Social Economy and Social Innovation: pathways and tools.

Training course for secondary school and vocational school teachers.

This programme provides an integrated and basic overview of the social economy, social enterprises, and social innovation, combining core concepts with practical tools. It begins with complex challenges and systems thinking, and introduces key reference frameworks and policy perspectives. Participants develop stakeholder engagement skills to analyse actors and interests and to build effective partnerships.

The course applies design thinking to frame needs and to ideate, prototype, and test impact-oriented solutions. It then explores social enterprise models, governance features, and the foundations of economic sustainability, including options in social finance and accountability.

The programme introduces approaches to impact evaluation, from theory of change to indicators and strategies for scaling impact. It also addresses the twin transition—green and digital—highlighting the role of digital tools and early uses of AI in impact initiatives.

The course concludes with a co-design lab to translate the content into a training pathway that can be delivered to students.

Who is it For?

Teachers working in upper secondary schools or vocational education and training institutions.

Why Join?

To acquire knowledge, tools, and teaching methodologies that will enable teachers to equip their students with the skills needed to design innovative solutions to real-world challenges in a creative and interdisciplinary way. Participating in the ESIC training empowers teachers to inspire their students to become the changemakers and leaders of tomorrow’s complex society.

Programme structure:

6 thematic modules + 1 co-design module
5 months of learning and development
Approximately 35-40 hours in total
Blended delivery: approx 25 hours online (synchronous/asynchronous) via learning platform Howspace + 11 hours in-person meetings.

Pedagogical approach:

Participants will engage through:

Interactive and problem-solving sessions
Collaborative activities and peer feedback
Ongoing evaluation and reflection

Programme modules:

Module 1: Foundations of Social Economy and Social Innovation. Wicked problems, systems thinking, and social economy policy frameworks

Module 2: Stakeholder Engagement. Mapping actors and interests, building partnerships, managing complex relationships

Module 3: Design for Social Innovation. Design thinking to ideate, prototype, and test impact-driven solutions

Module 4: Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Business Models. Forms, governance, and sustainability: from the Social Business Model Canvas to social finance

Module 5: Social Impact Evaluation. Theory of change, indicators, and scaling strategies for impact

Module 6: Green and Digital Transition for the Social Economy. The twin transition: sustainability, digital tools, and early uses of AI for impact initiatives

Module 7: Co-design of a Training Programme for Students on Social Economy and Innovation. Final lab: translating the content into a “replicable” programme for students

Where and When?

The pilot will run from May/Jun to December 2026
The programme format includes:

Online learning and collaboration via Howspace
X in-person workshops in Trento

How to Join?

People will register for the training through an online form (Google or Howspace) after being informed via formal letters sent by the PAT to schools, as well as through news published on the Trentino education system portal and by other affiliated organizations, and even local social media (FB and Twitter).

Frequently asked questions

A pilot generally refers to a small-scale, preliminary test or trial run of a project, product, or process before a full rollout. Its purpose is to validate assumptions, identify potential issues, and gather feedback in a controlled environment. In this case we are testing the co-designed content with Design Thinking Methodology in a participatory design phase.

The ESIC Accelerator offers valuable networking and mentorship opportunities. Participants receive a certificate that validates the potential of the social innovation. The program concludes with a final event day, providing you and your project with visibility at a European level.

No, there are no cash grants associated with the ESIC Accelerator Progamme.

Howspace is an AI-powered digital collaboration and social‑learning platform designed to facilitate meaningful engagement and collective sense‑making at scale. ESIC is using howspace as the learning platform for all its pilots.

No, individual written feedback will not be available for programme applicants.

Don’t worry – you don’t need to produce a high quality or expensive video. You can use a smartphone or tablet. We just want to hear you telling the story of your project in 2 – 3 mins max. Please tell us:

● who you are
● why you are applying for the award
● the problem/issue your project is trying to solve
● how you will do that
● how your solution is innovative or creative.

Course info

Language:

Italian

Location:

Italy

Hybrid

For:

Lifelong learner

Duration:

From May/Jun to December 2026

Partner

The Autonomous Province of Trento (PAT)

Website

The Autonomous Province of Trento (PAT), generally known as Trentino, is located in the Northern part of Italy, is a self-governing province with ample legislative and administrative powers in the sectors of health, education, welfare and transport infrastructure. The Statute of Autonomy establishes that political decisions are taken locally in accordance with the general frameworks of national regulations and so it is for the education and vocational education. The Department of Education and Culture is responsible for the enhancement and modernisation of the educational and scholar system in the province which comprises a network of 650 schools and over 10,000 teachers. It provides: actions for the development and the innovation of the provincial school and training system, taking care of the pedagogical and didactic aspects; teachers and staff training, also in collaboration with Provincial Institute of Educational Research and Experimentation (IPRASE); advice and counseling to schools for innovation of the school system. First and second cycle provincial school personnel (teachers and staff) are provincial employees. PAT has boosted actions aimed at pedagogy and didactic innovation of teaching and learning processes with a special focus on the centrality of the student as well as on a closer link between school, territory and labour market. The Trentino school system can indeed claim significant experience in the integration of ICT in education and in innovative pedagogical methodologies. Thanks to a strong investment and a forward-thinking policy, it ranks at the top in the PISA at Italian level but also in the international ranking.