Dare To Be Different: Unlocking the potential of Social Entrepreneurship in Higher Education

UnLtd and HEFCE are delighted to announce the details of our national conference - Dare To Be Different: Unlocking the potential of Social Entrepreneurship in Higher Education.

The conference will be taking place in the prestigious Firth Court at the University of Sheffield on Thursday 16th June and will be of interest to academics, students, support staff and senior staff in HEIs who are committed to social entrepreneurship.

Registration:     9.30am

Start:               10.00am

Finish:              5.00pm

Wine reception: 5.00pm - 7.00pm

The day will facilitate knowledge sharing around social entrepreneurship in Higher Education and celebrate and showcase the achievements of the HE Social Entrepreneurship Awards Programme.

The morning will focus on best practice, highlighting the value of social entrepreneurship in Higher Education. The afternoon will look to the future, unpacking the challenges in this field and creating actionable recommendations. This will involve a combination of panel debates, presentations and workshops. Sessions include:

• HE Social Entrepreneurship Champions of Change Recognition Awards: Presentation to the winners of the awards which recognise the outstanding achievements of individuals in HEIs in England who have demonstrated an exceptional and inspirational commitment to social entrepreneurship and social enterprise activity.

• The current position of social entrepreneurship in Higher Education: Background on the UnLtd/HEFCE HE Social Entrepreneurship Awards Programme and launch of our research findings.

•  Leadership and strategy: Dedicated to what senior staff in HEIs can do on a strategic level to enable social entrepreneurship and how to lead this with greater effect.

•  Supporting and encouraging: Examining the roles and futures of a range of support mechanisms in social venture creation, including professional support staff, enterprise services, knowledge transfer offices, student societies, membership networks and hubs.

•  Learning, teaching and researching: Debating how social entrepreneurship can be learnt, taught, embedded in curriculums and form a bridge between theory and practice.

•  Open space sessions: For those more specific issues and debates generated by the huge array of experts and perspectives bought together through social entrepreneurship.

• High profile panel debate: The day will culminate in a panel discussion, informing policy around how to embed a culture of social entrepreneurship within Higher Education.

There are only a limited number of spaces available so register now to avoid disappointment.

We look forward to seeing you there!