UnivSSE in English

The People’s University of Social Solidarity Economy “UnivSSE Coop” is a social non-profit cooperative and carries out activities in education, training, information, popularization, research, studies, programs, publications, consulting and support services, development of educational and social networks in the fields of social and solidarity economy (SSE). commons and social innovation, aiming at collective and social benefits.

 

Some of its main actions in the period 2013-2025 include:

 

Participation in European and national programs

  1. Creation of SSE educational material (translated into 4 languages) for trainers and trainees in youth seminars. “A Place for Youth in Mediterranean EEA: Resilient and Sharing Economies for NEETs (YOUTHShare)”. EEA and Norway Grants Fund (University of the Aegean), 2019.
  2. Implementation of seminars for youth employment. “Scaling trust-based partnership models to recharge youth entrepreneurship: Supporting underserved communities with innovative entrepreneurship support instruments (TPM-RYE) (Young Entrepreneurs Succeed – YES)”. EEA and Norway Grants Fund (Agricultural University of Athens), 2020.
  3. European program SEED (Social innovation EcosystEm Development), which aims to create national Centers for Social Innovation. European Union Program for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) – European Social Fund, 2021-23.
  4. European program SEED 2 SCALE: SEEDing competences TO SCALE up social innovation ecosystems. European Union Program for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) – European Social Fund, 2024-27.
  5. Inter-Local Cooperation Plan: “Development of Cooperation”, ANETH, CLLD / LEADER, 2025
  6. Creation of educational material and implementation of seminars for the training of trainers in SSE. EU-funded “Technical Assistance for the development of Social and Solidarity Economy in Greece” (British Council), 2018.
  7. Implementation of training seminars in SSE for municipality executives and local SSE office, as well as in schools. “Enhancement of social entrepreneurship through the establishment of support structures in the CB area (Growing Social)”. INTERREG V-A Greece-Bulgaria (Municipality of Pilea-Hortiatis), 2018.
  8. Studies: “Developing a Policy to Enhance SSE”, “SSE Good Practices”. “Supporting Social Enterprises in combating poverty and social exclusion (Social Plate)”. INTERREG V-A Greece-Bulgaria (Central Market of Thessaloniki SA), 2019.
  9. European program: Youth Impacting Transformative Economies through Game-design (YITEG). Erasmus+, 2024
  10. Participation in the program “Enhancing ecological awareness and promoting the environment volunteering in the intervention area of the Sustainable Urban Development Strategy of the Metropolitan Unit of Thessaloniki”. EU European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) – Partnership Agreement for the Development Framework (NGO “Antigoni”), 2020.
  11. Participation in the European program “Open Businesses for Community Development” (OBCD), which promotes the co-creation of knowledge – through knowledge triangles – between education, research and social enterprises, 2024.
  12. Participation in the implementation of the European program “INCENTIVE – Establishing Citizen Science Hubs in European Research Performing and Funding Organisations to drive institutional change and ground Responsible Research and Innovation in society” (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), 2021.
  13. Implementation of a seminar for the working members of the social consumer cooperative of Thessaloniki “Bios Coop” in collaboration with the Education Committee of Bios Coop, 2020-2021.
  14. SSE cooperative consortium for the creation of a Center for Recycling, Education and Sorting at the Source in Thessaloniki, “Everything RE”, 2021.
  15. Seminars in SSE at the Second Chance Schools of Diavata and Larissa Prisons with the aim of developing possibilities for the creation of cooperatives by participating prisoners after their release (2018 and 2023).

 

Dissemination and support actions

  • Seminar lectures-discussions videotaped and posted on a YouTube channel of the UnivSSE Coop.
  • 100 broadcasts (2015-2019) in the Thessaloniki Municipal Radio of volunteers, recorded and posted on a channel of the UnivSSE Coop in Mixcloud.
  • UnivSSE website provides free access:
  • audiovisual material (135 archives) with a thematic directory on a) SSE General and special theoretical issues, b) Commons and SSE, c) SSE Networking, d) SSE good practices
  • bibliographic material (154 archives)
  • informative publications (550 archives).

The audiovisual material is constantly listened to (from all over Greece), which have exceeded 29,000 in total.

