The four main General objectives of this project are
The project will carry out a Literature analysis taking into account: 1. impact skills taxonomy (Skills Framework); 2. most frequently used methods and techniques for business impact assessment.
IMPACT ACADEMY has the main objective to offer a free, multilingual, high level education and training on the subject of the Impact Economy. It is addressed to university students who desire to acquire expertise about the impact skills needed to lead an entrepreneurship aware of its environmental and social responsibilities.
he SDG Impact Assessment Tool will be a free, online resource for entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs, companies, entrepreneurs to self-assess the extent to which their project entrepreneurship idea creates a positive impact on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)..
The current economic system is largely geared towards increasing economic growth at the expense of increasing social inequality and environmental degradation. Yet companies can have a positive impact on sustainable development goals. The role of Education is to facilitate these paradigm shifts, e.g. to support young people and students to acquire new skills, in our case Skills about the Impact economy. Indeed the impact economy model is well-positioned to find an appropriate balance across all three pillars: economic, social and environmental.
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Check out the training courses based on the subject of Impact Skills and Impact Economy
Learn more about the Impact Academy Glossary
The crises of the last decades, and the challenge posed by the global climate change, made the business managers aware that the only way to prevent profit from being something ephemeral is to coordinate economical, social and environmental dimensions in a single long term corporate mission.
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The IMPACT ACADEMY project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, officially closes on October 2025 with a final transnational meeting and public event hosted in Aix-en-Provence by the project coordinator Aix-Marseille University. Partners gathered to assess progress, celebrate results, and lay the foundations for future use of the project’s tools and approaches. Held over two days, the meeting included the final internal coordination session and a multiplier event, which brought together educators, students, and stakeholders to discuss how entrepreneurship education can support Europe’s sustainability transition. Multiplier events were also organised in Italy, Spain, North Macedonia, Türkiye, and Belgium, enabling each partner to present the project results in their own language and national context. These events reached a diverse audience, from higher education professionals to young entrepreneurs and civil society actors. Over the course of the project, more than 160 students and practitioners tested the tools and materials. Their feedback confirmed the relevance, clarity, and adaptability of the resources across different educational levels and sectors. The project’s main outputs include: A multilingual training course on impact entrepreneurship (13 modules) A self-assessment tool aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) An Impact Skills Framework A platform hosting best practices and expert interviews Guidelines for educators and policy recommendations available in 6 languages All resources are accessible online and free to use under an open license: 🔗 www.impactacademyproject.eu During the final meeting, partners agreed on a shared sustainability strategy. All materials will remain available on the platform for at least three more years, and several partners have already committed to: Integrating the training and tools into existing courses and programmes Developing new training offers based on the content and lessons learned Continuing to promote and adapt the resources within national and European networks As the project concludes, the consortium leaves behind a practical and future-oriented toolbox for educators, trainers, and learners committed to advancing responsible, sustainable, and socially engaged entrepreneurship. Contact: erasmus-impactacademy@univ-amu.fr About IMPACT ACADEMY IMPACT ACADEMY is a two-year Erasmus+ project involving partners from France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Turkey, and North Macedonia. It focuses on embedding social impact and sustainability into entrepreneurship education in higher education through the development of tools, training materials, and open learning resources
