University of Alicante Launches Social Economy Chair to Drive Sustainable Development
The University of Alicante has launched the Social Economy Chair to promote research, training, and support for cooperative and social enterprises as sustainable development drivers.
- • University of Alicante inaugurates Social Economy Chair (CESUA) to promote sustainable and participatory economic models.
- • CESUA focuses on research, training, social awareness, and technical support for cooperatives and social enterprises.
- • The chair will establish a Social Economy Observatory to monitor the regional cooperative sector and produce impact reports.
- • Inaugural event featured keynotes by Andrés Lluch Figueres and Juan Antonio Pedreño Frutos, discussing local and European social economy evolution.
Key details
The University of Alicante inaugurated the Social Economy Chair (CESUA) on October 24, aiming to promote social economy models as drivers of sustainable and equitable development. Directed by Carmen Pastor Sempere, CESUA seeks to enhance the visibility and impact of cooperatives and social enterprises through collaboration between academia, businesses, and institutions.
The chair focuses on four key areas: research via the Social Economy Observatory, specialized training for students and cooperatives, raising social awareness, and providing technical support to new social economy projects. The Observatory will monitor the cooperative landscape in Alicante, producing sector reports and updated data on their economic and social impact.
The inauguration featured a keynote by Andrés Lluch Figueres on the evolution of the social economy in Alicante, followed by a roundtable moderated by Francisco Llopis Vañó with cooperative leaders sharing practical experiences. The closing conference, led by Juan Antonio Pedreño Frutos, addressed the social economy's evolution in Europe, with emphasis on Spain and the Valencian Community.
CESUA aligns with the University of Alicante’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, underscoring social economy as a response to challenges like decent employment and environmental sustainability. Upcoming activities include workshops focused on the challenges and opportunities within the social economy sector.
This initiative positions the social economy as a participatory and sustainable development model, reinforcing its growing importance in Spain’s economic landscape.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.