How can entrepreneurial responsibility be shaped so that it not only meets ecological and economic demands, but also creates real social value? This is the focus of the Erasmus+ funded project Social Impact Manager (SIM) – an initiative that sets new standards in connecting CSR, community development, and sustainable corporate strategy.
Together with 13 partners from seven European countries, Plattform Erwachsenenbildung is developing a hybrid and practice-oriented profession that enables companies to design and implement social responsibility strategically, measurably, and effectively. Our goal: to create new learning opportunities, expand networks, and highlight lifelong learning as a social necessity.
Why do we need SIMs?
Traditional CSR measures – such as donations, internal codes of conduct, or volunteer projects – are well established, but often reach their limits when structural change is required. Companies increasingly ask: how can we systematically plan, implement, and evaluate social impact? The SIM answers this need, with a competence profile that integrates CSR management, community development, and impact assessment. SIMs advise decision-makers, analyze local needs, facilitate stakeholder dialogue, and design strategies for sustainability, diversity, and resilience – creating value both for business and society.
Project Phases
The SIM development follows four phases:
- Engage – networking, observation, analysis
- Design – developing and adapting curricula
- Empower – training SIMs, testing in practice
- Evaluate & Exploit – assessing impact, disseminating results
In the Engage phase, surveys and focus groups with companies revealed that while CSR is valued, resources, expertise, and strategic access are often lacking. The shift from CSR to ESG highlights the demand for measurable tools and knowledge to make responsibility more professional and impact-oriented.
International Perspectives
Partners from France, Italy, Croatia, and Greece report similar trends: regulatory complexity, lack of management support, and limited resources for CSR. A common issue is that CSR often relies on a few motivated individuals and is rarely embedded strategically. This underlines the need for a structured profession like SIM.
From Insights to Curriculum
In the Design phase between May 2024 and February 2025, the consortium developed a European SIM curriculum with five modules:
- Corporate Governance and Strategy
- Territorial Analysis
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Project Management
- Assessment and Evaluation
National adaptations ensure relevance across contexts. In Austria, Plattform Erwachsenenbildung and die Berater integrated findings from company interviews and regional needs. A key moment was the partner meeting in Vienna (Dec 2024), which refined the curriculum and prepared for the international SIM School planned in Paris (Autumn 2025).
Empower: First Training Cohort
Since spring 2025, the project is in the Empower phase. The first SIMs from diverse professional backgrounds are being trained through online courses, company collaborations, local hackathons, and community-based initiatives. The approach: learning by doing. Participants identify local challenges, co-develop solutions with businesses, and present project plans ready for implementation – supported by experts and mentors.
Next Steps
After the pilot trainings, the International SIM School in Paris will gather the most promising ideas and experiences from all partner countries, establishing not only a profession but also a European community of Social Impact Managers.
Our Contribution
For Plattform Erwachsenenbildung, participation in SIM is more than a partnership: it is an opportunity to make the transformative potential of adult education visible. We strengthen European networks, advance innovative training formats, and ensure that the findings flow directly into our studies, events, and daily work for future-oriented adult learning.
About Plattform Erwachsenenbildung
Plattform Erwachsenenbildung is an Austrian association representing leading private providers of vocational and business-related adult education. Its core mission is to promote the strategic value of lifelong learning for personal growth, corporate success, and national competitiveness.
The platform advocates for accessible, demand-driven education offerings, aiming to improve participation in adult learning through practical reforms, targeted funding, and stronger recognition of qualifications. As a trusted partner to policymakers, media, businesses, and academia, Plattform Erwachsenenbildung contributes expert insights to shape the future of adult education — nationally and internationally.
