Co-LIFE. Co-designing Learning for Impact Focused Entrepreneurship

The state of the environment and the economy require altering the way we approach business transactions (cf. the UN Sustainable Development Goals). Innovative sustainable interventions addressing social inequality and environmental degradation are required to create employment opportunities for sustainable growth. The aim of the Co-LIFE project is to produce innovative educational measures in impact-focused entrepreneurship (IFE) in four (4) Indian HEIs. This will produce positive social, economic and environmental results through knowledge-sharing. Through economic collaboration between HEIs, companies and associations, e. g. via social and sustainable entrepreneurship activities the Co-LIFE project will create change in communities, in the short-term. Project partner institutions in Europe and India have come together to co-develop educational content (course curriculum), learning materials, and novel innovative pedagogics to advance IFE-based education in India. India needs sustainable interventions to address and exploit their demographics and their entrepreneurial growth and vibrant ecosystem. The goal is to prepare students of Indian HEIs to tackle regionally relevant social and sustainable challenges through an entrepreneurial approach, and to improve the innovativeness and relevance of higher education in relation to UN and Erasmus+ CBHE goals. This educational collaboration between Indian and EU-based HEIs involves creating stakeholder networks in India and between India and the EU. The proposal involves non-academic organisations and stakeholders bringing innovative added-value for social inclusion. Additionally, enhancing intercultural relations between the EU and India: participating HEIs, students, teaching staff, and local businesses and associations is an objective. HEIs and networks will benefit from exchanging best practices in learning and teaching methods and practical ideas towards employment and sustainable development in their respective areas.