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Developing Innopreneurship, Sustainability & Culture

Break free from the limitations of traditional education!

Since 2000, universities have recognized the need to extend their impact beyond campus boundaries to achieve Sustainable Development (SD) goals within communities. Yet, only isolated efforts have been made to develop a comprehensive approach that spans learning, research, and collaboration across educational and business sectors.

Embark on a journey of competence development and validation in sustainability literacy at European Higher Education Institutes (HEI). The DISC Project is not just a project—we want to foster lasting collaboration among students and educators to create a sustainable future.

Developing a holistic learning & development approach for sustainability

Interdisciplinary approach
Creating a Culture of Sustainability
Academia-Business cooperation
Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Developing innovative tools & methodologies

Design-Based Collaborative Learning
Design-Based Collaborative Research
Hybrid learning and Exhibition tools
Competence Oriented Learning &
Competence validations

Transferable outcomes

Course Modules with SDG reference
Certified transnational courses
Sustainability Projects and Products
Piloting for professionals & students
Joint events and conferences

Partnership

University Duisburg Essen

About University Duisburg-Essen

Overview: University Duisburg-Essen, one of Germany’s youngest universities, boasts a dynamic approach to education and research. With 11 faculties situated in the vibrant Ruhr metropolis, it’s committed to fostering diversity, academic potential, and genuine educational equality.

Focus Areas: Renowned for its strength in research and teaching, the university’s main areas include Nanosciences, Biomedical Sciences, Urban Systems, and the Transformation of Contemporary Societies.

Innopreneurship Master’s: UDE stands out with its M.A. in Innopreneurship—a cutting-edge program that combines scientific rigor with practical, interdisciplinary training. The course mirrors an ideal innovation process, emphasizing entrepreneurship foundations, business modeling, modern innovation methods, and ethical responsibility.

Personnel: Boasting a dedicated team of 4,729 employees, with a notable 44% women representation and 463 professors, UDE thrives on academic excellence.

Role in the Project

Innovation Hub: The project is spearheaded by the faculty of VET in collaboration with the IDE—Competence Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UDE. With a decade-long track record, IDE focuses on developing and implementing product and service ideas, fostering innovative business concepts in the university and the Rhine-Ruhr region.

Network: IDE’s extensive network spans business and industry partners across the Rhine-Ruhr area. They’ve successfully initiated the first German Master of “Innopreneurship.”

The University Duisburg-Essen, through its innovative programs and collaborative initiatives, emerges as a key player in shaping the landscape of sustainable education and entrepreneurship.

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

About Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Overview: The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece’s largest university, stands at the forefront of education, research, and societal impact. With 13 faculties, 42 departments, and over 85,000 students, AUTH’s commitment to pedagogical research since 1926 has been pivotal. The university actively contributes to a comprehensive catalogue of assessment methods, fostering self, peer, and external assessments for adult educators, trainers, facilitators, and assessors.

Global Engagements: As a powerhouse in research and innovation, AUTH has been involved in numerous projects funded by the European Commission and international agencies. These projects encompass diverse fields such as validating integration competences of refugees, promoting active participatory citizenship through adult education, and leveraging IT-based methodologies for competence-oriented learning and training.

Key Initiatives and Collaborations: AUTH plays a crucial role in pioneering pedagogical methodologies through three pedagogical laboratories, focusing on experimental pedagogy, curriculum development, and ICT. The university actively engages in projects related to entrepreneurial skills, corporate social responsibility, self-learning competences, and interculturality.

Role in the Project

AUTH, representing the higher education sector, provides a robust foundation for research on the validation of learning outcomes in VET mobility programs. With a well-established system for assessing personal and social skills and competences, AUTH’s involvement ensures a comprehensive approach to validation, linking key competences with existing learning outcomes-based validation systems. The university’s commitment extends to the creation of a versatile catalogue of assessment methods, fostering a repository for adult educators and assessors.

In the realm of VET, AUTH’s role encompasses piloting and evaluating internships/traineeships for adult educators, focusing on entrepreneurial skills, corporate social responsibility, self-learning competences, and interculturality. The university’s multi-faceted engagement ensures a holistic contribution to the project’s objectives, bridging the gap between academic research and real-world application in the field of adult education.

blinc eG

About blinc eG

Overview: Established in 2005 in Goettingen, Germany, blinc, the blended learning institutions’ cooperative, emerged as a startup network from former EU-funded LIFE and eLearning projects. Specializing in “Competence Oriented Learning and Validation (COL&V),” blinc focuses on modern, technology-supported blended learning.

Team and Structure: Comprising 25 interdisciplinary members, including project managers, trainers, teachers, coaches, programmers, media designers, and blended learning creators, blinc operates as a German cooperative. With a robust track record, they form a dynamic team committed to innovative learning and validation approaches.

Project Engagement: Since its inception, blinc has actively participated in 40 European funded projects, transitioning to a lead partner role in ERASMUS+ projects from 2017 onward. Notably, blinc has been appointed to foster the valorization of the LEVEL5 approach for Competence Oriented Learning and Validation since December 2007.

Role in the Project

Ecology Initiatives: blinc engages in ecology-related projects, contributing to climate, soil, and water protection. They play a pivotal role in circular economy projects and the reutilization of waste biomass, promoting social green economy and providing opportunities for disadvantaged target groups.

