Research centres

CenSE | Center for Sustainable Entrepreneurship

The Center for Sustainable Entrepreneurship (CenSE) is an independent research center at Odisee University of Applied Sciences, affiliated to the Business Administration department. We investigate sustainable entrepreneurship within family businesses and SMEs and detect new trends and challenges in the economy or society.

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CenSE grew out of the renowned Study Centre for Entrepreneurship - the former SME study center of HUB. Building on years of expertise in entrepreneurship, CenSE now focuses entirely on sustainable entrepreneurship, with research themes ranging from internal sustainable business management, responding to sustainable trends in the economy or society, to developing sustainable entrepreneurship in students.

Focus on family businesses and SMEs

Family businesses were the focus of the former Study Centre for Entrepreneurship. CenSE took over this focus and complemented it with SMEs. Both are characterized by unique features. After all, a family business is not a non-family business, just like an SME is not a large company in miniature. This expertise contributes to CenSE invariably tailoring its research and developed output correctly to the target group in question.

Multidisciplinary and co-creative approach

CenSE strives to actively involve stakeholders in its research through co-creation. This way, CenSE meets both the Odisee value 'connecting' and the 17th SDG 'Partnerships' within the United Nations Sustainability Agenda 2030.

Pioneer in entrepreneurial education

CenSE plays a pioneering role in education about sustainable entrepreneurship. CenSE is strong in competency research and develops tools that can be applied in education and professionalization. Both entrepreneurial competencies and sustainability competencies form an important theoretical steppingstone.

CenSE works within four areas of expertise:

Sustainable entrepreneurship

CenSE supports organizations to systematically translate contemporary trends and challenges into sustainable business operations. This sustainable business also means that it fits in with the United Nations Sustainability Agenda and gives substance to the sustainability objectives (SDGs) formulated therein.

Digitalization

CenSE looks at new trends from a broad economic perspective. One of these trends, of course being digitalization. We offer our expertise in digital marketing where we support SMEs in data-smart entrepreneurship.

Circular economy

CenSE is taking on a leading role in research aimed at the circular transition, in which the realization of sustainable partnerships is an important focus. We can also rely on expertise in the sharing economy.

Socio-economic sustainability

CenSE also values the human and social aspect of sustainable entrepreneurship. We investigate how underutilized social capital in the society can be activated through economic participation. In doing so, we maintain the focus on SMEs and family businesses and together we discuss topics such as sustainable HRM, the future of jobs, workable work, inclusive entrepreneurship, etc. In short, we support organizations in implementing social commitment.

Competencies of the future

CenSE places an important focus on the personal development of the individual. In the ever faster evolving society, the need for future-oriented competences is essential. We therefore actively pursue research projects on future competences (sustainability, digital and entrepreneurial competences) and on innovation in the learning process.

CenSE carries out both study assignments for local stakeholders (e.g. companies, local authorities, business support organizations and stakeholders who promote sustainable entrepreneurship), and international subsidy providers (e.g. ESF, Interreg, ERDF, Erasmus+, and other European programs), as well as assignments within the framework of internal research funds.

 

In the spotlight

An overview of some of our projects.

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Contact

Contact the coordinator of CenSE