Following the launch of this year’s European Social Innovation Competition, a series of webinars will run throughout the entry period. The webinars will feature guests from the social innovation world who will discuss the competition theme, and in sharing their insights they will inform and inspire potential contestants. The webinars will also provide practical information on the competition and application process.
The competition supports social innovators in Europe to develop their ideas and help them to shape society for the better. This year the theme is ‘Skills for Tomorrow – Shaping a Green and Digital Future’. The competition seeks to find smarter, greener, and sustainable solutions to the environmental and economic pressures we are facing today.
The first webinar will kick-off the series by looking beyond traditional skills and examining the concept of ‘non-traditional’ skills. The discussion will provide a fresh perspective and help attendees gain a better understanding of what non-traditional skills are and how they are useful. The webinar will also examine how we can apply these non-traditional skills and mindsets to a new idea of economy and society.
The second webinar will present a case study of two organisations and the ideas behind them, one based in southern Europe (Circular Market, from Italy), the other in northern Europe (Energy Academy, from Denmark). The webinar will examine the North-South perspectives on sustaining the green transition in Europe. The speakers will present their organisations and discuss topics such as challenges and opportunities related to green skilling, in particular involving adult learners and organisations, and how ICT solutions can enable green jobs creation and foster market competitiveness.
The third webinar will examine the area of digital skills for women, in a discussion with the founder of Czechitas, a Czech non-profit organization whose mission is to increase diversity in the world of IT and to fight for a higher level of digital proficiency among women and in the new generation.
The fourth and final webinar in the series will be a practical session presenting the competition and offering support to potential contestants. The session will cover the key aspects of the application process as well as general information about the competition, such as objectives, phases, rules of the contest, support packages, events, etc. Contestants will then have the opportunity to ask questions.
Don’t miss out on this excellent opportunity to get the information you need to improve your application.
Launch Webinar I – ‘Beyond traditional skills: boosting creativity and leadership for a systemic social change’, with Daniela Papi-Thornton
This webinar will kick-off the 2021 European Social Innovation Competition’s Launch Webinars series, providing a fresh perspective on skills to the audience. Attendees will get insights into non-traditional skills – ie. competencies that go beyond traditional cognitive skills (e.g. creative, relational, systems thinking skills, etc.) – and new mindsets for a new idea of economy and society. Webinar I seeks to convey to the participants the importance of integrating and fostering non-traditional skills and mindsets when designing and developing innovative training solutions. The audience will understand how such competencies are more and more important to cope with complexity and foster resilience in a time of fast-changing educational needs.
During her presentation, Daniela will offer an insightful overview of the new skills and mindsets required by the market and contemporary society for innovators and social entrepreneurs who want to generate positive change with their business ideas.
Watch the recording of Launch Webinar I HERE.
Launch Webinar II – North-South perspectives on sustaining the green transition in Europe, with Nadia Lambiase from Circular Market and Søren Hermansen from Energi Akademiet
In Webinar II the audience will be presented with two organisations and the ideas behind them – one based in southern Europe (Circular Market, from Italy), the other in northern Europe (Energy Academy, from Denmark).
Nadia Lambiase, CEO of Mercato Circolare (Circular Market) will outline the startup she founded in 2018. Nadia will focus on the innovative practices she and her team developed to foster circular economy skills among adult learners; digital solutions developed to enable collaborations and business exchanges within the Italian circular economy market.
Søren Hermansen is the director of Samsø Energy Academy – a project-based organisation providing education and research, and consultancy services to companies – including courses, meetings, seminars, and exhibitions – about energy, climate change, and sustainable resources. Søren will show how his organisation is committed in fostering zero-waste and carbon-neutral communities.
This webinar will highlight how green skills development, delivered both at the individual business and at the broader community level, contributes to wider systemic change.
Watch the recording of the Launch Webinar II HERE.
Launch Webinar III – Bridging workers, businesses and industries: digital skilling pathways for women with Dita Formánková from Czechitas
In this third webinar of our launch series, Dita will present Czechitas and the solutions they developed, aimed at promoting women’s digital skills (including high-level IT competencies, such as coding) and better connecting them to the job market. By the end, the audience will have a stronger understanding of how digital skilling can boost innovative job creation while at the same time increasing diversity in the world of IT and within working environments.
Czechitas is a Czech non-profit organization whose mission is to increase diversity in the world of IT and to fight for a higher level of digital proficiency among women and in the new generation. Through their workshops, lectures and courses, Czechitas has motivated thousands of women and helped them find their dream jobs in the field as well as enabled their connection with partner companies. The kind of “skills for tomorrow” that Czechitas fosters are mainly focused on: programming, website design, graphic design, testing and digital marketing. In this webinar key people from Czechitas will present the business and the solutions they developed, aimed at promoting women’s digital skills (including high-level IT competencies, such as coding) and better connecting them to the job market. At the end of the webinar, the audience will have a stronger understanding of how digital skilling can boost innovative job creation while at the same time increasing diversity in the world of IT and within working environments.
Watch the recording of Launch Webinar III HERE.
Launch Webinar IIII – Application Clinic with The European Social Innovation Team
In Webinar IIII we will mainly offer support to potential Competition entrants who need steering in the application process, but the webinar is also aimed at possible programme speakers, experts, multipliers who may want to know more about the Competition before engaging with us directly.
The Competition team will cover all key aspects of the application procedure, also providing general information on the Competition (objectives, phases, rules of the contest, support packages, events, etc.)
Watch the recording of the Launch Webinar II HERE.
For more information about the competition visit the European Social Innovation Competition page.