UN Sustainable Development Goals: blinc has undertaken projects related to the UN sustainable development goals, developing COL&V approaches and digitally supported learning, including app development.

Cultural Projects: Active in intercultural and cultural projects under ERASMUS+, blinc specializes in blended learning within culturally rich settings. For instance, they designed a learning app for diverse cultural heritage places in the BADGES project.

Since 2016, blinc has been strategically focusing on innovative training and learning sectors such as entrepreneurship education, design thinking, circular economy, and sustainable development, envisioning a future where technology-supported learning transforms these domains.

Smart Revolution

About Smart Revolution

Overview: Meet Smart Revolution, a consulting firm headquartered in Massa (Tuscany, Italy), with a secondary office in Turin. This dynamic firm is on a mission to foster a comprehensive culture of innovation and efficiency, grounded in sustainability, inclusion, and accountability. Smart Revolution excels across three key domains: Training, European project management, and consulting services for private companies and public institutions. Their commitment extends beyond international standards to focus on local valorization, community engagement, and environmental sustainability.

Key Activities:

Training Excellence: Smart Revolution, certified UNI EN ISO 9001:2015, is a trailblazer in designing, organizing, and evaluating training programs. With a focus on digital literacy, entrepreneurship, sustainability, creativity, and innovation, they employ competence-based learning methodologies. Their training arm includes highly specialized courses aligned with international standards, utilizing innovative learning management systems.
European Project Management: Smart Revolution takes pride in supporting clients through the entire project lifecycle, from idea conception to project realization. Their expertise spans diverse fields, collaborating with organizations such as the Institute for Applied Ecology and Source International. Additionally, they actively engage as partners or coordinators in European projects, contributing to cutting-edge approaches.
Consulting for Growth: The firm provides consulting services to private and public entities, specializing in securing funds and preparing project proposals. Smart Revolution’s expertise shines in innovation, research & development, internationalization, and digitalization.

Team and Collaborations: Smart Revolution’s team, consisting of three co-founders, two permanent employees, and two interns, brings a wealth of experience.

Role in the Project

Smart Revolution is set to play a pivotal role in all work packages, focusing on the development and delivery of the DISC training offer. Their expertise in Competence Oriented Learning & Validation, coupled with innovative methodologies from projects like DATALIT and PITCH, positions them as key contributors. Their SDG-focused experience, as seen in the Time 4 Sustainable Development project, adds a unique perspective to the consortium.

Politécnico de Leiria

About Polytechnic of Leiria

Overview: The Polytechnic of Leiria, a beacon of modern higher education in Portugal, thrives on four pillars: education, research, innovative societal services, and internationalization. With over 13,000 students and 1,600 staff across 5 faculties, it stands at the forefront of the RUN-EU European University, emphasizing societal development through education, research, and innovation.

Regional and Global Ecosystem: As the only public HEI in Leiria, Polytechnic of Leiria plays a central role in a robust Research and Innovation Regional and Global Ecosystem. This ecosystem includes 15 research centers, a startup ecosystem with four incubators and one startup accelerator, and active participation in regional initiatives promoting societal engagement.

Project Engagement and Expertise: Polytechnic of Leiria has been instrumental in co-creation projects with SMEs, leading the charge in the last decade. With vast experience in national and international R&D projects, including FP7 and H2020, it is a powerhouse in ecology-related projects, circular economy initiatives, and collaborations aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Role in the Project

Polytechnic of Leiria, particularly the Superior School of Tourism and Maritime Technology, is poised to contribute significantly to the project. From developing methodologies to application and dissemination through students and companies, their involvement ensures a rich blend of academic expertise and practical implementation in heritage interpretation concepts. The school’s deep connections within the tourism domain further enhance the project’s impact.

Vilnius University

About Vilnius University

Overview: Established in 1579, Vilnius University (VU) stands as Lithuania’s premier institution of higher education. With a rich history, VU has evolved into a leading hub for science, research, and studies, embodying European traditions, academic freedom, and social responsibility. Comprising 15 faculties, 7 institutes, and an impressive student body of 24,700, VU is recognized globally, consistently ranking among the top universities worldwide.

Key Activities: VU is dedicated to high-level education, international partnerships, and societal engagement. The university actively collaborates with businesses and institutions globally, contributing to acclaimed research work and maintaining a status as a provider of high-quality research and studies. VU’s commitment extends to economic development, evident in its founding role in the “Sunrise Valley” organization, promoting knowledge-intensive activities and entrepreneurship-oriented education.

International Collaborations: VU has a vast experience in leading, coordinating, and participating in international projects related to sustainability, cultural development, and entrepreneurship. The university’s proactive approach and extensive involvement in various projects underscore its commitment to fostering innovation, cultural development, and sustainability.

Role in the Project

All key staff members involved in the project have actively contributed to Erasmus+ Knowledge Alliance and strategic partnership projects, aligning with VU’s mission to transfer professional knowledge and experience, particularly in the development of innovative online teaching and learning approaches. Their expertise ensures the seamless integration of transversal and digital skills, fostering a dynamic educational environment.