 

Networking

  • Co-establishment and participation in the Association of SSE Bodies of Central Macedonia (2020)
  • Co-establishment and participation in the SSE Consortium “Everything RE” for Integrated, Decentralized and Social Waste Management in Thessaloniki (2018)
  • Co-organizer of the 4th European Conference on Social Solidarity Economy, Athens (2017)
  • Co-organizer of the 2nd International Forum on Cooperative Law, Athens (2018)
  • Co-organizer of the ICA CCR European Research Conference, Athens (2022)
  • Co-organizer of the Panhellenic Network of SSE Cooperatives (2016)
  • Participation in the establishment of a network of 62 SSE cooperatives for the cooperative water management in Thessaloniki and co-operation with local authorities (2018).

 

Publications program

The first edition was made with the book: “Water as a Common Good, beyond the Corporations and the State”, 2017. Publications of books on general and special issues of SSE are in progress.

 

Award for Excellence

In 2019, UnivSSE was awarded the SSE Excellence Award by the Region of Central Macedonia, the University of Macedonia and the Democritus University of Thrace, for the social responsibility and voluntary involvement of its members.

 

Social impact indicators 2013-2024

  • 5.450 people participated in the cooperative educational events
  • 111.804 people were informed from all the actions of the cooperative.
  • 29.000 hearings of audiovisual material
  • 360.000 website visits
  • 4.550 people follow on social media
  • 150 collaborating bodies and networks
  • 19 presentations on average per year
  • 5 European programs on average per year

 

Members of the Cooperative

  1. Aggelou Yiannis, PhD in Journalism and Mass Media
  2. Alexopoulos Yiorgos, PhD in Social Sciences, Adj. Professor-Advisor of Social Solidarity Economy, Hellenic Open University, President of the Supervisory Board
  3. Albanis Triantafyllos, Former Professor of Environmental Protection, Former Rector, University of Ioannina
  4. Argyropoulos Giorgos, PhD in Environmental Science, Chemical Engineer
  5. Argyropoulos Nikos, Former Assoc. Professor of Organic Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  6. Georgopoulos Alexandros, Former Professor of Environmental Education, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  7. Devetzidis Athanasios, Vocational Guidance Advisor and Adult Trainer, MSc in Sociology and Lifelong Learning
  8. Douvitsa Ifigenia, PhD in Cooperative Law Sociology, Adj. Professor-Advisor of Social Solidarity Economy, Hellenic Open University, Vice President of the Supervisory Board
  9. Thanou Mina, Entrepreneur, Project management, Treasurer of the Board of Directors
  10. Kassavetis Dimosthenis, Former Professor of Cooperative Law, Democritus University of Thrace
  11. Kavoulakos Karolos-Joseph, Ass. Professor, Dept. of Political Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  12. Mitrousi Ioanna, Freelance Professional, Deputy Secretary of the Board of Directors
  13. Barbopoulou Venetia, Consultant Sociologist MSc, project management
  14. Bellis Vasilis, Chemical Engineer, Former General Director of Development Agency of Karditsa, Secretary of the Supervisory Board
  15. Blekas Giorgos, Former Assoc. Professor of Food Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Vice President of Infrastructure of the Board of Directors
  16. Nikolaou Kostas, Former Visiting Professor of Ecology and Social Solidarity Economy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, President of the Board of Directors
  17. Oikonomou Andreas, Professor of Psychology, School of Pedagogical and Technological Education (ASPETE), Vice President of Research and Studies of the Board of Directors
  18. Papaioannou Stavros, Former Ass. Professor of Mathematics and Political Economy, International Hellenic University
  19. Papafilippou Aspa, PhD in Cooperatives Sociology, Vice President of Education of the Board of Directors
  20. Sakali Christina, PhD in Economic Sciences, Adj. Professor-Advisor of Social Solidarity Economy, Hellenic Open University
  21. Stefanidou Sophia, Environmental Science MSc, project management
  22. Tzakou Anna, Architect, MSc in Environmental Planning, Secretary of the Board of Directors

 

Board of Directors (2022-26)

  • Kostas Nikolaou, President
  • Aspa Papafilippou, Vice President of Education
  • Andreas Oikonomou, Vice President of Research and Studies
  • George Blekas, Vice President of Infrastructure
  • Anna Tzakou, Secretary
  • Ioanna Mitrousi, Deputy Secretary
  • Mina Thanou, Treasurer
  • Thanasis Devetzidis, Alternate member
  • Venetia Barbopoulou, Alternate member

 

Supervisory Board (2022-26)

  • Yiorgos Alexopoulos, President
  • Ifigenia Douvitsa, Vice President
  • Vasilis Bellis, Secretary