Social business transformation: a partnership model between business, society and university

In recent years, as the need for economic prosperity and social security has grown in countries, social business has become an increasingly important tool for bridging the gap between government, business and society, providing opportunities to efficiently meet social needs and address societal challenges (Gineitienė & Žiogelytė, 2010, Simanavičius et al., 2021). The greatest potential for social business is in the case of economic entities engaged in economic-commercial activities that are involved in charity, aid or social responsibility initiatives, as they invest part of their profits in social causes, but in a different form (Jakubavičius, Leichteris & Stumbrytė, 2016). According to Bartkutė & Skeriuvienė (2022), Lithuania is currently facing several social challenges. One of the main problems is related to migration and refugees. The influx of refugees and migrants has strained the country's resources and infrastructure, creating a need for innovative solutions to integrate these people into society. Democracy, human rights and gender equality are also concerns. As the country works towards a more inclusive and equal society, partnerships between social enterprises, universities and the public sector are needed to ensure equal opportunities for all members of society. Another pressing issue is environmental change and environmental, social and economic sustainability. Lithuania faces challenges related to pollution, deforestation and climate change, and business needs to develop sustainable environments and technologies to address these issues (Bartkutė & Skeriuvienė, 2022). Each of these challenges requires a combination of business opportunities, societal needs and the knowledge of members of the university community. This requires the development of a collaborative model that responds to the needs of social service users. For example, in the case of migrants and refugees, businesses could focus on providing language training, skills training and cultural integration programmes developed by university communities. In addressing issues of environmental sustainability, there are opportunities for businesses to develop renewable energy sources, green products and waste management solutions in consultation with scientists from different disciplines. Finally, in the pursuit of democracy, human rights and gender equality, businesses could focus on diversity and inclusion in the workplace, promoting human rights and supporting marginalised communities (Pušinaitė, Pučėtaitė & Novelskaitė, 2019). Social business could ensure diversity by providing internships for students of different nationalities, which would bring about a change in the internal culture of the company. Social entrepreneurship requires entrepreneurial, economic and financial competences, which allow not only to effectively manage the finances of a social enterprise, but also to choose an appropriate organisational structure, sources of funding, etc. (Borzaga et al., 2021, Bartkutė & Skeriuvienė, 2022). This ambition requires social entrepreneurs not only to have competences in the provision of social services, but also relevant knowledge in marketing, product or service design and economics.This knowledge is often lacking, as social enterprises are often founded by individuals who have gained experience in the NGO sector rather than in the business sector. The impact of Lithuanian NGOs in addressing social problems is currently minimal due to lack of funding and volatility, and they only get involved when the problem has escalated. In addition, Lithuanian NGOs do not show a willingness to cooperate and centralise the provision of social services. The potential of this sector to become social entrepreneurs would be enhanced by strengthening the entrepreneurial skills of NGOs through the involvement of members of university communities. social needs and addressing societal problems (Simanavičius et al., 2021). Therefore, addressing these challenges through social business and this model of partnership between business, society and the university would have the potential to have a positive impact on Lithuanian society and economy.