As the IMPACT ACADEMY project concludes, the consortium is proud to present two final key resources: the Guidelines for Practitioners, and the Policy Recommendations. These deliverables, developed under Work Package 5, are now available on the project platform. Each is offered in a long version (English only) for detailed consultation, and a concise short version translated into all six project languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, and Macedonian. The Guidelines for Practitioners are a practical reference for educators, trainers, and support organisations seeking to integrate the project’s tools into teaching and learning. It explains how to: apply the Impact Skills Framework in course design and evaluation use the modular training materials in different learning formats integrate the SDG Self-Assessment Tool into training or business planning make the most of the Open Educational Resources (OER) platform The guide also includes tested approaches, real use cases from the consortium, and tips for adaptation across contexts, from higher education to entrepreneurship support and community-based training. The Policy Recommendations offer a strategic outlook for policymakers, education authorities, and institutional leaders. Based on the collective experience of partners in five countries, the document: Maps regulatory gaps and challenges in integrating social and environmental impact into education Identifies EU-level actions to align education systems with sustainability objectives Proposes national and regional strategies to embed impact competences into curricula, accreditation, and funding programmes The recommendations aim to support a policy environment that enables learners to acquire the skills needed to build inclusive, sustainable, and socially responsible ventures. To support broad and equitable access, the short versions of both documents are available in six languages. These concise formats are ideal for practitioners and decision-makers looking for clear takeaways and actionable insights. Access the full set of resources: https://www.impactacademyproject.eu/guidelines.php?lang=EN Contact: erasmus-impactacademy@univ-amu.fr About IMPACT ACADEMY IMPACT ACADEMY is a two-year Erasmus+ project involving partners from France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Turkey, and North Macedonia. It focuses on embedding social impact and sustainability into entrepreneurship education in higher education through the development of tools, training materials, and open learning resources
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On 16 and 17 October 2025, the Aix-Marseille University Institute of Technology hosted the closing meeting of IMPACT ACADEMY, European project co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme. This project, coordinated by the Department of Business and Administration Management in Aix-en-Provence, supported by the International Relations Department of Aix-Marseille University, and led for two years by a consortium of universities and impact entrepreneurship stakeholders, aims to promote inclusive, sustainable entrepreneurship in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A European project for a different approach to entrepreneurship: As the project reaches its completion, IMPACT ACADEMY will continue to thrive, thanks to its range of innovative educational resources that are accessible to all: a self-assessment tool to measure the social, environmental and ethical dimensions of projects (alignment with the SDGs); modular online training, consisting of 13 thematic modules (sustainable financing, circular economy, governance, impactful storytelling, etc.); a multilingual and inclusive OER platform, available in six languages and incorporating enhanced accessibility options. These freely accessible resources are intended for teachers and students in higher education as well as entrepreneurs and trainers in the socio-economic world. They enable everyone to integrate the principles of sustainability and positive impact into their practices in a tangible way. Two days of encounters, discussions and prospects To mark the end of the project, IMPACT ACADEMY partners gathered at the Aix-Marseille University Institute of Technology for two days of discussions and reflection. The first day began with a coordination meeting between partners, devoted to sharing experiences, presenting results and identifying new possibilities for collaboration. In the afternoon, a Master Class reserved for partners and colleagues from Aix-Marseille University provided an opportunity to present the concrete achievements of the project, including the educational resources developed and how to use them in professional practice. The connected solidarity grocery store developed at the IUT is an example of learning by doing and social innovation where the project's resources can be put into application. The day continued with the Impact Academy Conversations, two round tables open to the public on the theme: “Learning and acting to transform: how the impact economy can shape the Europe of tomorrow”. By bringing together around a hundred teachers, students, public stakeholders and innovative entrepreneurs, these talks provided an opportunity to exchange views and explore the means for making the impact economy a real catalyst for European transformation. “From knowledge to action” Speakers: Aurélie Biancarelli, Deputy Mayor of Marseille in charge of Research and Higher Education Angélique Vuilmet, Senior Lecturer in Management Sciences at the IUT amU, head of pedagogy for the Impact Academy project Samuel Mercier, Professor of Management Sciences at IAE Dijon, specializing in corporate social responsibility and ethics Benjamin Denjean, Entrepreneur, innovator, co-founder of Paysan Marin and Paysan Urbain “Building an impactful Europe together” Speakers: Paul Bichat, Head of International and Mediterranean Outreach, Aix-Marseille Provence Métropole Claire Pétréault, Founder and Content Creator, Les Pépites Vertes Hortense Taillefait, European Project