The second short staff training within the Erasmus+ INVITE project took place on 17th and 18th of May 2025 in Bursa, Turkey, as part of Work Package 3 – Design of Social Innovation for Inclusive Digital Healthcare Toolkit. The training was organised and delivered by NetHub Accelerator, with its representatives Marko Mimica and Karmela Japirko, and hosted by Bursa Lokman Hekim Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School.
The training was designed to empower medical vocational education teachers with the knowledge and skills needed to foster social innovation and inclusive digital healthcare through school-based initiatives. A total of 20 participants, including teachers, school managers, and project partners, took part in a hands-on, highly interactive learning programme that bridged theory with practice.
During the two-day training, participants explored their role in shaping local community health outcomes by analysing their regional health innovation ecosystems and identifying the needs of vulnerable groups. Through guided exercises such as stakeholder mapping, identity reflection, and SWOT analysis, participants gained a clearer understanding of how vocational education can respond to complex societal challenges.
Building on this foundation, the training introduced practical methods for designing and implementing student-led social innovation projects. Participants learned how to apply design thinking and user-centred innovation approaches, as well as socially responsible business planning tools, to co-create initiatives that are inclusive, feasible, and impactful. These activities laid the groundwork for the INVITE Social Innovation Toolkit and the INVITE Social Innovation Incubator draft, which will support VET schools across Europe in developing their own social innovation programmes.
The training also contributed directly to the development of the Toolkit’s two modules: the first focusing on VET schools as drivers of societal change, and the second providing practical tools for running social innovation support programmes within schools. These programmes may include student incubators, community health projects, or digital health innovation challenges tailored to regional needs. By equipping participants with tools, methods, and real-life examples, the training ensured that project partners are ready to transfer this knowledge to their schools and communities.
The second short staff training marked another step forward in building the capacity of vocational schools to become active agents of social innovation in healthcare. Through strong collaboration and shared learning, the INVITE project continues to support teachers and institutions in leading change from within, empowering them to implement inclusive, innovative practices in vocational healthcare education.
More photos from the training are available in the gallery.
