MOOC on Future-Oriented Social Entrepreneurship through EDE Ecovillage Design Education

The Ecoprise course is the first international MOOC that equips participants with the mindset and skills necessary to create and design regenerative and sustainable projects or systems. Over 12 weeks, students develop skills in eco-entrepreneurship, regenerative design, circular economy, permaculture principles and ethics, and a variety of areas and skills essential for ecological and digital transition, based on the four dimensions and skills of sustainability (society, environment, culture, and economy).

Comprehensive, international, online cross-disciplinary training inspired by the principles of permaculture and EDE Ecovillage Design Education applied to social innovation to train ‘ecopreuneurs’ as Ecoprise designers. It is divided into 5 five modules that bring together various disciplines for training in specific skills, from theoretical content and video lessons to practical activities and case studies for application in real contexts. It is developed as a MOOC, accredited by the EU with micro-credentials and EQF5 level certification.

Target-audience: 

  • Entrepreneurs (rural, social, cultural); 
  • Civil society representatives/organisations exploring the social economy and new entrepreneurial models; 
  • Specialists in the fields of ecology, permaculture, regenerative design, education, and the arts;
  • Students or graduates (all fields) seeking to develop skills for a green and digital future;
  • Adults and other professionals looking to improve their sustainability skills;
  • Trainers and educators (VET and HE) to modernise and develop teaching methods and topics; and also
  • Government and local authority technicians, social workers or community development planners interested in sustainable solutions.

Certification: 20 ECTS (or microcredentials per module) | EQF 5

Format: Online MOOC + 2 local study visits + 5 international panels + extra*

Course rounds:

  • Round 2: End of February – Early July 2026

⚠️ Registration deadline (2nd edition): 25 January 2026

*4 students from the best final projects will be selected to participate in the in-person workshop in Lithuania (Sept. 2026). 

Registration form: Application form – Ecoprise course

If you can’t attend this round, send an email to ecopriseportugal.cei@iscte-iul.pt to be placed on the waiting list for the next edition(s) and the online version of the course (post-piloting)

Full information

+ info Ecoprise project: https://ecoprise.eu/ 

+ info course and registration: ecopriseportugal.cei@iscte-iul.pt 

Co-developed by CEI-Iscte | Portuguese partner of the European Ecoprise consortium https://shorturl.at/JDE7H