HSE University Hosted Expert Day on Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability in Emerging Economies
HSE University – Saint Petersburg organized a landmark Expert Day titled “Frontiers of Growth: Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability in Emerging Economies.” The event, held in Room 219, brought together distinguished scholars, academic leaders, and practitioners from Russia, Malaysia, Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, India, and Colombia.
On May 21, 2025, HSE University – Saint Petersburg organized a landmark Expert Day titled “Frontiers of Growth: Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability in Emerging Economies.” The event, held in Room 219, brought together distinguished scholars, academic leaders, and practitioners from Russia, Malaysia, Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, India, and Colombia to share comparative insights, research findings, and innovative practices at the intersection of social entrepreneurship and sustainable development in rapidly transforming contexts.
Reflections from SatLabs: Comparative Perspectives on Social Enterprise Ecosystems
The day commenced with a session entitled “Reflections from SatLabs on Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability in Emerging Economies,” which highlighted the ongoing work of the Satellite Laboratory for Social Entrepreneurship (SatLab)—an international research initiative linking HSE University with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Universidad Panamericana.
Dr. Magdalena A. Gaete-Sepulveda, Head of the Laboratory for Reputation Management in Education and SatLab at HSE University – Saint Petersburg, moderated the session and opened with her presentation “Ecosystems in Flux,” offering an analytical overview of Russia’s evolving social enterprise landscape where inherited institutional structures intersect with an emerging civic entrepreneurial spirit.
Following her, Alexander Sorokin, Dean of the St. Petersburg School of Social Sciences at HSE University, provided context on the strategic cooperation between HSE and Malaysian institutions, underscoring the value of joint satellite laboratories in advancing collaborative research. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Haliyana Khalid, Deputy Dean for Research, Innovation, and Development and Head of SatLab Malaysia at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, contributed a presentation titled “From Policy to Practice,” which critically examined Malaysia’s policy frameworks and community-level innovations that align sustainability objectives with entrepreneurial solutions. Dr. Guillermo Sosa Gómez from Universidad Panamericana, Mexico, offered a thought-provoking analysis in “A Fragmented Ecosystem,” addressing Mexico’s complex regulatory and institutional challenges, as well as untapped opportunities for inclusive economic development through targeted support for social enterprises.
The session concluded with “Social Innovation at the Borderlands” by Prof. Dr. Rafael Dias, Director for International Relations at UNICAMP (Brazil), who elaborated on Brazil’s contributions to South-South cooperation through university-driven social innovation initiatives.
A lively question-and-answer session allowed participants to discuss lessons learned and explore pathways for refining policy and practice across diverse national contexts.
Cross-Regional Dialogues on Social Entrepreneurship
The event continued with a second thematic session, “Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability in Emerging Economies,” moderated by Dr. Gaete-Sepulveda. This part brought together perspectives from Brazil, Russia, and Indonesia, each highlighting unique local dynamics and shared challenges in defining, practicing, and scaling social entrepreneurship.
Dr. Leandro Pereira Morais from UNESP (Brazil) presented “Toward a Common Definition of Social Entrepreneurship,” inviting debate on the necessity of a shared conceptual language that remains adaptable to local institutional and policy realities.
Associate Professor Dr. Natalia Khazieva of HSE University offered insights through her talk “Harnessing Knowledge for Impact,” emphasizing the strategic role of knowledge management systems in enhancing the efficiency and long-term viability of social enterprises.
Finally, Prof. Berto Mulia Wibawa from the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (Indonesia) shared “The Role of Women in Social Entrepreneurship,” shedding light on the pivotal contributions of women leaders in driving innovation and impact within Southeast Asian social enterprise ecosystems.
This session reinforced the multidimensional character of social entrepreneurship as both a scholarly field and a practical tool for sustainable development, especially within socio-economically diverse and resource-constrained contexts.
Universities as Catalysts for Sustainability
The final segment, “Sustainability Education in Action: The Role of Universities in Emerging Economies,” highlighted the crucial role of higher education institutions in integrating sustainability principles into their core missions, governance structures, and community partnerships.
Dr. Gaete-Sepulveda opened the discussion with reflections on the sustainability potential of the human-centered Fifth Generation University (5GU) model, positioning it as a framework that aligns academic excellence with societal impact in emerging regions.
Dr. Rahul Nainwal, Dean of the School of Business at UPES (India), continued with a presentation on “Social Impact as a Transversal Purpose,” sharing strategies through which Indian universities are institutionalizing social impact as a cross-cutting objective within curricula and campus culture.
Dr. Juan Fernando Córdoba Marentes, Vice President for Faculty and Research at Universidad de La Sabana (Colombia), discussed “Reimagining the University’s Purpose,” detailing Colombia’s approach to the university’s Third Mission and its civic commitments to local and regional communities.
Dr. Juliana Cortez Barbosa from UNESP (Brazil) concluded with practical insights on fostering robust university-community partnerships through service learning and cultural outreach, demonstrating how engaged universities can act as anchors for local development and social innovation.
A Platform for Global Cooperation and Local Action
Expert Day at HSE University – Saint Petersburg reaffirmed the institution’s dedication to fostering international academic dialogue and knowledge co-creation on pressing global challenges. By convening thought leaders from multiple countries and contexts, the event highlighted the transformative potential of cross-border collaboration in strengthening social entrepreneurship ecosystems and advancing sustainability goals throughout the Global South.
The insights shared during this gathering will inform ongoing research, policy recommendations, and educational initiatives led by HSE’s Satellite Laboratory for Social Entrepreneurship and its global partners, further positioning the university at the forefront of socially engaged and impact-driven scholarship.