INTERNATIONAL ROUNDTABLE DEBATE«SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND TRADITIONAL FORMS OF MANAGEMENT IN THE EU: EXPERIENCE FOR UKRAINE» (EUROSECRET)
On September 21st, a roundtable discussion titled "SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND TRADITIONAL FORMS OF MANAGEMENT IN THE EU: EXPERIENCE FOR UKRAINE" took place as part of the EU Erasmus+ project under the Jean Monnet direction, within project 101085348 – EUROSECRET – ERASMUS-JMO-2022-HEI-TCH-RSCH, titled "European practices of social entrepreneurship: sustainability, inclusion and creativity." This project is being implemented at Zaporizhzhia National University starting from October 1, 2022. The thematic directions of the roundtable, "Social Entrepreneurship: Features, Trends, and Impact" and "European Models of Social Business: Lessons for Ukraine," brought together over 90 participants. Among them were representatives from the fields of economics, business management, government authorities, civil society organizations, academics, educators, students, and other stakeholders, not only from Ukraine but also from the United States.
The aim of the roundtable was to thoroughly discuss the specifics, trends, challenges, and opportunities of social entrepreneurship in Ukraine within the context of European experience in building social business models in cooperation with traditional enterprises. The event was opened by Olena Tupakhina, the Vice-Rector for Scientific, Pedagogical, International, and Project Activities at Zaporizhzhia National University. She emphasized the importance of implementing projects for the university's development and wished for a productive discussion.
Svitlana Shytykova, Project Manager of the Jean Monnet National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine and the coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine, emphasized the importance of project activities for our country and their relevance in the context of post-war recovery in her opening remarks.
On behalf of the team at the Zaporizhzhia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vice President Andriy Vyacheslavovych Kutz greeted everyone, highlighting the various directions of cooperation with the university and the opportunities for joint events and programs. Alexander Kornienko, Chairman of the Novooleksandrivska Village Council, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to participate in such events and emphasized their importance for the development of united territorial communities in his welcoming remarks.
Valentyna Helman, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Economics, emphasized the importance of project activities for Ukraine's post-war recovery. She mentioned that the Faculty of Economics is currently implementing four projects, the results of which are being integrated into the educational process, enhancing the quality of teaching within educational programs. The event moderator, project coordinator Anna Pereverzieva, a Doctor of Economics and a professor at the Department of International Economics, Natural Resources, and International Tourism Economics at Zaporizhzhia National University, kicked off the roundtable with a presentation of the project. She expressed her gratitude to the representatives of the Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine and the university leadership for their comprehensive support in project implementation. She also thanked all the attendees for their attention to the project and acknowledged the project execution team, which includes Volodymyr Volkov, D.Sc., Professor; Natalia Vengerska, Ph.D., Associate Professor; Iryna Bakalenko, Ph.D. in Pedagogy, Associate Professor; Yevhenii Merzhynskyi, Ph.D. in Economics, Associate Professor; and Olha Rotko, a graduate student. The project coordinator emphasized that it is through collaboration and coordinated efforts that desired results can be achieved, and this is the social component of the project.
The representatives of YMCA Mobile Hub Zaporizhia from YMCA Europe, Yuriy Bilyi, Chairman of YMCA Zaporizhia Region, and Aliona Horbenko, Regional Coordinator of YMCA Zaporizhia Region, captivated all attendees with their presentation on the integration of social entrepreneurship into partnerships and the creation of a value chain for traditional businesses.
Maxim Kravchuk, the founder of the "Generation of the Future" Charitable Foundation in Zaporizhia, outlined the activities of socially active businesses using the example of the Zaporizhia region in his presentation. The roundtable served as a platform for the presentation of Erasmus+ projects under the Jean Monnet direction that received EU funding in 2023: "European integration and sustainable development of rural areas of Ukraine as a guarantee of ensuring food security in the conditions of post-war recovery" (coordinated by Svitlana Kushnir) and "The European experience of forming a culture of tolerance in the Ukrainian perspective: media, education, art" (coordinated by Irina Bondarenko).
Eugene Klopota, the coordinator from Zaporizhzhia National University for the project "Strengthening the Capacities of Pedagogical Universities in Ukraine" (Czech Republic, Masaryk University), highlighted the current issues of inclusive development and emphasized social initiatives that contribute to the holistic realization of individuals. Iryna Ostapchuk, an associate professor at the Department of Tourism and Economics at Kryvyi Rih State Pedagogical University, presented her interesting experience using ecological excursions as a form of social entrepreneurship (using the example of Kryvyi Rih). Oksana Antolik, the director of the "Mayak" Club in the Culture Department of Berdiansk City Council and the head of the NGO "Syaivo Nadiyi," drew the attendees' attention to the specific activities of civil organizations in the context of war. She also provided a practical demonstration of their social initiatives through a video presentation.
The presentation by the guest from the United States, Mary Jo Styer Harris, President of the company "Banana Saver" (USA, Ohio, Medina), on the topic of "Social Responsibility for Small Business" was emotionally impactful. Through her own life example, she demonstrated the significance of the social component for small businesses.
Natalia Vengerska, an associate professor at the Department of International Economics, Natural Resources, and International Tourism Economics at ZNU, and an executor of the Erasmus+ project ERASMUS-JMO-2022-HEI-TCH-RSCH, in her presentation, shared her insights into the experience of the interaction between social and traditional entrepreneurship in EU countries, the United States, and Ukraine. She emphasized cooperation as the foundation for creating social innovations and social impact in the economy, and she highlighted the key factors influencing the development of partnerships between social and traditional enterprises. She also provided examples of cluster collaboration in the tourism sector between the Zaporizhia Regional Public Organization "Divosvit," the social project "Divochay," and the project "Diversification of Rural Tourism through Balance and Creativity: Expanding European Experience in Ukraine" (DIRUT), supported by the European Union's "Erasmus+: Jean Monnet Module" Program. Oleg Petrovich Masiuk, a professor at the Department of Social Philosophy and Management at Zaporizhzhia National University, acknowledged the successful experience of social entrepreneurship, using the example of Edward Abramovsky's "Cooperative Republic."
The speeches of Vladimir Novichenko, the Chairman of the Zaporizhzhia Preventive and Health Center "Health," on possible ways of rehabilitation during wartime, and Olga Kovalova, the Head of the Department of Therapy and Occupational Therapy at Zaporizhzhia National University "Zaporizka Politechnika," on the challenges of health recovery as a social function of a person, were also not overlooked.
The vibrant presentations and emotional speeches of the roundtable participants sparked lively discussions, underscoring the relevance of the project's theme. As a result of the roundtable session, a collective monograph of scientific publications dedicated to the pressing issues of social entrepreneurship functioning and development will be prepared.
Video report of the event.
Detailed information about the project can be found at:
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