Manager, Mission Europe for Research Florent Potart, Treasurer, Agoraé Solidarity Grocery store Lionel Nicod, Director of the Aix-Marseille University Institute of Technology, Scientific and Technical Leader of the Impact Academy project A convivial cocktail reception brought the inspiring day to a close, giving participants the opportunity to continue discussions and networking. The following day, the coordination meeting continued in the form of a Partner Lab with consortium members to take stock of the project and discuss future prospects. This final exchange confirmed the collective desire to continue the positive momentum generated by IMPACT ACADEMY, to promote a more inclusive and sustainable European entrepreneurship, mindful of social and environmental issues. For more information: Visit: www.impactacademyproject.eu Contact: erasmus-impactacademy@univ-amu.fr About IMPACT ACADEMY IMPACT ACADEMY is a two-year Erasmus+ project involving partners from France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Turkey, and North Macedonia. It focuses on embedding social impact and sustainability into entrepreneurship education in higher education through the development of tools, training materials, and open learning resources. Related resources: Part One – “From Knowledge to Action” How can free, multilingual access to resources on impact economics strengthen the capacities of actors in the field? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bYtmHll7g0 Part Two – “Building a Europe of Impact Together” How can socio-economic and institutional actors, researchers and citizens work together to boost the impact economy? youtube.com/watch?si=2tVVdMghmp7vIgi_&v=7BaFl4j0n7o&feature=youtu.be
Málaga, Spain – October 6th, 2025 The Impact Academy Project successfully held two local multiplier events in Málaga on October 6th, 2025, showcasing the project’s results, open educational resources, and its contribution to promoting Impact Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Skills across Europe. Organized by Internet Web Solutions (IWS) in close collaboration with Arrabal AID, a local non-profit organization active in employability and community development, the events brought together over 25 participants, including young job seekers, aspiring entrepreneurs, and representatives of local stakeholder institutions. Event 1 – Empowering Young Entrepreneurs (Galerías Goya, Plaza de Uncibay 3) The first session, held in the heart of Málaga’s historic center, gathered 12 local participants in an interactive workshop format. Facilitated jointly by IWS and Arrabal AID, the session introduced attendees to the Impact Academy Open Educational Resource Platform (https://impactacademyproject.eu/ ), a free, multilingual training environment designed to foster social innovation and impact-driven entrepreneurship. Participants explored: The Impact Academy online training courses and toolkits available in six languages (EN, ES, FR, IT, MK, TR). The Digital SDG Impact Assessment Tool, helping entrepreneurs align business ideas with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Best practices and success stories from European impact entrepreneurs. Attendees particularly appreciated the platform’s accessibility, interactivity, and real-world examples, reinforcing the connection between education, employability, and sustainable business development. Event 2 – Building Bridges for Employability and Community Development (Calle Dos Aceras 23) The second workshop, hosted later the same day at Arrabal AID’s training center, gathered 14 participants, including one Ukrainian newcomer recently integrated into local community programs. This session focused on: Practical application of impact skills for entrepreneurship and employability. Collaborative discussions between young people and local stakeholders on how to integrate Impact Economy principles into community-based projects. Demonstrations of the OER platform’s interactive sections — including self-assessment tests, certification modules, and peer-learning resources. The workshop highlighted how the Impact Academy results can support vulnerable groups and young job seekers in acquiring the digital and sustainability competences required by today’s labour market. Impact and Alignment with WP5 Objectives These multiplier events directly contribute to Work Package 5 – Valorisation and Sustainability, fulfilling the project’s aim to raise awareness, foster exploitation, and ensure scalability of results among target groups and strategic stakeholders. By engaging participants at local level, the Málaga events: Enhanced project visibility through direct dissemination and press coverage. Created opportunities for replication of Impact Academy’s educational model in employability training contexts. Strengthened partnerships between academic, entrepreneurial, and community development sectors. Quotes “The Impact Academy platform provides a bridge between education and social innovation. Events like these help young people see how they can turn their ideas into meaningful, sustainable enterprises.” — Arrabal AID Representative “Our goal is to make impact entrepreneurship accessible to everyone, regardless of background or experience. These workshops in Málaga demonstrate that the Impact Economy can be inclusive and transformative.” — Internet Web Solutions Team About the Impact Academy Project Impact Academy (Erasmus+ KA220-HED) is a European cooperation partnership led by Aix-Marseille Université (France) with partners from Spain, Italy, Belgium, Turkey, and North Macedonia. The project promotes a new model of entrepreneurial education centered on social impact, environmental responsibility, and economic resilience through an Open Educational Resource Platform available in six languages. Visit the platform: https://www.impactacademyproject.eu Contact Internet Web Solutions Email: info@internetwebsolutions.es Website: www.internetwebsolutions.es
