In 2023 European Christian Academy was approved as coordinator of the NORDPLUS Higher Education consortial project “WE-THINK: ACCELERATING SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY” (NPHE-2023/10257).

WE ARE NETWORKING:

• European Christian Academy (Latvia),
• Klaipeda University (Lithuania),
• VID Specialized University (NO).

OUR NETWORKING MAIN PURPOSE:

1. To develop Intensive Course as impact focused anthropological knowledge accelerator for Social workers, equipping with competences and skills,
2. To spread IDEA of Social entrepreneurship in relationship with Social work profession for effective inclusion of marginalized groups of society,
3. To develop ANTHROPOLOGICAL approach bringing innovative changes in Social work profession and Social entrepreneurship through application of methodology of Anthropological Design Thinking,
4. To prepare Methodology Handbook on how to use Anthropological Design Thinking method.

DEAR NETWORK COLLEAGUES:

Here are key persons for contacts on every step in our network:

	Skaidrīte Gūtmane, prof. – rektore@kra.lv
	Valters Dolacis – kursi@kra.lv
	Sonata Mačiulskytė, prof. – sonata.maciulskyte@ku.lt
	Tomas Sundnes Drønen – tomas.dronen@vid.no
	Secretary from European Christian Academy – bsoloveja@gmail.com

MAIN OBJECTIVE:

• Long term collaboration between partnering HEIs for INNOVATIVE CULTURE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

• To develop Intensive Course as accelerator for SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP INNOVATION ACTIVITIES.

WE LOOK FOR NETWORK EXTENSION AND MORE DEEP RESEARCH AND STUDENT EDUCATION IN SOCIAL WORK / SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP FROM ANTHROPOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE.

ATTENTION!

Ass. prof. Valters Dolacis from European Christian Academy summarized your thoughts:

The main idea was to develop RADICAL INNOVATION that requires a consistent anthropological concept of human being and society. Please read the following articles published in Scientific Proceedings of European Christian Academy (attached as PDF file to your e-mails).

S.Gūtmane “Transforming attitude towards client in social work”

K.Urponen “Professional-centered and Client-oriented Social work”

V.Rimkus “Re-discovering the Positive Sides of Social Work: Social Support and Client Strengths Perspectives”

INNOVATION

is the framework for Social Entrepreneurship and Social work in practice:

1. Social work is confronted by the need to define and to create solutions to modern social problems,
2. Social entrepreneurial activity as a privileged strategy to address structural unemployment and job insecurity.

FIRST NETWORK MEETING.

In Picture: prof. Skaidrīte Gūtmane (ECA), prof. Elvyra Aciene (KU), prof. Sonata Mačiulskytė (KU).

Activities:

1. To establish the network and to elect the Board,
2. Network activities: discussions about them,
3. Quality and criteria for measuring quality of our activities,
4. Plan of dissemination.

SECOND NETWORK MEETING

Discussions on the Content and concept of the Intensive course.

DEAR COLLEAGUES! THE INTENSIVE COURSE PROGRAM WAS SENT TO EVERY STUDENT AND TEACHER. PLEASE RESPOND IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED IT – ALL QUESTIONS PLEASE CORRESPOND TO THE BOARD MEMBERS!

INTENSIVE COURSE IMPRESSIONS

USEFUL RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDIES

Social value and organizational performance in non-profit social organizations: Social entrepreneurship, leadership, and socioeconomic context effects. – Journal of Business Research, Vol. 66, Iss. 10, Oct. 2013, pp. 2139-2146.

Identifying social entrepreneurship competencies of managers in social entrepreneurship organizations in healthcare sector. – Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, July 03, 2018.

Halsall J., Snowden M., Clegg Ph. et al. Social enterprise as a model for change: mapping a global cross-disciplinary framework. – Springer Link, November 28, 2022.

Nielsen B. F., Asheim J. The Added Value of Social Entrepreneurship in Contemporary Social Design in Norway. – Routledge, 2016.

Oslo’s big-hearted businesses. – Visit Oslo.

The way to improve social entrepreneurship in Norway. – SESAM / Centre for social entrepreneurship and collaborative social innovation. University of South Eastern Norway.

Gintere D., Licite-Kurbe L. Social enterprise profile in the Latvia regions. – Proceedings of the 2021 International Conference “ECONOMIC SCIENCE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT” Jelgava, LLU ESAF, 11-14 May 2021, pp. 296-303. DOI: 10.22616/ESRD.2021.55.029

Ūlande M. Social entrepreneurship in Latvia: a brief overview of the current situation. Ecosystem Mapping (Presentation).

Asere A. Interesting social enterprises in Latvia.

Roy P. Social Work vs Social Entrepreneurship. – Medium.

Nouman H., Cnan R. Community social workers as social entrepreneurs: Lessons from Israel. – Sage Journals. https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728221149283.

Corn M.P. Social Enterprise: Forging a New Path for Social Workers Wanting to Blend Social and Business Missions.