Description
Educators today face the challenge of preparing students to address complex social issues such as inequality, environmental degradation, and economic exclusion.
Traditional educational models often fail to equip students with the skills and mindset to create sustainable, impactful change within their communities.
For school and vocational education and training (VET) teachers and adult educators, integrating social entrepreneurship into their teaching can provide students with the tools to become proactive, socially responsible citizens.
This course will introduce educators to the concepts of social entrepreneurship to empower them with the knowledge and strategies necessary to incorporate these topics into their curricula.
Participants will learn how to guide students in fostering entrepreneurial approaches to create social value and drive sustainable development.
Additionally, they will explore how social entrepreneurship can engage and inspire young people, providing them with a sense of purpose and the ability to make a tangible difference in the world.
During the course, educators will engage in a variety of activities including lectures, case studies, and hands-on workshops.
They will explore topics such as the steps to build a social enterprise, the characteristics of successful social entrepreneurs, legal structures, and the Social Enterprise Model Canvas.
The course will also cover the challenges of social entrepreneurship, strategies for scaling impact, and the role of social enterprises in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
By the end of the course, educators will have developed a deep understanding of how to teach and support the creation and sustainability of social enterprises that make a meaningful impact.
They will be equipped with the skills to help their students and learners navigate the unique challenges of social entrepreneurship and will be ready to apply these competencies in their educational settings, fostering a generation of socially conscious leaders and innovators.
What is included
Learning outcomes
The course will help the participants to:
- Define and distinguish social entrepreneurship and the solidarity economy from traditional entrepreneurship;
- Identify key traits of successful social entrepreneurs and foster these in educational settings;
- Integrate social entrepreneurship into curricula to empower students as changemakers;
- Use tools like the Social Enterprise Model Canvas to guide student projects;
- Teach the essentials of legal structures, business models, and challenges in social enterprises.
Tentative schedule
Day 1 – Course introduction
- Introduction to the course, the school, and the external week activities;
- Icebreaker activities;
- Presentations of the participants’ schools.
Introduction to social entrepreneurship
- Definition and key concepts of social entrepreneurship;
- How social entrepreneurship differs from traditional entrepreneurship;
- The rise of social entrepreneurship: historical context and current trends.
Day 2 – The importance of social entrepreneurs
- Characteristics and competencies of successful social entrepreneurs;
- The role of social entrepreneurs in driving social change;
- Discussion: why do we need social entrepreneurs?;
- Young social entrepreneurs and Agenda 2030;
- Identifying social problems and opportunities.
Day 3 – Building and developing a social enterprise
- Steps to build a social enterprise;
- Case studies of social enterprises from different sectors;
- Legal structures and social value creation;
- Business Models for Social Entrepreneurship;
- Common challenges faced by social entrepreneurs and strategies for overcoming these challenges.
Day 4 – Social enterprise model canvas
- Exploring the Social Enterprise Model Canvas: a tool for designing and planning social enterprises;
- Workshop: participants begin drafting their own Social Enterprise Model Canvas.
Day 5 – Youth-led social enterprise projects
- The potential and challenges of youth engagement in social entrepreneurship;
- How young people can make a difference through social enterprises.
- Benefits for young people engaging in social entrepreneurship: skills development, community impact, and personal growth;
- Participants develop and present ideas for youth-led social enterprise projects.
Day 6 – Course closure and cultural activities
- Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion;
- Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance;
- Excursion and other external cultural activities.