Conference goal

The conference aims to discuss the potential and role of social enterprises in the so-called green transformation, identify factors and barriers in this regard, in particular in the field of higher education, and to discuss potential strategies and practical examples of incorporating nature-based solutions (NBS) and eco-citizenship into the curricula of social economy-related courses.

A parallel objective of the conference is to disseminate and raise awareness of the effects of the international project entitled „SEgoesGreen - Integrating Nature-Based Solutions into higher education towards exploiting the transformative potential of Social Economy for a green and inclusive future”, whose recipients include: students, academic teachers, representatives of the third sector and experts in the field of NBS.

Conference topics

The role of social enterprises in the so-called green transformation and combating climate change is increasingly being noticed. According to the Social Economy Action Plan, adopted by the European Commission in 2021, social economy entities have the ability to change our future and lead to a greener and more inclusive transformation, as they use a wide range of interdisciplinary and sustainable approaches and tools that are adapted to the needs of local communities. The business models and practices of the social economy therefore make its entities particularly well suited to creating local and collective initiatives that generate both environmental and social benefits.

The conference creates a scientific platform for the exchange of knowledge and experiences, and thus cooperation between the SEgoesGreen project consortium team, associated partners and related stakeholder groups from the science, education and social economy sectors addressing the issues of green transformation and nature-based solutions and the role of social economy entities in these processes.

The conference is planning interactive sessions, providing participants with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the results of the SEgoesGreen project, i.e.: a scientific report, a handbook for academic teachers, a MOOC for teachers, and the GREEN‑SE curriculum for students.

At the same time, the space for exchanging knowledge and experiences created during the conference remains open to presenting research results within research areas such as:

• Social entrepreneurship in solving problems of modern economies;
• The role of social enterprises in the so-called green transformation and combating climate change;
• The concept and activities in the area of nature-based solutions;
• Using the potential of NBS in the social economy sector;
• Educating professional staff for the social economy sector;
• Using NBS in education in the field of social economy in higher education
• Eco-citizenship in the context of socio-economic challenges;
• Issues of sustainable economic development and its determinants;
• Socially responsible business in the face of challenges related to the economic and climate crisis.