The Human-Centered University: Forging the Fifth Generation University through Social Mission, Entrepreneurship, and the Solidarity Economy

About conference

The global landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation. As we transition from the efficiency-driven logic of Industry 4.0 to the human-centric paradigms of Society 5.0 and Industry 5.0, the role of the university must evolve in kind. This conference addresses a critical question: What does it mean to be a university in an era that demands not only technological innovation, but also social resilience, ecological sustainability, and human flourishing?

We propose that the answer lies in the emergence of the Fifth Generation University (5GU), an institution defined not by its economic outputs alone, but by its deep integration with society as a force for human-centered development. Moving beyond the entrepreneurial and technological university (Fourth Generation), the 5GU places the Third Mission – social engagement, civic responsibility, and public value– at its core. Grounded in the Quintuple Helix framework (integrating Knowledge, Economic, Public, Social, Sustainable spheres), this conference will explore how universities can become anchor institutions for a new economic logic: one that embraces Social Entrepreneurship and the Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) as pathways to sustainable development. 

Over four interconnected sections, participants will move from theory to practice, examining:

1. The conceptual foundations of Society 5.0 and the Fifth Generation University (5GU).
2. The redefinition of the Third Mission as a strategic institutional priority.
3. The economic mechanisms of the Social Solidarity Economy and how universities can finance and foster social impact.
4. Actionable strategies for institutional transformation, including curricular innovation, governance reform, and community co-creation.

This conference is designed for university leaders, policymakers, social entrepreneurs, researchers, and community stakeholders who seek to build institutions that are not merely in society, but of society – universities that measure success by their contribution to a just, resilient, and sustainable world. Positioning the Fifth Generation University within the Society 5.0 (human-centered society balancing economic advancement with social problem-solving) and Industry 5.0 (human-centric, sustainable, resilient industry) frameworks creates a powerful, contemporary anchor. This elevates the conference from abstract theory to an urgent, globally relevant narrative. This flow positions the conference at the cutting edge of global higher education discourse, directly engaging with the most current frameworks (Society 5.0, Industry 5.0) while maintaining practical relevance for administrators, faculty, policymakers, and practitioners. 

Program of the conference

• Section 1: The Human-Centered Paradigm – Society 5.0 and the Fifth Generation University

  Keynote: From Industry 4.0 to Society 5.0

  10:30 - 11:20 (Duration: 50 minutes)

  Keynote: From Industry 4.0 to Society 5.0

  Contextualize the shift: Industry 4.0 (digital transformation, efficiency) vs. Society 5.0 (a super-smart society that balances economic progress with solving social challenges). Introduce Industry 5.0 as the operational twin: human-centric, sustainable, resilient. The university must mirror this shift.

  Deep Dive: The Quintuple Helix in a Human-Centered Context

  Revisit the Quintuple Helix (Knowledge, Economic, Natural, Social, Public) not as a structural model but as an ecosystem for human flourishing. How the 5GU activates all five helices to serve societal well-being, not just GDP growth.

  Panel: The Fifth Generation University Defined

  Discussion on what "human-centered" means institutionally: moving from the student as a "consumer" to the student and community as co-creators. Contrast with the Fourth Generation (entrepreneurial, economic-focused). The 5GU is the university for Society 5.0.

  Q&A

  Clarify the conceptual bridge between Society 5.0, Industry 5.0, and the university's role.

• Section 2: The Third Mission Reimagined – Social Mission as Core Strategy

  Focus: How the university operates its human-centered identity through its Third Mission, with social mission as the strategic compass.

  11:30 - 12:20 (Duration: 50 minutes)

  The Third Mission in Society 5.0

  The Third Mission (civic engagement, knowledge exchange, social impact) is no longer "third" in priority. In the 5GU, it becomes the primary differentiator. How universities become anchor institutions that drive regional resilience and human well-being.

  Social Mission of university as Strategy

  A conversation between a University Rector/President and a Community Leader. Guiding questions: How does a university embed social mission into its tenure criteria, budget allocation, and strategic plan? What does it mean to be a "human-centered" employer and institution?

  Public Speech

  Social mission of university researched by RepLab in Russia: ongoing projects presentation to the expert society

  Case Study Spotlight: Social Entrepreneurship Incubation

  Present 1–2 concrete examples of universities that have built social entrepreneurship ecosystems aligned with Industry 5.0 principles. Highlight: interdisciplinary teams (engineering + social sciences), community co-design, and ventures that prioritize resilience and sustainability over unicorn status.

• Section 3: The Economic Dimension – Social Entrepreneurship & the Social Solidarity Economy

  Focus: The "how" of financing and scaling the human-centered university. Bridging social entrepreneurship with the Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) as the economic model compatible with Society 5.0.

  13:30 - 14:20 (Duration: 50 minutes)

  Public Speech

  Social entrepreneurship researched by RepLab in Russia: ongoing projects presentation to the expert society

  Panel: Financing Human-Centered Ventures

  Participants: University Endowment Manager, Social Entrepreneur, SSE Cooperative Leader, Impact Investor.

  Discussion: How can university endowments, procurement, and incubation programs actively support SSE? How do we measure success in terms of social impact and resilience rather than traditional ROI?  If our university redirected 10% of procurement to local cooperatives and social enterprises, what would change? How does this align with Society 5.0 principles?

• Section 4: Synthesis & Action – Building the Human-Centered University Together

  Focus: Participatory, forward-looking. Moving from theory to institutional and individual commitment.

  14:30 - 15:20 (Duration: 50 minutes)

  Provocation: The University as a Living Lab for Society 5.0

  A short, inspiring talk. The 5GU is not just preparing students for Society 5.0, it is the prototype. Campuses become living labs for human-centric innovation, sustainable infrastructure, and social cohesion.

  World Café / Unconference

  Discussion.

  How do we embed human-centric, transdisciplinary learning across all faculties? What governance models enable a human-centered university? How do we move from outreach to co-creation with local communities? How do we measure success in Society 5.0 terms (well-being, resilience, social impact)? How do we operationalize collaboration across all five helices locally?

  Closing Call to Action

  The Fifth Generation University is not a distant vision. It is the institution that chooses today to align with Society 5.0, placing human dignity, social mission, and ecological sustainability at its core. The question is not whether this transformation will happen, but whether we will lead it.

• Signing of the "Consortium of Satellite Labs Manifest 2026"

  15:30 - 16:00 (Duration: 30 minutes)

  The ceremonial signing of the Manifesto of the satellite laboratories consortium for 2026 and a new partnership agreement with the Satellite Laboratory of Social Entrepreneurship of the National Research University Higher School of Economics in St. Petersburg. The ceremony will be attended by senior officials from the participating universities of the consortium and the partner university UPAEP, Mexico.

Contact information

Conference location: St. Petersburg, 25th Line of Vasilievsky Island, 6, Bldg. 1, Lit. B

Organizer: HSE SPB – UTM Malaysia Satellite Laboratory for Social Entrepreneurship

Organizing Committee Contact: Anna Ivanova (ivanova.anna@hse.ru)