About the project

Anchoring Social Circular Economy Attitudes in VET (Vocational Education and Training) opens up inclusion and awareness. In order to strengthen knowledge about social circular economy, it is necessary to inspire people to a more creative design thinking, with a larger scope and to strive for the belief in a positive future.

The connection between the principles of the circular economy and social entrepreneurship enables the conditions for creative innovations in a world with local solutions, which can meet societal, environmental and economic needs. A main priority is environment and fight against climate change.

To motivate why SCE is needed, it is important to define the potential deficits and gaps of circular economy and social enterprise concepts when they are acting separately. New social companies are constantly being started around the world. 

It allows a general understanding of the environmental principles of circular economy and the social vision of social enterprise. Both are supporting a search for economic prosperity. 

The most relevant priority of this project is environment and fight against climate change. In brief, this project is highlighting the importance of sustainability. By publishing a review, the partners want to create a sustainable brand that shows how VET and higher educators can take responsibility for society and the environment. It is also important to bring out the innovative aspects for especially for VET education. Identifying social and professional competencies that VET providers could offer to strengthen the SCE is a critical when e.g. implementing new training courses and programs. Therefore, the review also has a transferability potential. It can be used by teachers to show case SCE good practices. It is also a review with a pedagogical focus (blended learning). 

Our goals

The purpose of Social Circular Economy (SCE) is to inspire people to rethink, redesign and pursue a positive future with the belief that linking the principles of the circular economy with social enterprise gives the right conditions to foster innovation and creativity, for a world with local solutions to meet societal, environmental and economic needs. The aim is to engage in a more socially, inclusive and environmentally responsible economy by merging the concepts of circular economy (CE) and social enterprising. 

Main objectives

SCE-VET want to create a sustainable brand that shows how VET and higher educators can take responsibility for society and the environment. It is also important to bring out the innovative aspects for especially for VET education.

It is also important to bring out the innovative aspects for especially for VET education. Identifying social and professional competencies that VET providers could offer to strengthen the SCE is a critical when e.g. implementing new training courses and programs. Therefore, the review also has a transferability potential. It can be used by teachers to show case SCE good practices. It is also a review with a pedagogical focus (blended learning). 

To motivate why SCE is needed, it is important to define the potential deficits and gaps of circular economy and social enterprise concepts when they are acting separately. The most relevant priority of this project is environment and fight against climate change. 

The deliverables

There are eight concrete project deliverables:

1. A Social Circular Economy Anchoring Review where the aim is to map and publish a review of existing strategies for SCE in all partner countries. 
2. A Circularity day for staff and students to encourage teachers, students, VET partners and other stakeholders to act, reflect and prepare for the future. Priority is given to develop VET education and VET competencies in various sustainability-relevant sectors, also focusing on green sectorial skills, inclusion, SCE activities and methodologies. 
3. A Mapping of SCE integration in society by investigating the integration of SCE in society the partner organizations will have in-depth discussions and evaluations on the educational methods needed. 
4. A Student Attitude Survey with the aim to encourage a change of attitude and raising social awareness about the effects of climate change. 
5. Anchoring Social Circular Economy course. The SCE Mooc will provide a digital and flexible way to learn new skills or to get up-skilling. 
6. SCE Network Platform 
   We vision to develop a digital experience SCE Network Platform that brings together VET and higher educators on different levels with society and entrepreneurs. The aim is to inspire people to rethink, redesign and pursue a positive future by linking the principles of the CE with social enterprise that offers conditions to foster innovation and creativity. 
7. Social Circular VET Method Canvas 
   This illustrated and/or animated canvas is a visual chart with elements describing the education program’s content services, benefits, target groups and activities by showing potential educational trade-offs. The canvas is an innovative strategic document for all partners to implement and add to their organization strategy. All results are expected to strengthen inclusion and be sustainable.

The primary target groups are teachers and students, both in secondary level VET institutions and in higher education. The Secondary target groups are social enterprise and local stakeholders involved in supporting inclusion, e.g. offering job opportunities, employments, and trading to socially disadvantaged groups. All partners participating in this project are promoting the integration of social circular economy.