<< Background >>Anchoring Social Circular Economy Attitudes in VET (SCE - VET) is a cooperation partnership where the transnational network is as important as the innovative results. It is due to this partnership that we can innovate and develop a Social Circular Economy (SCE) network online and to offer accessible online course modules focusing on social circular economy. In this partnership it is also important for all partners to focus on inclusion and diversity in all fields of vocational education and training (VET). The creation of an open online SCE course modules with examples from all partner countries offer flexible, multi-sectorial inclusive and diverse materials provided in a digital learning environment where students in a flexible way can learn new skills or get up-skilling.VET educators must adapt vocational education and training to labour market needs. Between 2012 and 2018 the number of jobs linked to the circular economy in the EU grew by 5% to reach around 4 million. Circularity can be expected to have a positive net effect on job creation provided that workers acquire the skills required by the green transition. Therefore, it is important to stimulate innovative learning and teaching practices in education and to increase the attractiveness of VET by strengthening the link between the educational world, society and work life. SCE-VET has the intention to highlight substantial opportunities, insights and themes regarding Circular Economy (CE) and the link to social enterprises. There are 6 concrete needs analyzed and identified that will be addressed in this partnership cooperation. The needs are directly linked to the project priorities. 1. Good practices and research how to strengthen environment awareness and fight against climate change need to be shared and incorporated to improve the competitiveness and social responsibility. The review of existing SCE strategies in the partner countries will offer social, economic, cultural and educational cross-over information that can be implemented into training programs. 2. The creation of a Social Circular Economy MOOC course will offer flexible and inclusive material that meet the needs to enhance inclusion and diversity in all fields of VET. The network platform will be an important channel to share experiences, contacts, consequences of results and impacts. 3. There are clear needs to improve the competencies and skills in the SCE and entrepreneurship field and to switch from linear to circular models by adapting VET to labor market needs. By investigating the integration of SCE in society the partner organizations will have in-depth discussions and evaluations on the educational methods needed. 4. In order to contributing to innovation in VET, educators need updated knowledge, methods and tools. It is important to anticipate changes in workplaces of the future. They are influencers with the capacity to inspire and encourage teachers and students to be aware of environmental and social challenges. The Social Circular VET Method Canvas will be an eye opener with elements describing education program’s content services, benefits, target groups, activities by illustrating potential educational trade-offs. 5. New technological innovations and solutions are forming our societies and also demand more stimulating innovative learning and teaching practices, both in higher education and in VET. Mapping of students’ attitudes regarding SCE will be done 2 times during the project period. The purpose is to evaluate how the actions of this project has encouraged a change of attitude in all target groups. 6. There is a need to raise awareness about environmental and climate-change, social challenges and potentials. The Social Circularity Day is an event where educators, students and relevant stakeholders will receive information, create new networks and cooperation. The event will help identifying new solutions and models increase attractiveness of VET and SCE.<< Objectives >>The purpose of Social Circular Economy (SCE) is to inspire people to rethink, redesign and pursue a positive future with the belief that linking the principles of the circular economy with social enterprise gives the right conditions to foster innovation and creativity, for a world with local solutions to meet societal, environmental and economic needs. The aim is to engage in a more socially, inclusive and environmentally responsible economy by merging the concepts of circular economy (CE) and social enterprising. The project partnership will be able to increase the quality and relevance of their activities, to develop and reinforce their networks of partners and to rise their capacity to operate jointly at transnational level. Furthermore, the partners can boost internationalization activities and exchange or develop new practices and methods as well as sharing and confronting ideas.It is important to be able to clarify SCE, highlight contexts and describe what CE means for different target groups. What does SCE really mean from a more practical perspective? Who needs SCE? What consequences and positive effects can SCE lead to? What are the challenges? The most relevant priority in this project is “Environment and fight against climate change”. The European Green Deal Communication is the European new growth strategy and recognizes the key role of schools, training institutions and universities to engage with students, parents, and the wider community on the changes needed for a successful transition to become climate neutral by 2050.Together the partners of this project can discuss and develop innovative local, regional, national and European solutions and models to meet societal, environmental and economic needs. The purpose is to engage in a more socially and environmentally responsible economy with practitioners of circular economy and/or social enterprise. The primary target groups are teachers and students, both in secondary level VET institutions and in higher education. The Secondary target groups are social enterprise and local stakeholders involved in supporting inclusion, e.g. through offering job opportunities, employments, and trading to socially disadvantaged groups. All partners participating in this project are promoting the integration of social circular economy. There are eight concrete project objectives:1. To map and publish a review of existing SCE strategies in Belgium, Finland, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain and Uzbekistan. The review can be used as a guide for schools and organizations on how to implement SCE. 2. To offer a Social Circularity Day where educators, students and relevant stakeholders get updated information, can create new networks and potential cooperation.3. To investigate the integration of SCE in society4. To follow up the student’s attitude development of SCE during the project period5. To create a massive open online VET course (MOOC) on Social Circular Economy providing a digital and flexible way to learn new skills or to get up-skilling. It will be added, implemented or replace existing course materials.6. To publish a SCE network online7. To develop a Social Circular VET Method Canvas. The canvas will be an innovative and illustrated strategic document for all partners to implement and add to their organization strategy. 8. To maintain a continuous dissemination through multiplier events, social media and the partners own channels. The objectives offer an innovative way of integrating SCE in VET education and to build bridges across stakeholders (interested new users), disciplines and countries. It includes information sharing, practice, and community building. All results that are developed to fulfil the objectives are openly available and sustainable.