ENHANCE invites - summer school on sustainable entrepreneurship | Gdańsk University of Technology

In 2022, Gdańsk University of Technology joined ENHANCE - an association of 10 European technical universities. Thanks to the presence in ENHANCE, Gdańsk Tech students have the opportunity to participate in winter and summer schools, seminars and other interesting events on various topics. The next such event will be organized by Chalmers University of Technology - also ENHANCE member. This time the main topic of the meeting will be sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation. Don't miss it!

About the Summer School 

Summer School, organized by Chalmers University of Technology (Gothenburg, Sweden), will include such topics as: sustainability tools and theories to address economic social, and environmental issues, both independently and collaboratively; stages of value creation for others, incorporating technical components; organizing innovative processes in line with sustainable goals, contextual analysis of sustainability concerns; cultural and political impact of sustainability. 

What will you learn?

On completing the Summer School, students will be able to:

• demonstrate understanding of the intersection of entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability, including increase ability to interpret how businesses react to sustainability in their respective economic and political environments;
• develop ability to determine prioritized action towards tackling sustainability concerns in the consequent stages of innovation and entrepreneurial development and relative to contextual specificity;
• demonstrate ability to assess and analyze global and systemic sustainability challenges and trade-offs in economic, social, and environmental domains that affect businesses;
• demonstrate understanding of key challenges and opportunities regarding stakeholder engagement and sustainable strategy development;
• demonstrate awareness of greenwashing and determine how to differentiate between viable and non-viable sustainable action;

Who can participate?

To be eligible to apply, the students must be enrolled at a master’s or doctoral level program, have completed at least one semester, and have at least one semester left of their studies at one of the ENHANCE partner universities before the start of the Summer School.

What is the language of the seminar?

English (a CEFR B2 English proficiency level is expected, although no formal certificate is required).

When and where?

• Preparation (15th June to 18th August 2023): students will interview a sustainable entrepreneur, following an interview guide provided to them. Students are paired with another student to discuss their insights. They then join the pre-assigned groups and synthesize their learning. There will be two online sessions during this period.
• In-person sessions (21 August to 25 August 2023): Monday to Thursday from 9-16, lectures in the morning and workshops in the afternoon on campus in Gothenburg. On Friday a field trip is organized and the second period concludes with some social activity.
• Final assignment (28 August to 29 September 2023): students will put together the insights they gathered from readings, lectures, student-led workshops, the synthesis of their interviews, and their group work to form their final assignment. The final assignment can be a website, a wiki, a traditional hand-in, a video, a podcast, an Instagram page, a Twitter thread, a practical guide, or even a plan for consultancy.

What are the costs?

Participation in the Summer School itself is free of charge (there is no registration fee). Travel, accommodation and other expenses are the responsibility of the student. Gdańsk Tech students, however, receive EUR 70 per day under the Erasmus+ program (which they can use to cover part of their travel, accommodation and other expenses).

How to apply?

Important information: Gdańsk Tech students interested in participating in the Summer School do not apply directly to Chalmers University of Technology (the organizer of the event), but first undergo verification at Gdańsk Tech, and then verification at Chalmers University of Technology. The number of places is limited - the order of applications is decisive (max. 5 students will be admitted).

• Step 1: by March 17th students need to submit a motivational letter of 300-500 words where he/she will describe: 1) a quick personal background, 2) why they want to participate in this Summer School, and 3) what they will plan to do with their newly acquired knowledge. Applicants are expected to make connections between their studies and the topics of entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability. The motivational letter (.pdf format) needs to be sent to justyna.sudakowska@pg.edu.pl; 
• Step 2: by March 31st the local selection at Gdańsk Tech will be processed and max. 5 students will be selected (their nominations will be sent to Chalmers University of Technology); 
• Step 3: by May 8th students will get final confirmation from Chalmers University of Technology if they have been admitted; 
• Step 4: by May 22nd admitted students will register in Chalmers University of Technology system;
• Step 5: by June 15th, students admitted to the Summer School will meet representatives of the Startup School and entrepreneurship animators at Gdańsk Tech (the meeting will be aimed at including participants of the Summer School in the mainstream of entrepreneurship activities at Gdańsk Tech).

In case of any questions please contact Gdańsk Tech International Relations Office at justyna.sudakowska@pg.edu.pl 

The ENHANCE Alliance was founded in November 2019 as an association of ten European Universities of Technology. Its aim is to create a European and interdisciplinary space for the interaction of innovative technological progress, society and our environment. Gdańsk University of Technology is a member of ENHANCE since 2022. More about ENHANCE.