“Don’t be the movement – join the movement!” Piloting TtT Modules on Social Innovation Through the Doughnut Framework

On 15–16 October 2025, the RESIST project partner Riga Technical University (RTU) piloted the Train the Trainers (TtT) module on Social Innovation within a two-day online competence-building programme for universities and ecosystem partners: “Innovation Greets Sustainability”. The training comprised 5 sessions, 7 speakers and around 60 participants, bringing together actors from academia, the public sector and the social economy.

Video recordings are available here: https://doughnuteconomics.org/stories/recordings-gdd-2025-at-riga-technical-university 

Rather than testing the TtT module as a stand-alone activity, the organisers adopted an integrated and experimental approach. Based on extensive discussions with experts in social innovation and environmental sustainability, including RESIST partners, the module was embedded into a broader training course on sustainability and innovation. This approach responded to two common challenges: the complexity of sustainability concepts and declining participation in isolated capacity-building events.

To address both, the programme was framed around a shared and accessible framework – the Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries*. As the Global Donut Days – community-led international festival – was approaching, the training was organised under this international movement, allowing the TtT module to be tested in a real-life learning setting with a wider audience.

 Programme focus

🌱 Applying the Doughnut framework in governance, strategy and sustainability monitoring

🎓 Integrating the Doughnut into academic teaching and curricula

💡 Strengthening social innovation competences, including a practical workshop on designing future university campuses “in the Doughnut”

In total, 133 participants registered, with approximately 60 attending the sessions. The audience included:

~25 academic and administrative staff (predominantly from Riga Technical University)

~25 students from diverse disciplines

~10 representatives from social economy organisations, municipalities and the public sector

This diversity provided valuable insights into the relevance and transferability of the TtT content across sectors. On average, participants rated the sessions 8.6 out of 10. Furthermore, 78% indicated a high likelihood of applying the acquired knowledge and ideas in their professional activities, while 73% expected to use them in their personal lives. Twenty-five participants completed the full programme and received certificates corresponding to 10 academic hours.

By piloting the Train the Trainer modules within a broader thematic learning journey, RTU demonstrated how social innovation capacity-building can be both context-sensitive and scalable. The experience highlights the value of combining TtT methodologies with widely recognised frameworks such as the Doughnut to foster cross-sector learning and strengthen regional ecosystems for social innovation.

Curious to hear more? Feel free to contact RESIST Project Lead at RTU – Paula Cukura, paula.cukura@rtu.lv 

*Doughnut model is based on the UN SDGs’ social goals and climate science. It was developed by a British economist, Kate Raworth, at Oxford. It is based on her groundbreaking book “Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist”. Inspired by this new compass for the 21st century, Doughnut Economics Action Lab – DEAL – has been growing as a global movement since 2020, offering applied research, counselling, grassroots initiatives, methodological development and breaking the silos between governments, businesses, academia and communities.  

The event was organised within the RESIST – Regional Ecosystems for Social Innovation and Social Transformation project, co-financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund) under the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme.

Programme Manual Online

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