ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE SOCIETIES

Programme structure

The programme is organised around three progressive stages: developing the foundations of entrepreneurship, exploring specialisation pathways and applying the acquired knowledge through entrepreneurial projects and real-world experience.

Year 1 – Planting the Seeds

During the first year, students develop the essential knowledge and skills required to understand business organisations, entrepreneurship and the economic and social environments in which they operate.

Courses cover areas such as:

• economics and finance
• entrepreneurship and marketing
• digital skills and artificial intelligence
• social responsibility and business ethics
• regional business ecosystems
• the global business environment
• management and leadership
• European Union institutions
• intercultural communication
• local languages and personal development

Some learning activities are jointly delivered through the INVEST Virtual Campus, allowing students from the partner universities to collaborate from the beginning of the programme.

Year 2 – Branching Out

The second year enables students to broaden their academic and intercultural experience through thematic specialisation semesters offered across the consortium.

The available specialisations currently include:

University of Córdoba – Sustainable International Business

Focuses on sustainable finance and accounting, international marketing, international trade, business law and sustainable business within the European internal market.

University of Agribusiness and Rural Development – Entrepreneurship and Rural Development

Explores rural entrepreneurship, agribusiness management, alternative food networks, landscape management, rural leadership and alternative forms of tourism.

University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne – Responsible Economics and Business Administration

Addresses strategic management, political and institutional economics, financial markets, responsible capitalism, corporate law and purpose-driven organisations.

Karelia University of Applied Sciences – Sustainable Horizons: Responsible and Regenerative Tourism

Focuses on responsible tourism, regenerative service development, sustainable tourism entrepreneurship, communication and marketing, and community-based tourism.

Slovak University of Agriculture – Mission-Driven Creative Business

Examines the social and solidarity economy, creative industries, social innovation, ideation and prototyping, mission-driven branding, sustainability and impact measurement.

Students follow two specialisation semesters within the programme. At least one semester must be completed at a university other than the student’s home institution. The availability of individual pathways will depend on student preferences, academic requirements and the number of places offered by each partner.

Year 3 – The Blooming Year

In the final year, students integrate their knowledge and apply it to entrepreneurial and societal challenges.

The year includes:

• research and thesis-related methodology
• a capstone Business Project
• elective courses offered by the partner universities and the INVEST Virtual Campus
• a Living Lab internship or project
• the final Bachelor’s thesis

Through the Business Project, students design, test and refine an entrepreneurial initiative. The Living Lab experience enables them to collaborate with external stakeholders and apply their knowledge in an authentic professional and regional context.

Mobility and Living Labs

International mobility is a central element of the programme. Students complete at least one semester at an INVEST partner university other than their home institution, primarily during the specialisation stage. A second mobility semester may be possible depending on the selected pathway, available places and applicable funding.

Mobility gives students the opportunity to experience different educational systems, cultures and entrepreneurial environments. It also strengthens intercultural competence, adaptability and the ability to work in international teams.

International offices and the INVEST Mobility Service Point will support students with academic planning, administrative procedures, accommodation guidance and integration at the host university. Mobility may be supported through Erasmus+ funding, subject to the applicable calls, eligibility conditions and availability of funds.

Another distinctive feature of the programme is the Living Lab. Students work with real organisations and communities to analyse challenges, develop ideas and test sustainable entrepreneurial solutions.

Living Lab partners may include:

• start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises
• social enterprises and cooperatives
• public administrations and regional development agencies
• tourism and rural development organisations
• business incubators and innovation centres
• NGOs and civil society organisations
• local communities and other regional stakeholders

The Living Labs connect academic learning with real-world experimentation and allow students to develop practical experience before graduation.

Career opportunities

Graduates of the programme will be prepared for professional roles that combine entrepreneurship, sustainability, innovation and regional development.

Possible career paths include:

• sustainable or social entrepreneur
• founder or manager of a mission-driven start-up
• business development specialist
• sustainability or corporate social responsibility specialist
• innovation and project manager
• sustainable business consultant
• social economy or cooperative development specialist
• regional or local development officer
• rural development or agribusiness entrepreneur
• responsible or regenerative tourism professional
• impact measurement and evaluation specialist
• entrepreneurship support or business incubation professional
• project officer in public institutions, NGOs or international organisations

The interdisciplinary nature of the programme also provides a foundation for postgraduate studies in entrepreneurship, business administration, economics, sustainability, innovation, tourism or regional development.

Admission and application

Applicants must hold a secondary education qualification, or an equivalent qualification, that grants access to Bachelor-level studies in the relevant national education system.

Applicants must also demonstrate English language proficiency at a minimum level of B1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or an accepted equivalent.

Admission procedure

Applicants are evaluated according to:

• academic performance and relevant previous studies – 80%
• motivation, assessed through a mandatory video submission – 20%
• an online interview, where considered necessary

The interview may be used to assess the applicant’s motivation, academic potential and readiness to participate in an international and mobility-based programme.