of European VET. Vocational schools and practitioners consequently lack an enabling environment, the necessary internal structures and the required competences. Objectives: The consortium aimed to develop vocational schools in Germany, Spain and Slovenia into regional innovation hubs.
Research question: How can institutional social change be initiated across borders?
Research approach: The project adopted action research in the tradition of Kurt Lewin. Three vocational schools in Bremen, Valencia and Kranj cooperated to address socio-cultural problems in their communities using entrepreneurial working and problem-solving techniques, including design thinking, through three bilateral Cross-Border Community Projects (CBCPs). Local institutions, including start-ups, were explicitly involved.
Results: Intellectual outputs included:
(1) A ‘Social Entrepreneurship Training’ manual;
(2) Training to validate ideas;
(3) Guidance for developing and operating regional innovation hubs;
(4) Individual social entrepreneurship badges. The materials were developed, tested and validated participatively within the CBCPs.