<< Implementation >>A project is sustainable when it continues to deliver benefits to the project beneficiaries and stakeholders for an extended period after the project ending. The activities implemented are in details described in the application that also constitutes the project plan of this partnership cooperation. The implemented activities are divided into project activities and sustainable result activities: - Project activities are activities that takes place during workshops, transnational meetings, and multiplier events with the purpose to jointly develop, test and evaluate results and to share experiences. The tasks between meetings are focusing on preparing and producing results, to disseminate outcomes and to implement the results into their own organization.- Sustainable activities that are implemented during this project are activities that are transferable to all target groups and stakeholders, both on local, regional, national and European levels. These activities are strictly based on the priorities, the objectives and expected results of SCE-VET.The timeline as well as the implementation and sustainability plan are vital documents that will support the partners in their activities.The partners are divided into 3 teams with the aim that everyone knows their activities and responsibilities. The activities are decided according to the partners previous experiences and skills, but it is also important that all team partners share their experiences and develop new skills.1.VET Team (Finland, Spain, the Netherlands and Poland)The VET partners are involved in activities connected to VET education (Social Circularity day and creation of MOOC).2.HE Team (Belgium, Uzbekistan and Greece)The Higher education team will be responsible for the research activities (review, survey, questionnaires, analysis, evaluation)3.Social Team (Italy, Romania and the Netherlands)The social partners will bring the social experiences and undertake activities of Mapping of SCE integration in society, SCE Network platform and Social circular VET Method Canvas. They are also the main link to the entrepreneurial worldActivities to develop and produce results during the project period is not enough. To ensure the sustainability of results and expected impacts a thorough needs analysis with all partner organizations was done during the application process. Sustainability is also an expected impact and a commitment for each partner organization and participant. This will strengthen the dissemination and implementation activities of the results to all target groups and stakeholders. The content and design are very important for the results to be sustainable. The good practices learnt during the project are sustainable and can be transferred by each partner through their own networks. Two results are developed, tested, and implemented in the daily training activities of the education providers and can be maintained without additional funding:•Anchoring Social Circular Economy course (Mooc)•Social Circularity Day for staff and studentsThe following results have been developed with the purpose to be implemented by the partner organizations as guides, strategy documents and research reports:•Social Circular Economy Anchoring Review•Mapping of SCE integration in society•Student Attitude Survey•Social Circular VET Method CanvasA sustainability analysis discussion at the end of the project will determine the final project relevance, educational usefulness, practicability, and adaptability of results. SCE-VET will highlight social and behavioural changes and needs for attitudes, individual preferences, consumption habits and lifestyles. The stimulating innovative learning and teaching tools and materials available on the Network Platform can be used and copied as a concept for other VET and higher education providers as well as social organizations and associations that want to re-skill or up-skill their employees.<< Results >>Educational institutions at all levels must take an active role in raising social awareness about the effects of climate change and the need to implement actions aimed at redirecting the trend of environmental deterioration because of the various actions of humans. SCE-VET has an innovative approach for promoting a change of attitude and to favour the incorporation of measures and actions of CE, environmental sustainability and social responsibility among the target groups and stakeholders. There is a link between products and social issues. The social economy has a long history of focusing on health, education, employment, and sustainable development. Very often social organizations act where governments have failed or are unable to meet social needs. These organizations create employment, social protection and other forms of support for people facing challenges in society.Connecting this tradition into the concept of CE includes an innovative transition development aspect for a sustainable social future, and the educational institutions have an important role in this task. The concept of SCE is linking the principles of the CE with social enterprises, giving the right conditions to foster innovation and creativity, for a society with solutions to meet societal, environmental and economic needs.The expected results are:1. A Social Circular Economy Anchoring Review Based on EU recommendations, declarations and action plans the aim is to map and publish a review of existing strategies for SCE in all partner countries.2. A Circularity day for staff and studentsThe Social Circularity Day is not just another Sustainability or Eco day. It is a day to encourage teachers, students, VET partners and other stakeholders to act, reflect and prepare for the future. Priority is given to a Circularity Day program content that concentrates on highlighting opportunities to develop VET education and VET competencies in various sustainability-relevant sectors, also focusing on green sectorial skills, inclusion, SCE activities and methodologies.3. A Mapping of SCE integration in society By investigating the integration of SCE in society the partner organizations will have in-depth discussions and evaluations on the educational methods needed. The objective is to identify the integration levels of SCE and to recognize indicators of So¬cial and Cultural As¬pects of CE. 4. A Student Attitude Survey In many of the partnership countries CE is implemented in the study programs. Subsequently, a main objective intended with all the actions of this project is to encourage a change of attitude in all target groups. Education providers should be an active part in raising social awareness about the effects of climate change. 5. Anchoring Social Circular Economy courseEntrepreneurial skills have an important role in VET education, regardless business or service field. The SCE Mooc will provide a digital and flexible way to learn new skills or to get up-skilling. It is important to anticipate changes in workplaces of the future and to adapt VET to labour market needs, enhancing multi-stakeholder partnerships across industry and society. 6. SCE Network PlatformWe vision to develop a digital experience SCE Network Platform that brings together VET and higher educators on different levels with society and entrepreneurs. The aim is to inspire people to rethink, redesign and pursue a positive future by linking the principles of the CE with social enterprise that offers conditions to foster innovation and creativity.7. Social Circular VET Method Canvas This illustrated and/or animated canvas is a visual chart with elements describing the education program’s content services, benefits, target groups and activities by showing potential educational trade-offs. The canvas is an innovative strategic document for all partners to implement and add to their organization strategy.All results are expected to strengthen inclusion and be sustainable.