Overview
The SocialEASE Consortium Project, coordinated by TEDU, is an EU-funded initiative that aims to foster social entrepreneurship among students in Turkey. The project aims to provide students with invaluable experiences in social entrepreneurship practices through traineeships in Europe. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the development of Turkey's social entrepreneurship ecosystem by facilitating the transfer of acquired know-how from international experiences.
In the 2023 Erasmus+ call for proposals, out of the 23 applicants, SocialEASE was one of the four projects that passed the quality assessment and earned accreditation. The project is awarded a total of 28,700 EUR to support its implementation.
SocialEASE stands as a beacon for collaborative efforts in higher education, emphasizing the importance of international mobility in shaping the next generation of socially conscious leaders and change-makers. Through this project, TEDU and its partner institutions aspire to leave a lasting impact on both individual students and the broader social entrepreneurship landscape in Turkey.
Objectives
The project's objectives are threefold:
- To enable students to immerse themselves in social entrepreneurship practices abroad through traineeships, thereby gaining practical skills and insights that will enrich their academic and professional development.
- To facilitate the transfer of acquired know-how from international experiences to Turkey's social entrepreneurship landscape, thereby enhancing the capabilities of the local ecosystem.
- To foster collaboration among participating HEIs in Turkey, establishing an organic network of institutions actively engaged in social entrepreneurship. This collaboration aims to further strengthen and expand Turkey's growing social entrepreneurship community.
Key Components
The key components of the SocialEASE include traineeships in social enterprises, where participants will engage in hands-on experiences, and member-led projects, attending workshops, and participating in events. These activities will equip them with practical knowledge and skills essential for a career in social entrepreneurship.
Participating Organizations
The projects include three valuable partners: Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Yaşar University, and ORIGINN, which promotes social entrepreneurship and cross-cutting issues and bridges academia with public-private actors.
Upcoming Activities
Starting from the Summer semester of 2024, the Consortium aims to initiate student traineeships in Europe, marking a significant milestone. Students will have the chance to apply for life-changing experiences in Europe and contribute to the growth of social entrepreneurship in Turkey.
Meet the Project Team
Berkay Altunbaş from the International Programs Office
Sinem Güravşar Gökçe from İstasyonTEDU
Elif Muratoğlu from İstasyonTEDU