ERUA
WORK PACKAGE 5 - Achieving Social Change in ERUA’s Local Communities and Regions
ERUA level coordination: UAEGEAN
Local staff: dott. Maria Paladino & dott. Emanuele Bury
WP5 has developed a strategy structured around three key initiatives, Digitalisation, Sustainability, and Creativity, to strengthen the connection between the ERUA Alliance and its local ecosystems by actively engaging stakeholders, partners, networks, communities, and regional actors.
This vision is brought to life through three flagship initiatives:
- Digital Reform, dedicated to digital transformation;
- Aeiforia, focused on sustainability and inspired by the ancient Greek word meaning lasting balance;
- ERUA Haus, centred on creativity and inspired by the principles of the New European Bauhaus initiative.
Work on these three pillars continues with the aim of consolidating their achievements and amplifying their impact across the Alliance.
In close collaboration with the ERUA network, the University of Macerata is committed to promoting intercultural dialogue and fostering cooperation among universities, students, and local communities. Within this framework, WP5 plays a key role in designing and implementing initiatives that encourage dialogue, civic engagement, and social innovation.
Events such as the Science Café, Ideathon, and DigiTalk address major societal challenges, including migrant integration, social inclusion, and the protection of human rights. These initiatives encourage active participation and support the development of creative and sustainable solutions to issues affecting local and European communities.
WORK PACKAGE 6 - Developing ERUA’s social entrepreneurship
ERUA level coordination: ULPGC
Local staff: dott. Giulia Verdini & dott. Maria Paladino
WP6 aims to foster a culture of social entrepreneurship within the ERUA university community, with a particular focus on the social sciences and on enhancing employment opportunities for students.
The University of Macerata actively contributes to the activities of the Work Package by helping to identify the key social challenges emerging across the different partner universities and transforming them into opportunities for innovation and positive impact. The goal is to encourage the development of entrepreneurial initiatives capable of creating not only economic value, but also social and cultural value.
One of the core components of WP6 is the development of a joint course on social entrepreneurship, designed and delivered collaboratively by all universities within the ERUA Alliance. The course will be open to students and will provide practical tools to help them imagine, design, and implement innovative and sustainable solutions that creatively address the needs of local communities.
Through this initiative, WP6 seeks to unlock the potential of the next generation by supporting students in building a more equitable, inclusive, and socially responsible future.