Fostering Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Higher Education

Free Online Event | Friday June 25 | 10:00 - 11:30 (WEST, UTC+01:00).

In this webinar, Dr Simon Teasdale will explore how social innovation is a contested concept whose various meanings have fused over time into a ‘collaborative’ social innovation discourse. While this discourse offers considerable potential to unite actors seeking positive social change, it also leaves social innovation open to manipulation by actors seeking to maintain the status quo. He, therefore, argues that social innovation initiatives in higher education need to be realistically embedded in the practices and values of communities if they are to be meaningful and sustainable.

This webinar is part of the From Passion to Action project at DCU, an initiative funded by the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, that aims to support educators in embedding social impact in their teaching, irrespective of discipline. In doing so, they can foster in their students the behaviour, skills, thinking and attitude in devising, testing and launching sustainable innovative solutions to social and environmental challenges. In this webinar, the From Passion to Action website, DCU’s resource hub for social innovation and social entrepreneurship education, will be officially launched.

Simon is Professor of Public Policy and Organisations and Assistant Vice Principal Social Innovation at Glasgow Caledonian University. His research focuses on the interface between public policy and organisational behaviour, and has been funded by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council, European Commission, OECD and Scottish and UK Government. He has advised governments on the creation of social innovation funding schemes and sits on various awards panels. Click here for more information about Simon’s work.

Programme

10.00 - 10.10: Opening remarks, Dr Emer Ní Bhrádaigh, Fiontar agus Scoil na Gaeilge, DCU

10.10 - 10.15: DCU President, Professor Daire Keogh - Introductory remarks

10.15 - 10.45: Professor Simon Teasdale presentation

10:45 - 11:10: Responses from Professor Deiric Ó Broin, School of Law & Government, DCU, and from Dr Denise Crossan, Lang Visiting Professor for Issues for Social Change, Lang Centre for Civic and Social Responsibility, Swarthmore College, USA

11.10 - 11.20: Q & A

11.20 - 11.25 From Passion to Action DCU Social Entrepreneurship resources website launch

11.25 - 11.30: Round-up and closing remarks