As part of the Erasmus+ funded SE.TC project, Université La Sagesse (ULS), Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA), organized a seven-module workshop between June and July, 2025, aimed at fostering a culture of social entrepreneurship among students and local communities in Lebanon.
This pilot workshop marked a significant step in integrating social entrepreneurship education into university curricula. Conducted on the main campus in Beirut, the training welcomed nine participants and was led by an expert team of ULS faculty members: Dr. Ziad Haddad, Dr. Sandreen Hitti, Dr. Alain Osta, Mr. Ghassan Eid, Mr. Antoine El Miskawy, Mr. Rodolphe Gabriel, and Me Elie Karam.
The curriculum was delivered across seven comprehensive modules, as foreseen for the SE.TC training course, including Social Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Social Impact, Marketing, Digital Tools, Financial and Economic Sustainability, Legal Frameworks, and Business Plan Development.
Throughout the course, participants expressed strong engagement and a desire to deepen their knowledge—particularly in areas of financial literacy, legal structure, and crisis resilience. Notably, feedback highlighted the value of placing the legal framework module earlier in the sequence and called for more content addressing the Lebanese crisis to contextualize the relevance of social enterprises.
Final pitch: ingredients for social innovation
The program concluded with a pitching session on July 25th, where participants presented their social entrepreneurship projects to a jury for feedback and strategic advice.
Group 1: SoloRaise
Developed by Ill Bou Samra and Rania AlAdel, SoloRaise proposes a restaurant and job platform to support single mothers—drawing directly from Rania’s personal experience. The project impressed the jury with its social relevance and potential for real-world impact. It was suggested to structure the initiative as a SARL (limited liability company) and strengthen its transparency, pricing, and recruitment strategies. Dr. Sandreen Hitti also encouraged the team to explore partnerships with organizations like LLWB NGO.
Group 2: LevelUP
Conceived by Tia Attieh, Carole Dib, and Carl Sawaya, LevelUP aims to create a Center for Life Skills Development to equip Lebanese youth with digital and soft skills. The team emphasized the need for crisis-management training and self-sustainability, especially in Lebanon’s unstable socio-economic environment. The jury praised their thoughtful approach and highlighted the importance of sensitive communication in tackling educational gaps.
Building community through learning
The closing session, attended by Dr. Sandra Ghosn (Dean of FEBA), Dr. Nelly Hobeika (Director of the Center for Continuing Education), and Dr. Alain Osta (SE.TC Project Manager at ULS), celebrated the participants with certificates of attendance and completion. The event showcased a vibrant learning community where students and professionals alike exchanged experiences, collaborated on solutions, and envisioned new models for social impact.
By embedding this initiative into the heart of its educational offerings, Université La Sagesse affirms its commitment to equipping youth with the knowledge and tools to lead in times of crisis—transforming challenges into opportunities for inclusive and sustainable development.
The SE.TC workshops continue by exploring another Lebanese city…leading to East International University in Tripoli!