ELE 3702 Social Entrepreneurship

ELE 3702 Social Entrepreneurship

Course code: 
ELE 3702
Department: 
Strategy and Entrepreneurship
Credits: 
7.5
Course coordinator: 
Thomas Hoholm
Course name in Norwegian: 
Social Entrepreneurship
Product category: 
Bachelor
Portfolio: 
Bachelor - Electives
Semester: 
2021 Autumn
Active status: 
To be discontinued
Level of study: 
Bachelor
Discontinued term: 
2022 Autumn
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

The key issue in this course is social entrepreneurship: To establish businesses with the core idea of solving a social or cultural problem through business means. The students will be exposed to dilemmas and ranges of options that distinguish social entrepreneurship from purely commercial entrepreneurship. The students will also learn about ways to identify spaces for social action, try out tools and methods for making change, and deliberate on how to balance economic and social ends. Cases and ethnographic material for discussion and comparison will be drawn from all over the world. The course is an option for students who contemplate the establishment of a social enterprise. It is also suitable for international students who want to develop their ability to work as social and cultural innovators in their home countries, as well as Norwegian students who consider careers in national companies other than purely commercial ones, or abroad.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

The students shall acquire knowledge of:

  • Main theories and concepts in the field social entrepreneurship.
  • the added gain and strain of social entrepreneurship compared with commercial entrepreneurship.
  • Social entrepreneurship as it is practiced in different parts of the world.
Learning outcomes - Skills

After completed course students should have:

  • Communicative skills through working with diverse groups of people
  • Information gathering and analysis of a real case
    • Practical experience with tools and methods to identify spaces for social action and innovation.
General Competence

The student shall be able to demonstrate:

  • Critical assessment of ideas and procedures related to the establishment of social enterprises
  • Awareness of ethical dilemmas in the practice of social entrepreneurship
Course content
  • Introduction to the field of social entrepreneurship
  • Social entrepreneurs
  • Market, state and civil society
  • CSR 2.0
  • Ashoka
  • The moral in the social enterprise
  • Political and cultural conditions
  • Setting up a social enterprise
  • Entrepreneurship as social practice
Teaching and learning activities

There are three main means of learning in this course. 

  1. The first is to read compulsory literature in order to get a grasp of basic concepts and key dilemmas of social entrepreneurship. A reading plan will be provided at the start of the semester.  
  2. The second learning process consists of discussions and assignments during class. Tools for active listening and group development will be shared in class. There will also be visits from social enterpreneurs.  
  3. The third learning process is a case study according to a template that will be distributed at the beginning of the semester. Groups of students gather information about, prepare and present a social entrepreneurship case in class.

Use of YouTube and other online resources is required

Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Additional information

For electives re-sit is normally offered at the next scheduled course. If an elective is discontinued or is not initiated in the semester it is offered, re-sit will be offered in the electives ordinary semester.

Qualifications

Higher Education Entrance Qualification

Covid-19

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there may be deviations in teaching and learning activities as well as exams, compared with what is described in this course description.

Teaching

Information about what is taught on campus and other digital forms will be presented with the lecture plan before the start of the course each semester.

Required prerequisite knowledge

No particular prerequisites is required.

Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Weight: 
60
Grouping: 
Group/Individual (3 - 6)
Duration: 
1 Semester(s)
Comment: 
Project paper (3-6 students, or individual after agreement with lecturer) work throughout the semester.
Exam code: 
ELE37023
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination when next scheduled course
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Weight: 
40
Grouping: 
Individual
Duration: 
3 Hour(s)
Comment: 
Written home examination.
Exam code: 
ELE37024
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination when next scheduled course
Type of Assessment: 
Ordinary examination
All exams must be passed to get a grade in this course.
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Teaching
24 Hour(s)
Feedback activities and counselling
12 Hour(s)
Case Work 1 - inc presentation
Group work / Assignments
24 Hour(s)
Case Work 1
Group work / Assignments
36 Hour(s)
Case Work 2 includes meetings with social ent.case (company visits)
Submission(s)
40 Hour(s)
Project paper related to social ent.case 2
Student's own work with learning resources
58 Hour(s)
Work on syllabus and readnings
Examination
6 Hour(s)
Examination / refl note
Sum workload: 
200

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.