Following great interest and outstanding results in Romania, a free educational online platform dedicated to the sustainability needs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is now available in Serbia too.
The Sustainability Academy (akademijaodrzivosti.rs) is a free e-learning platform aimed at providing basic knowledge about business sustainability and enabling self-paced learning. Besides Serbia, the Sustainability Academy is now also available in Bulgaria and Croatia, with the goal of providing SMEs access to relevant information, insights, and tools on sustainability.
This year, the platform will offer two main courses and gradually expand its resources according to the specific business needs in each country. The first course, “Introduction to Sustainability,” allows SMEs to build their sustainability strategy based on the accumulated knowledge, documents, and templates provided. The second course focuses on “Sustainability in the HoReCa Industry.” This is the first in a series of courses developed for key industries, exploring the specific needs of SMEs in the HoReCa sector, presenting relevant local case studies, and offering carefully selected information based on insights from both local and international experts.
The Sustainability Academy was created with the support of the Coca Cola Foundation and it was launched in 2023 in Romania by Social Innovation Solutions (SIS), organization empowering individuals and organizations to develop sustainable solutions. In the first 10 months since its launch, over 12,000 Romanian SMEs registered on the platform. The Sustainability Academy is now available in three more countries, as a result of the of an ever-increasing demand from business to adopt sustainability practices in order to align with ongoing EU regulations and to capitalize on the opportunities that new sustainability demands bring. The national partner for the Serbian market is Smart Kolektiv, an organization pioneering the promotion of socially responsible business and social entrepreneurship in Serbia.
“We are very proud to launch the Sustainability Academy in collaboration with SIS and the Coca-Cola Foundation. It is the result of our long-standing programs and projects aimed at supporting companies and entrepreneurs in achieving positive social and environmental impact. At a time when the whole world is turning towards sustainability, and businesses have increasing obligations to report on it, this platform will provide valuable support on this path. The The Sustainability Academy in Serbia is not only an opportunity for education but also a crucial step towards creating a sustainable future for our country and generations to come,” said Neven Marinović, Director of Smart Kolektiv.
Ciprian Stănescu, President of Social Innovation Solutions, stated: “For the past 5 years we have seen entrepreneurs becoming more interested in the relationship between sustainability-derived concepts and the future of their business. Our experience in Romania and the feedback from local partners in Bulgaria, Serbia and Croatia gives us strong reasons to believe that the Sustainability Academy will quickly become the go-to resource for specific knowledge.”
The Sustainability Academy in Serbia is part of a larger regional Program called “Sustainable Futures” which aims to prepare SMEs for key future challenges. Besides the Academy, SMEs will have the possibility to join “TRANSFORMATOR”, a 3-months intensive transformative program that assists them in transforming their business model to a more sustainable one. Applications opening later in June.
“We are excited about the Sustainable Futures program, that enables MSMSs in the Serbian market to have access to knowledge and meaningful networks. We believe that programs such as this, contribute valuable educational resources and partnerships to facilitate companies and achieve a more sustainable future for all, and we are pleased to contribute towards this success”, noted Carlos Pagoaga, President of the Coca-Cola Foundation.
The Sustainability Academy is available at akademijaodrzivosti.rs, and after registration, users will have access to educational content developed in collaboration with esteemed experts and entrepreneurs.
About Smart Kolektiv:
Smart Kolektiv (SK) is a civil society organization founded in 2003, pioneering the promotion of CSR and social entrepreneurship in Serbia. Since 2008, SK manages the Responsible Business Forum, the first network of socially responsible companies in Serbia, comprising 30 large companies. SK actively promotes social responsibility and the implementation of ESG principles in the business sector, simultaneously fostering partnerships between social enterprises and major economic entities, including SMEs and large companies. The organization provides direct financial and non-financial support, focuses on advocacy, partnership creation, access to finance, markets, and capacity building.
About Social Innovation Solutions:
Social Innovation Solutions (SIS) mission is to empower individuals and organizations to understand future transformations and to develop sustainable tech, policy, and entrepreneurial solutions. SIS organizes several sustainability and education programs in Romania and the CEE Region working with over 15.000 SMEs and NGOs in programs like The Sustainability Academy, TRANSFORMATOR, ESG Journey and Sustainability Hub. SIS is also the organizer of Climate Change Summit, a global conversation platform about sustainability and climate change solutions.
About the Coca-Cola Foundation:
The Coca‑Cola Foundation’s mission is to make a difference in communities around the world where The Coca‑Cola Company operates and where our employees live and work. We support transformative ideas and institutions that address complex global challenges and that leave a measurable and lasting impact. Our giving is focused on sustainable access to safe water, climate resilience and disaster risk preparedness and response, circular economy, economic empowerment, and causes impacting our hometown community. Since its inception in 1984, The Coca‑Cola Foundation has awarded grants of over $1.5 billion in service of its mandate to strengthen communities across the world.
