Utbildningsinfo
IN ENGLISH
Malmö universitet
Course syllabus spring 2019
Course syllabus spring 2019
Title
Social Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation and Sustainability
Swedish title
Social Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation and Sustainability
Course code
OL645E
Credits
7.5 credits
Grading scale
UA / Excellent (A), Very Good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Pass (E) or Fail (U)
Language of instruction
English
Decision-making body
Faculty of Culture and Society
Syllabus approval date
2016-11-08
Syllabus valid from
2017-01-16
Entry requirements
Students must have passed the course OL641E - Organising and Leading Sustainable Organisations (7,5 credits).
Level
Advanced level
Main field
Leadership and Organization
Progression level
A1F
Progression level in relation to degree requirements
The course is included in the main area Leadership and Organisation at the advanced level of 91-120 credits.
Course objectives
The aim of the course “Social Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation and Sustainability” is to provide students with a new orientation and way of thinking to organise and lead sustainable development namely through social entrepreneurship and social innovation. The course provides students with an understanding of the fields of social entrepreneurship and social innovation, which are rapidly gaining attention around the world from policy makers, organisations and others. As the traditional lines blur between non-profit enterprises, public services and business, it is critical that students understand the opportunities and challenges in this new landscape, which can be seen as highly relevant in the context of sustainability. The course aims at developing entrepreneurial skills and thinking frames for students who will lead sustainable economic, social and environmental projects in their future professions.
Course contents
The course focuses on social entrepreneurship, social innovation and sustainability and is structured in three modules:
The module 'SEI from a leadership and organisation perspective' covers an intensive lecture series covering the research and policy on social entrepreneurship, social innovation and related concepts such as citizenship, community, resource based theory and social capital. This module focuses on the leadership and organisational processes in social entrepreneurial organisations and partnerships especially in terms of public, private and social enterprises. The accumulation of knowledge serves students in the writing of an academic essay based on a literature review connecting social entrepreneurship, social innovation with sustainability.
The module 'SEI in Practice' is based on a series of guest lectures from the social entrepreneurial spheres and eventual study visits to bring the practice to the students for enabling them to reflect on what social entrepreneurship and social innovation are and how it is related with sustainability in concrete terms.
The module 'SEI for Sustainability' is composed of a series of casework to integrate, apply and transfer the logic and thinking of social entrepreneurship and social innovation in the context of sustainability.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
After a successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
  • 1- identify and describe principal models in social entrepreneurship and social innovation.
  • 2- outline the development of the main models and line of thoughts in social entrepreneurship and social innovation.
  • 3- identify, synthesise and classify the current research social entrepreneurship and social innovation and its relation to sustainability
  • 4- define sustainability and sustainable development in the context of social entrepreneurship and social innovation in the context of non-profit enterprises, public services and business.
Skills and competencies
After a successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
  • 5- review, examine and contrast principal models, discourse as well the research in social entrepreneurship and social innovation.
  • 6- differentiate social entrepreneurship and innovation from business entrepreneurship but also differentiate their roles in sustainable developments
  • 7- analyse and assess how social entrepreneurship and social innovation enable sustainability and how social entrepreneurs may act as change agents.
  • 8- apply and integrate social entrepreneurial skills and thinking to sustainability, sustainable development and to project management for sustainability.
Judgement and approach
After a successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
  • 9- critically reflect on the contemporary literature and research within social entrepreneurship and social innovation and their relationship to sustainability.
  • 10- problematise organisations and leadership from a social entrepreneurship and a social innovation perspective in the aim of improving organisations to enable sustainability and sustainable development and in turn reflect on the roles of social entrepreneurs as change agents.
  • 11- critically reflect on sustainability and sustainable development in the context of organisation and leadership through a “social entrepreneur and social innovator” set of minds.
  • 12- reflect and improve his/her entrepreneurial capabilities and skills in the context of sustainability and sustainable development.
Learning activities
The course is based on:
  • A series of lectures, class discussion, guest lectures and potential study visits. The lecture series is developed to support learning in regards to the learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9 stated above.
  • Caseworks and case discussion. The case series is developed to support learning in regards to the learning outcomes 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 stated above.
  • Self-studies
Assessment
The course is evaluated through five examinations as follows:
  • One individual academic essay; 4 credits; graded with the A-U scale. The essay assesses the learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9 stated above. The essay is first evaluated on the A-U scale following guidelines in line with learning objectives. The grade is then translated into points as follows: A (Excellent)=55; B (Very good) =47; C (Good) =40; D (Satisfactory) =35; E (Pass)=33; U (Fail)=0.
  • Two case-based reports in pair/groups; 2 credits (1 credit each); graded with the A-U scale. Each case-based report assesses the learning outcomes 6, 7, 8 and 10 stated above. Each case-based report is first evaluated on the A-U scale following guidelines in line with learning objectives. Each grade is then translated into points as follows: A (Excellent)=13; B (Very good) =11; C (Good) =9; D (Satisfactory) =8; E (Pass)=7; U (Fail)=0.
  • One individual case-based report; 1 credit; graded with the A-U scale. The individual case-based report assesses the learning outcomes 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 stated above. The case-based report is first evaluated on the A-U scale following guidelines in line with learning objectives. The grade is then translated into points as follows: A (Excellent)=13; B (Very good) =11; C (Good) =9; D (Satisfactory) =8; E (Pass)=7; U (Fail)=0.
  • Individual active participation at the case seminars; 0,5 credit; graded “Pass” or “Fail”. The active participation assesses the learning outcomes 9, 11 and 12 stated above. The grade “Pass” is translated into 6 points and the grade “Fail” into 0 point. If the student obtain the grade “Fail”, his/her active participation is re-examined with one overall written work covering the missing discussion and/or activities done in class.
To pass the course:
The student must obtain the grade A, B, C, D or E at the individual essay, at both pair/group case-based reports and at the individual case-based report. The student must obtain the grade “Pass” for the individual active participation at case seminars.
The five examinations above and their translation into points are added to reach a total amount of points. The compilation of the grade over the entire course then respects the following scale:
  • 90-100 = A (Excellent)
  • 80-89 = B (Very good)
  • 70-79 = C (Good)
  • 63-69 = D (Satisfactory)
  • 60-62 = E (Pass)
  • 0-59 = U (Fail)
Course literature and other study material
  • Bornstein, D. & Davis, S. (2010). Social entrepreneurship – what everyone needs to know. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  • Crane, A. (2009). The Oxford Handbook of Corporate Social Responsibility. OUP Oxford.
  • MacCallum, D., Moulaert, F., Hillier, J. & Vicari Haddock, S. (Eds). (2009). Social innovation and territorial development. Farnham: Ashgate.
  • Prazkier, R. & Nowak, A. (2012). Social entrepreneurship. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (Selected chapters).
  • Steyaert, C. & Hjort, D. (Eds.). (2006). Entrepreneurship as Social Change. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. (Selected chapters, available as e-book at the library).
Other scientific publications and case
A reading list with current research is provided at the beginning of the course. Case may have to be bought via Harvard Business School Publishing.
Course evaluation
All students are given, at the end of the course, the opportunity to comment on the course in writing. A summary of the results of the evaluation as well as responds from the course coordinator will be discussed with students / course representatives during a course evaluation meeting / Programme Council.