Objectives of the conference

Social entrepreneurship is a key element of the social economy. Its function is not only the production of specific goods and services, but also the mobilization of social capital and expansion of the market by including people who have been excluded so far. Social enterprises have a great ability to innovatively respond to the current economic, social and environmental challenges by creating sustainable jobs, promoting social inclusion, and improving local social services. It is also visible now, when many social economy entities, despite unfavorable phenomena, have taken steps to counteract the effects of COVID-19 in local communities. Therefore, social entrepreneurship can be very important for socio-economic development. In this regard, education plays an important role, promoting social entrepreneurship in collective social awareness and shaping pro-social attitudes, as well as other possible actions taken towards its development.

The development of social entrepreneurship also means hope for the development of social capital, the level of which in Poland is exceptionally low. Social capital is of great importance in the development of the social economy. It can be its product, but also a condition for its development. The deficit of social capital, manifesting itself in such elements as trust, ties, standards of cooperation, is the basic limitation of the development of social entrepreneurship. For the development of social economy entities, it is also necessary to professionalize their activities, in the business sphere, by strengthening their human capital. And here also the importance and role of education in increasing social capital and developing appropriate social and professional competences cannot be overestimated. Other opportunities for the development of social capital are also important.

The international scientific conference "Social Economy 2021. Social Entrepreneurship and Social Capital: Importance - Education - Development" is another edition of the conference organized annually by the Department of Economics and Economic Policy and the Department of Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation of the Pedagogical University of Cracow in cooperation with national and foreign scientific institutions. The main goals of the conference are:

1️⃣ exchange of thoughts on the importance of social entrepreneurship in the modern economy, education in this area and its development, creating opportunities to exchange knowledge about the role of education in the development of social entrepreneurship, providing inspiring examples of teaching methods that shape pro-social attitudes, especially among young people; presenting the role of new technologies in the development of social entrepreneurship; analyze contemporary theoretical and empirical problems related to these issues;

2️⃣disseminating the results of research on the importance of social capital and education in this area, creating opportunities to exchange knowledge about the role of education in the development of social capital and the conditions and methods of its development in Poland and around the world, and its impact on the local community; presenting the role of new technologies in the development of social capital;

3️⃣ enabling the exchange of knowledge and experience in the field of the social economy, with particular emphasis on social entrepreneurship and social capital - their importance, education and development, between participants representing various industries and environments: scientists, entrepreneurs, representatives of governments and non-governmental organizations, representatives of local communities, as well as young researchers and students.

Conference topics:

➡️ Social economy and its development in Poland and in the world,

➡️ Awareness of the social economy importance in the economy,

➡️ Changes and challenges for the social economy sector in COVID-19 and after pandemic,

➡️ Social innovations and their impact on the integration of people with fewer opportunities,

➡️ Social entrepreneurship - its importance in the economy and society,

➡️ Conditions and opportunities for the development of social entrepreneurship,

➡️ Education in the field of social entrepreneurship - challenges and threats,

➡️ Methods of shaping pro-social attitudes,

➡️ The importance of social capital and its impact on the local community,

➡️ The role of educational practices in the field of social capital development,

➡️ Methods and conditions for the development of social capital,

➡️ The role of new technologies in the development of social entrepreneurship and social capital. 

Conference language:

English and Polish