First stakeholder consultation session of the project took place

On 18 July, the first stakeholder consultation session of the GREENENTRE4DEAF project was held at the EKA University of Applied Sciences.

The session brought together deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) individuals, representatives of higher education, and green business practitioners. The aim of the discussion was not only to listen, but also to co-create inclusive solutions in both education and the labour market.

Key highlights from the discussion:

• Access to education: Despite the availability of state-funded sign language interpreter classes, only a few DHH students are currently enrolled in higher education. The reasons? A lack of motivation, stereotypes surrounding job opportunities, and the insufficient quality of secondary education.
• Work environment: Entrepreneurs expressed willingness to employ DHH individuals but highlighted several practical challenges — for example, the cost of interpreters and difficulties in information transfer.
• Technology ≠ panacea: Participants emphasised that real-time translation and VR tools cannot yet fully replace sign language interpreters — particularly when learning materials are not adapted to the cultural perceptions of the DHH community.
• Co-creation ≠ formality: It was strongly stated that the involvement of the Union of the Deaf and other practitioners must occur throughout all phases of the project — not only in testing — if meaningful impact is to be achieved rather than just fulfilling a “project portfolio.”

This focus group provided valuable real-world insights that will help ensure the project’s outputs — including apps, VR tools, and training materials — are not only technologically innovative, but also accessible and understandable on a human level. The session was moderated by Edgars Cerkovskis, lecturer and director of the EKA study programme Circular Economy and Social Entrepreneurship.