Project goal
The SIM project aims to empower European companies to strengthen their collaboration with local communities and develop sustainable solutions to local social challenges through specially trained Social Impact Managers. The project develops new approaches to teaching, learning and implementing CSR that are strongly linked to the needs of local communities, encouraging their collaboration with civil society actors, educational institutions and businesses. It seeks to establish structured cooperation and knowledge flows between higher education, vocational education and training and the wider economic and social environment, in order to focus CSR practice on creating measurable social impact and sustainable community development.
Specific project objectives
- Develop a new professional profile – Social Impact Manager with competencies in the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainability and community development, able to align the needs of the company with the needs of local communities.
- Increase the capacity of companies to design and implement CSR initiatives aimed at community development.
- Encourage cooperation between vocational education providers, universities and companies in the development of educational programs aligned with labor market needs.
- Harmonize the content of education with new social and business trends, making it attractive and competitive for young professionals and students.
- Increase the employability of participants through a curriculum based on the needs of companies and practical cooperation with local communities.
- Support skills development at EU level in response to policy changes in the field of CSR and sustainability, by developing a curriculum applicable in all Member States.
Key project activities
- Development of mapping methodology for companies and communities.
- Engaging businesses and communities through surveys, focus groups, interviews and participatory workshops.
- Creation of a guide for the SIM educational program.
- Adaptation of SIM programs at the local level.
- Implementation of the SIM program through face-to-face and online classes, with practical work by participants.
- Organization of the international SIM school.
- Evaluation of the impact of the SIM program.
- Preparation for the replication of the SIM program, including specialized workshops and a final conference.
Project duration
36 months (June 1, 2023 – May 31, 2026)
Project partners
- University of Peloponnese – Greece
- KMOP Education Center – Greece
- Union of Greek Industries – Greece
- University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne – France
- French Chamber of Social and Solidarity Economy (ESS France) – France
- University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics (EFRI) – Croatia
- Knowledge Network Ltd. – Croatia
- University of Milan – Bicocca – Italy
- Manageritalia – Italy
- Project School – Italy
- Momentum – Ireland
- eucen – European Association of University Lifelong Learning – Belgium
- Platform for Vocational Adult Education (PbEB) – Austria
- die Berater – Austria
Total project budget: €1,270,366
The project is co-financed by the European Union from the Erasmus+ program.
The amount of funds allocated to the Knowledge Network is €49,640.