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The IMPACT ACADEMY consortium is glad to announce that its training programme on impact entrepreneurship is now fully available in six languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, and Macedonian. This expanded access marks a key milestone in making entrepreneurship education more inclusive, multilingual, and accessible across Europe. The training is open to all and designed to help learners explore the intersection between business, sustainability, and social impact regardless of their background, language, or learning needs. Inclusivity is a core value of the IMPACT ACADEMY project, and the training materials reflect this throughout. Key accessibility features include: Full audio versions of all course modules in each of the six project languages, enabling access for learners who prefer or need to listen rather than read. High contrast mode on the platform interface to support learners with visual impairments. Scalable text display so users can enlarge the font for better readability, including in downloadable files (e.g. Word and PPT). User-friendly navigation and clearly structured materials to support all levels of digital literacy. While video content - including interviews and video lessons - remains in the original spoken language, automatic YouTube subtitles and translations are enabled to support full comprehension by a broader audience. The translated training materials are not only about language, they are part of a broader commitment to participatory, learner-centered education. Each module includes a user feedback form where learners can share their experience, reflections, or suggestions for improvement. The IMPACT ACADEMY partners actively monitor this input and are ready to adapt and improve the materials in response to user needs. This participatory model invites learners to shape the course itself, turning users into contributors, and turning the platform into a living, evolving learning environment. As the course continues to be used, the project partners are also preparing a set of Guidelines for Practitioners, a document aimed at supporting educators, trainers, and facilitators in embedding these materials into diverse teaching and learning contexts. Access the multilingual training and materials here: www.impactacademyproject.eu/training.php Contact: erasmus-impactacademy@univ-amu.fr About IMPACT ACADEMY IMPACT ACADEMY is a two-year Erasmus+ project involving partners from France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Turkey, and North Macedonia. It focuses on embedding social impact and sustainability into entrepreneurship education in higher education through the development of tools, training materials, and open learning resources
As part of its mission to promote socially responsible and sustainability-oriented entrepreneurship in higher education, the IMPACT ACADEMY project has released a new Self-Assessment Tool. This open-access resource is designed to support students, educators, and early-stage entrepreneurs in evaluating how their project ideas align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It enables users to assess the potential social, environmental, and ethical dimensions of their initiatives, and to identify areas for improvement or adjustment. The Self-Assessment Tool supports users in examining how their project ideas integrate impact awareness, ethical considerations, and long-term social or environmental relevance. It does not produce a mere score or ranking, but it serves as a reflective framework that can be used in classroom settings, mentoring programmes, innovation labs, or independent study. It is particularly suitable for: • Entrepreneurship and business planning courses • Sustainability and innovation modules • Project-based learning or capstone projects • Workshops, hackathons, or incubation settings The Tool is available in multiple formats, including an interactive online version and a downloadable PDF guide. It is accompanied by practical resources such as examples, worksheets, and step-by-step instructions, making it easy to integrate into higher education and training contexts. Educators, students, and trainers can use it flexibly across disciplines and learning formats, both in formal and non-formal education settings. For more information: Visit: www.impactacademyproject.eu Contact: info@impactacademyproject.eu About IMPACT ACADEMY IMPACT ACADEMY is a two-year Erasmus+ project involving partners from France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Turkey, and North Macedonia. It focuses on embedding social impact and sustainability into entrepreneurship education in higher education through the development of tools, training materials, and open learning resources.
