Who are we?

The PATHFINDER+ Project aims to address the multifaceted motivations behind designing a digital learning repository in Higher Education (HED) for Enterprise Community development, with a particular focus on community enterprise development. Firstly, by developing a blended learning educational programme and associated resources, the project seeks to create a comprehensive and accessible educational offering that caters to the diverse needs of learners, including higher education institutions, accrediting agencies, and social entrepreneurs/innovators. Secondly, the project endeavors to promote the fostering of community-led and community-owned enterprises as a means of encouraging civic engagement and empowering individuals to take ownership of their local economies. This approach promotes collaboration and sustainability in addressing social and economic challenges. Furthermore, the knowledge, skillsets, and competencies acquired through the PATHFINDER+ Project can empower university graduates and social innovators to address the needs of marginalized groups and disadvantaged locations. By equipping learners with the necessary tools to create wealth and promote social inclusion, especially for those who have been marginalized within traditional market systems, the project contributes to building more inclusive and sustainable communities.

The project’s design is underpinned by four key pillars: scalability, access, customization, and collaboration. These pillars enable the creation of a digital learning repository capable of accommodating a vast array of educational resources, accessible from anywhere and at any time. Customized learning paths tailored to individual or group needs foster inclusivity and engagement, while collaboration among learners and experts fosters a sense of community and knowledge-sharing within the enterprise community. The objectives of the PATHFINDER+ Project are delineated to achieve its overarching goals. These include providing a comprehensive educational offering on community enterprise development, empowering learners to create sustainable solutions, promoting civic engagement through community-led enterprises, and equipping university graduates and social innovators with the skills to address societal challenges effectively.