Erasmus+ KA2 projekt DiSCOVERY

Innovative Digital Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Practices Integration in Higher Education

Acronim: DiSCOVERY

Tender: KA220-HED - Cooperation partnerships in higher education - Call 2024 Round 2
Project number: 2024-2-HU01-KA220-HED-000279803

Leading partner: Fontanus Center Ltd. (Hungary)

Partners:

• University of Pannonia (Hungary)
• ANAX ENERGY P.C (Greece)
• Fifty-fifty Social Innovation and Cohesion Institute (Greece)
• UC Leuven-Limburg (Belgium)
• Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences (Poland)
• Instituto Europeu de Estudos Superiores (Portugal)
• University of Novo mesto (Slovenia)

Total project value: 400,000.00 EUR
Funding information: Projekt sofinancira Evropska unija.

Start: 1 March, 2025
End: 28 February, 2027

Kontaktna oseba: Sabina Krsnik, sabina.krsnik@uni-nm.si, +386 7 393 00 21

Spletna stran projekta: https://discovery-erasmus.eu/

Project description:

Higher education institutions across Europe are under increasing pressure to modernize their curricula in response to two parallel challenges: the accelerating pace of digital transformation and the growing urgency of global sustainability. Yet, many study programs still lack integrated approaches that combine digital entrepreneurship with the practical skills and mindset needed for a sustainable future.

The DiSCOVERY project – Innovative Digital Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Practices Integration in Higher Education – was developed to address these critical gaps. Inspired by key European strategies such as the Digital Education Action Plan (2021–2027), the project responds to alarming data showing that fewer than 40% of educators in the EU feel adequately prepared to use digital tools in their teaching. The project also aligns with the Council's call for increased investment in digital infrastructure and capacity-building for both teachers and students.

At the same time, DiSCOVERY reflects the broader priorities of the European Commission to strengthen the interconnectedness of higher education systems through the adoption of innovative pedagogies. These include inverted learning, Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), and problem-based learning, all of which are built into the project's approach.

But DiSCOVERY goes beyond digital transformation. It responds to a global call for action: the need for education to produce professionals capable of leading society through complex sustainability transitions. Drawing from contemporary academic research, the project integrates key sustainability competencies into the learning process — such as systems thinking, futures thinking, and strategic decision-making — equipping students with the tools they need to become change-makers.

To achieve this, DiSCOVERY will create a comprehensive and accessible online platform — the DiSCOVERY Hub — that brings together educational resources, case studies, and interactive learning modules focused on sustainable entrepreneurship. The platform will promote innovation and collaboration across borders, enhance the digital and pedagogical skills of educators, and support students in developing practical, future-oriented competences.

DiSCOVERY is also closely aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially:

• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

By integrating sustainability and digital innovation into higher education, DiSCOVERY seeks to drive long-term educational reform, support green economic development, and foster a more resilient, future-ready generation of entrepreneurs across Europe.

Objectives:

The DiSCOVERY project aims to transform the way entrepreneurship is taught in higher education by integrating digital innovation and sustainability into academic curricula. The main objectives are:

• To develop the DiSCOVERY Hub, an open-access digital platform offering interactive learning modules, practical case studies, tools, and resources in areas such as sustainable entrepreneurship, strategic planning, innovation, product design, and operations management.
• To strengthen the digital and pedagogical competences of higher education educators, enabling them to apply modern teaching methods including flipped learning, problem-based learning, and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL).
• To foster sustainable entrepreneurship competences in students, with an emphasis on systems thinking, strategic decision-making, social responsibility, and long-term vision.
• To promote cooperation among higher education institutions and stakeholders across different countries, enabling knowledge transfer, sharing of best practices, and co-creation of innovative educational solutions.
• To contribute to the implementation of European and global strategic frameworks, such as the Digital Education Action Plan, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and EU Council recommendations on digital skills and education.
• To ensure the long-term sustainability of project outcomes beyond the funding period, through open-source tools, adaptable learning content, and active involvement of the broader academic community.

Expected Results:

The DiSCOVERY project will deliver a series of tangible outcomes that contribute to improving the quality of higher education in the fields of digital entrepreneurship and sustainability. Key results include:

• The creation of the DiSCOVERY Hub, an open-source educational platform featuring interactive modules, video content, real-life case studies, self-learning tools, and a curated open-access library. The platform will be publicly accessible and adaptable to different academic programs.
• Development of modular learning content covering key areas of sustainable entrepreneurship: strategic planning, product design, operations management, innovation, digital tools, and social responsibility — co-designed by academic and professional partners.
• Training programs and handbooks for educators, aimed at building digital and pedagogical capacities and supporting the implementation of modern teaching methodologies in daily practice.
• Pilot testing of the content at partner institutions, involving students and educators from various disciplines. Feedback from these pilots will help refine and tailor the materials to diverse contexts.
• Strengthened institutional collaboration at the European level, through joint activities, exchange of practices, COIL projects, and long-term partnerships between universities — fostering greater connectivity and innovation within the European Higher Education Area.
• Increased student engagement in sustainability-focused and digitally-supported entrepreneurial challenges, enhancing their employability and preparedness for the complex realities of the modern world.

DISCLAIMER:

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission or the Hungarian National Agency (Tempus Public Foundation). Neither the European Union nor the Tempus Public Foundation can be held responsible for them.