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The IMPACT ACADEMY consortium, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, announces the release of its open-access training course on impact entrepreneurship, now available online. The course is designed to help students, educators, and aspiring entrepreneurs understand and apply principles of sustainability, ethical innovation, and social impact in entrepreneurial contexts. Developed collaboratively by partners from six countries, the course supports higher education institutions in integrating impact thinking into entrepreneurship education and offers practical resources for learners and trainers across sectors. Structure and Content of the Training Course The course is structured in independent modules, each covering key dimensions of the impact economy and entrepreneurship. Each module includes: A narrative text (Word document) A visual summary (PowerPoint) An audio version for accessibility A short video lesson featuring expert insights This modular approach allows flexible integration into higher education curricula, and non-formal learning contexts. The modules available are: Impact Financing Instruments: Sustainability bonds Social impact and crowdfunding Branding and Impact Storytelling Impact Education Impact Entrepreneurship Impact Economy Governance Circular Economy and Regenerative Models Leadership & Social Skills for Impact Entrepreneurs Planning a Project for Impact Business Model Canvas for Impact Projects Nudge Theory in the time of decision-making Impact Investing and Venture Capital Financing Environmental, Social and Governance and Financing To enrich the learning experience and connect theory with real-world practice, the training is accompanied by: A collection of best practices from impact-driven enterprises across Europe Browse examples » A glossary of key terms related to sustainability and responsible entrepreneurship Explore glossary » A series of interviews with entrepreneurs and experts in impact skills and innovation Watch interviews » For more information: Visit: www.impactacademyproject.eu Contact: erasmus-impactacademy@univ-amu.fr About IMPACT ACADEMY IMPACT ACADEMY is a two-year Erasmus+ project involving partners from France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Turkey, and North Macedonia. It focuses on embedding social impact and sustainability into entrepreneurship education in higher education through the development of tools, training materials, and open learning resources.
The partners of IMPACT ACADEMY, a project in the field of Higher Education co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission, are proud to announce the successful completion of Work Package 2 (WP2). As part of its ongoing efforts to improve professional education and skills in impact evaluation, IMPACT ACADEMY has developed the Impact Skills Framework, an innovative result that offers a strategic approach to mapping the key competences required in this field. The framework is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of professionals involved in impact assessments across various sectors, ensuring that they are equipped to meet the challenges of sustainable development KEY ACHIEVEMENTS OF WORKPACKAGE 2 • Competence Mapping A thorough examination of the skills needed in impact assessment, taking into account the main impact evaluation methods currently used by social enterprises. A detailed overview of the latter is available on the IMPACT ACADEMY Platform that allows university students and other users to delve deep into these methods. • Impact Skills Framework The core achievement of WP2, this framework provides a structured, strategic approach to identify and map the competences needed for effective impact evaluation. It is based on a deep understanding of impact assessment methods and tools and incorporates both specific skills and transversal competencies that are essential for success in this field. The Framework is divided into four main competency areas: 1. Human and Social Skills 2. Civic Competences 3. Statistical Skills 4. Impact Evaluation Skills Each competency area is broken down into four levels of capacity—ranging from Basic to Expert allowing individuals to progressively develop their skills and advance in their professional journey. This structured progression ensures that professionals not only gain foundational knowledge but also acquire advanced skills to drive innovation and inspire change in the field of impact evaluation. The framework is now available for download and further exploration at this link For more information about IMPACT ACADEMY and its achievements, visit www.impactacademyproject.eu or contact us.
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 Union or the Erasmus+ France / Education & Training Agency. Neither the European Union nor the Erasmus+ France / Education & Training Agency can be held responsible for them
Legal description – Creative Commons licensing: The materials published on the IMPACT ACADEMY project website are classified as Open Educational Resources' (OER) and can be freely (without permission of their creators): downloaded, used, reused, copied, adapted, and shared by users, with information about the source of their origin.
