ELE 3702 Social Entrepreneurship
ELE 3702 Social Entrepreneurship
The key issue in this course is social entrepreneurship as establishments of business 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.
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.
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.
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
- 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
There are three main means of learning in this course.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
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.
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.
No particular prerequisites is required.
| 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 |
All exams must be passed to get a grade in this course.
| Activity | Duration | Comment |
|---|---|---|
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 |
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.