Society’s most pressing issues need to be addressed using a multidisciplinary entrepreneurial approach; one that simultaneously creates social and economic value. In recent decades, we see the social economy as a sector that makes a significant contribution to employment creation, sustainable growth and to a fairer income and wealth distribution. What has been defined as the “third” sector is able to combine profitability with social inclusion and democratic systems of governance, working alongside the public and private sectors in matching services to needs. From the EU perspective, the third sector has weathered the economic crisis much better than other systems and social innovation is increasingly gaining momentum. The EU experience is valuable for Israel and India within this context. Despite emphasis on the concept of entrepreneurship, much still needs to be done in enhancing social innovation, raising awareness and building bridges between civil society and key stakeholders that support public trust in the sector. A first step in this process is to put creative ideas into product and create self-employment. Herein, HEIs have a role to play in providing formal and non-formal education content aimed at strengthening (social) entrepreneurial capacity of students, researchers and graduates. These activities are often unavailable or inaccessible due to the lack of competencies and relevant experience within HEIs. A systemic approach in incorporating (social) entrepreneurship modules within study programs at IL and IN HEIs will have a positive impact on the above mentioned issues through innovative methods of teaching and problem-based learning. The SILICE project will develop an open source platform that promotes social innovation ideas and international cooperation at regional level between the EU, Israel and India. It also seeks to tackle cross-cutting isssues like gender-balance and equal opportunities for women.
In recent decades, social economy has been making a significant contribution to employment creation, sustainable growth and a more egalitarian income and wealth distribution. HEIs have a role to play in providing educational content aimed at strengthening social entrepreneurial capacity in their countries. SILICE created a systemic approach that incorporates social entrepreneurship modules within study programs at IL and IN. The HEIs have a positive impact on the above-mentioned issues through innovative methods of teaching and problem-based learning. SILICE also tackles cross-cutting issues like gender balance and equal opportunities for women and promotes connectivity between HIEs and their surrounding regions to develop entrepreneurship and employment. The means was the establishment of SINNOLABs – educational innovation centers for the development of business and creative thinking and search for solutions for social and environmental problems. 9 hubs were established as part of the project: 5 in IL and 4 in IN. The hubs were modeled on the best practice shared by the European partners. The hubs are located inside the academic campuses, but they also serve the residents in neighboring communities. The hubs are operated by senior faculty members in the academic institutions – which guarantee their long-term survival. During the first half of the project – the first 18 months – the teams focused mainly on learning and developing knowledge concerning creative thinking, creative solutions to social and environmental problems, project creation and organization and partners’ recruitment. The second half of the project focused on establishing the SINNOLABs and operating them, as well as intensifying the regional connections with local and national institutions that can guarantee the project’s sustainability. Hence, connections were formed with additional hubs, the public sector, banks and financial companies for regional development. The SINNOLAB management in each institution formed connections with various stakeholders such as government agencies, regional municipalities and NGOs. By doing so, the hubs intensified the partnership of academic institutions with their surroundings, strengthened, and broadened their positions inside the HIEs. Contracts were signed to ensure long-term collaboration between the institutions themselves and stakeholders. SILICE’s significant contributions are: 1. Educational – the HIEs understood the meaning of introducing motives of creative thinking, innovation and entrepreneurship and creative problem solving as a method that can develop the students and help them become socially engaged financially independent citizens. These elements were introduced to the curricula of all students; 2. Promoting underprivileged populations – unemployed, rural populations, minorities, undereducated women, and helping them to adopt thinking patterns and practical tools that can increase their household income and support their financial and social mobilization; by creating social projects with the potential of becoming successful business owners and offering jobs for them and for others; 3. The project served as a focal point for all social innovation and business entrepreneurship in each HEI. The digital platform established by the partners is an open source database that offers syllabi, lesson plans and trainings, as well as presentations that were developed over the duration of the project. Each HEI brought its own experts and we created a pool of experts who are waiting to be approached by students and the public. This database is used by all partners and is open to other HEIs and the public. By this, SILICE contributes to the spreading of the knowledge, methods and tools that were developed in the project. This platform is currently used in HEIs across IL, IN and Europe, and these networks will allow the website to remain relevant after the project ends.