Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution (HEI) hosted a blended intensive programme (BIP) on Social Entrepreneurship on 3–7 March. Students from the Faculty of Business’s Logistics, International Business, Organisational Management, International Business and Law study programmes, together with guests from Thomas More (Belgium), University of Łomża and Wyższa Szkoła Zarządzania w Częstochowie (Poland), came together to jointly seek answers to the question of how business can not only generate profit but also create a positive impact on society?

A new generation – a new approach to entrepreneurship

According to the European Commission, 67% of young Europeans believe that business should be about more than making a profit, it should address social issues and promote sustainability. A new generation of entrepreneurs is choosing social entrepreneurship more than ever before, with more than 2.8 million companies in this field operating worldwide today, creating more than 13 million jobs. The emerging sector shows that young people are looking for ways in which businesses can not only make money but also have a real impact on society. The blended intensive programme was precisely such a space, where students used academic knowledge, practical experience and creativity to develop responsible ideas. Participants worked in four main thematic areas:

• • Mental health and addictions – how to reduce psychological well-being challenges and increase emotional resilience?
  • Environment – ​​what business models can solve ecological problems?
  • Human rights – how can innovation promote inclusion and reduce social exclusion?
  • Equal opportunities – in what ways can equal educational and labour market opportunities be ensured for all?

Ideas generation: from the audience to the real world

From the very first moments, the programme brought students into a dynamic environment. There was no room for passive learning, participants were invited to act. Team tasks and intercultural familiarisation games not only broke the ice but also helped to form a sense of community.

Students analysed social businesses in their countries, identifying their strengths and weaknesses. Later, they visited different social spaces, where they could see up close how theoretical knowledge is applied in practice. The visits became a valuable experience that provided new insights into real businesses and their operating models, and the Startup Social Kaunas event allowed them to establish contacts with the local startup ecosystem and hear inspiring success stories.

The final part of the programme was dedicated to intensive practical work, in which students developed, improved and finally presented their social business ideas. Participants worked in teams, using innovative problem-solving methods, conducted market research, analysed competitors and created solutions that could be implemented in practice.

The context of social entrepreneurship in Europe

Social entrepreneurship is not just a theoretical concept, it is changing people’s lives across Europe. Many innovative social enterprises are already solving real problems by combining business models with a clear social mission.

For example, Too Good To Go is a Danish-based platform that allows restaurants and shops to sell surplus food at a lower price, thereby reducing food waste. In a few years, the idea has spread across Europe, saving millions of portions of food that would otherwise have been thrown away.

Another example is Dialogue in the Dark, a German social enterprise that creates educational experiences that help people better understand what it means to live with a visual impairment. Their tours in total darkness promote empathy and social inclusion, while also providing job opportunities for people with visual impairments.

Lithuanian social enterprises are also active in the field of sustainability, one of which is One Pocket Hero, which creates functional clothing adapted to people who wear insulin pumps, thus aiming to improve their daily lives and ensure greater comfort. Meanwhile, Hero Talents helps young people with disabilities to establish themselves in the labour market by offering specially tailored training and employment programmes.

Young generations of entrepreneurs are increasingly choosing to combine financial stability with sustainability, and programmes such as Erasmus+ BIP provide them with the opportunity to acquire practical skills in an international context.

Kauno kolegija HEI, together with international partners, continues to promote the development of social entrepreneurship, giving students the opportunity not only to acquire knowledge but also to become active creators of change. This project has shown that business can be not only profitable, but also meaningful, and young social entrepreneurs are already creating a tomorrow where innovations serve people today.