Social Sciences and Humanities in intersectoral Outreach for better education and sustainable innovations

SHOUT will create new opportunities for Social Sciences and Humanities where students, recently graduates young professionals and researchers will work together with practitioners from SMEs and NGOs to develop solutions and generate value for civil society, public policy, business and service industries. In a broader socio-economic environment, there is a lack of understanding around usefulness of Social Sciences and Humanities on different levels and among different actors. This problem is coming from both sides: companies and 3rd sector organizations often do not see the benefit in hiring Social Sciences and Humanities graduates or consulting with Social Sciences and Humanities researchers, while graduates hardly know how to sell themselves even though they are critical when building sustainable innovations and the skills they require are at the most demand. This paradox needs to be broken. SHOUT addresses this challenge by implementing a mission-based approach.

Results:

Educational programmes

Develop innovative educational programmes for Social Sciences and Humanities academics, research support staff, Social Sciences and Humanities students and Social Sciences and Humanities professionals, in order to improve their knowledge, skills and competences in communication and responsiveness to Sustainable Development Goals challenges, entrepreneurship and research-oriented mind-set.

Traineeship Programme

Develop research mission-based and problem-focused learning approach where students, professors, and practitioners will work together on joint solutions in the challenges of Sustainable Development Goals (i.e. through the professor-student-practitioner research traineeship schemes).

Social Sciences And Humanities Research And Innovation HUB

Create a self-sustaining Social Sciences and Humanities research and innovation HUB where HEIs, SMEs and NGOs will be able to exchange knowledge, facilitate further cooperation and strengthen joint sustainable innovation solutions on the European level.

• SO1: develop innovative educational programmes for Social Sciences and Humanities academics, research support staff, Social Sciences and Humanities students and Social Sciences and Humanities professionals, in order to improve their knowledge, skills and competences in communication and responsiveness to Sustainable Development Goals challenges, entrepreneurship and research-oriented mind-set.
• SO2: develop research mission-based and problem-focused learning approach where students, professors, and practitioners will work together on joint solutions in the challenges of Sustainable Development Goals (i.e. through the professor-student-practitioner research traineeship schemes).
• SO3: create a self-sustaining Social Sciences and Humanities research and innovation HUB where HEIs, SMEs and NGOs will be able to exchange knowledge, facilitate further cooperation and strengthen joint sustainable innovation solutions on the European level.
• SO4: improve visibility of Social Sciences and Humanities research and strengthen its impact on broader socio-economic environment, especially in the field of sustainable transformations/innovations.
• SO5: strengthen collaboration among different sectors, improve networking channels and bridge the gap between research and practice.

The consortium includes 7 partner entities:

• P1: Vilnius University (Project Coordinator), Lithuania.
• P2: Oxfam Italia, Italy.
• P3: Flobal Impact Grid (GIG), Germany.
• P4: University of Ljublijiana, Slovenia.
• P5: Center for Social Innovation (CSI), Cyprus.
• P6: MB Hobo Eminens, Lithuania.
• P7: I- Imaginary, Italy.
• P8: LUM University, Italy.
• P9: Chouette Films, UK.
• P10: INOVA+, Portugal.
• P11: University of Split, Croatia.
• P12: The Croatian Institute for Corporate Social Responsibility (IDOP), Croatia.
• P13: Kentro Merimnas Oikogeneias kai Pediou (KMOP) – Family and Childcare Centre (Greece).