Conference Agenda

Session

PS 5a: Entrepreneurship and Digital Humanities

Time:

Wednesday, 24/Sept/2025:

3:00pm - 4:30pm

Session Chair: Lorenzo Compagnucci, University of Macerata, Italy
Session Chair: Francesca Spigarelli, University of Macerata, Italy

Location: Aula Gialla - via della Pescheria Vecchia, Macerata

Presentations

Entrepreneurship and Digital Humantities

Chair(s): Lorenzo Compagnucci (University of Macerata, Italy), Francesca Spigarelli (University of Macerata)

This panel presents the book Entrepreneurship and Digital Humantities. How Universities Shape the Future of Labour - edited by Edward Elgar Publishing – by offering an interdisciplinary perspective on the topic through the lens of engineering, economics, history of law and ethics. Addressing the growing need for integration between STEM disciplines and the social sciences and humanities (SSH), technical and soft skills, knowledge of digital tools and ethical considerations, this panel deals with the new civic role of universities and entrepreneurship education, in order to prepare students for the jobs of the future. Specifically, the presenters explore how higher education institutions can adapt to the rapid change, and challenges, of the labour market brought by digital and green transitions. Then, a selection of practical and policy implications is suggested in order to inform how universities can respond to these issues and develop a new humanism, placing the enhancement of human potential at its core.

Presentations of the Symposium

Humanism and innovation in the global world: challenges for universities and the transformation of the labour market

Luigi Lacchè, Francesca Spigarelli
University of Macerata

The presentation delves into the profound challenges faced by HEIs in adapting to the dynamics of an increasingly digital and AI-driven society, and their role in preparing individuals for the transformation of the labour market. Special attention is given to the challenges and opportunities presented by the convergence in the curricula of STEM and SSH disciplines within the DH domain. The authors map three strands of behaviour, differing in terms of level of integration of STEM and SSH disciplines in educational programmes and academic curricula.

Augmenting human intelligence: empowering cooperation between humans and algorithms

Tracey P. Lauriault¹, Emanuele Frontoni²
¹Carleton University, ²University of Macerata

The authors delve into the relationship between human cognitive capabilities and algorithmic precision, stressing collective potential to enhance decision-making across various disciplines including digital humanities and archival sciences. Under this framework, the role of entrepreneurship in advancing digital humanities is analysed, with a particular focus on open design principles. The contribution example is in the interaction between archives and AI, investigating how digital archives can fuel AI advancements and how AI can enhance the preservation and analysis of archival materials.

Entrepreneurship and creativity programmes for the humanities and social sciences

Lorenzo Compagnucci
University of Macerata

This contribution explores both good practices and challenges deriving from the design and implementation of entrepreneurial education programmes for undergraduates, postgraduates and PhD candidates. Along with defining the theoretical framework in the field entrepreneurial education, the author presents a selection of entrepreneurial education programmes which were offered between 2013 and 2022 at the University of Macerata, a university founded on the humanities and social sciences. Such programmes aimed at promoting a cross-disciplinary approach to entrepreneurship among students and researchers in SSH disciplines, by providing training on soft skills and digital tools, and by focusing on a more responsible citizenship for addressing economic, social and environmental challenges at the local level. Furthermore, a selection of practical and policy implications is proposed.