Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Social Economy Companies
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish
Teaching staff
Upon request
Introduction
Social economy companies, i.e. businesses that generate positive social and/or environmental impact, have experienced a steady growth in the last decade. They have gained an increasing importance in the Spanish economy, as well as globally. Within the European economy, social enterprises account for 17% of employment and 15% of GDP.
This course provides students with the necessary skills to create, develop and lead companies of the social economy. The course facilitates and disseminates the necessary tools for the good management of social enterprises, analysing strategic, legal, financial and human resource aspects, while promoting entrepreneurial and innovation competencies as engines of change of these organisations and their leadership.
Pre-course requirements
No special requirements
Objectives
The main goal of this subject is to present a social enterprise model as an alternative way of doing business that focuses on social and environmental necessities, while taking into account the importance of financial sustainability.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
Competencies to work on the subject as indicated in the curriculum.
Transversal competencies
G1. Understand and interpret pertinent and reasoned written texts of academic level and style.
G2. Be able to justify their own positions with consistent arguments, as well as to defend them publicly.
G6. Be able to work as a team, actively participating in the tasks and negotiating discrepant opinions until reaching consensus positions.
G7. Develop the capacity for autonomous reasoning with critical distance in controversial issues.
G8. Accept the diversity of points of view as a fundamental ingredient of academic and consubstantial life in contemporary society, and be able to present their own opinions in the respect of divergent opinions.
G9. Have consolidated habits of self-discipline, self-sufficiency and rigor in the accomplishment of the academic work, as well as in the organization and its correct timing.
G10. Have a proactive attitude in the desire to know the ignorant, essential in all the training process and in all professional activity with projection.
G11. Be able to apply the acquired knowledge with flexibility and creativity and adapt them to new contexts and situations.
G19. Identify the key factors of a problem.
G21. Demonstrate a critical approach to different situations.
Specific competencies
E1. Demonstrate a level of knowledge sufficient for professional performance.
E9. Use the right information in the formulation of proposals and the resolution of problems.
E12. Apply the relevant knowledge and procedures to a range of complex situations.
E13. Identify the key factors of a problem.
Learning outcomes of the subject
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
- Understand, identify and analyse a social need
- Understand the concepts of social entrepreneurship, social impact and social finance.
- Identify the stakeholders of social entrepreneurship ecosystem
- Understand the concept of social innovation
- Understanding the importance of social impact evaluation
- Identify the instruments to finance social projects
- Understand the differences in management between conventional and social enterprises
Syllabus
Topic 1. Fundamentals of Social Enterprises and Social Economy
- Introduction to the concept of social enterprises, the third sector (NGO) and social economy.
- The ecosystem of non-profit organisations and social economy in Catalonia, Spain and Europe.
- Historical context different approaches towards social enterprise
- Global North vs. Global south
Topic 2. Social need as a business opportunity
- The concept of a social need. Social needs as a base for business opportunities. The analysis of needs and the generation of solutions.
- Social Innovation. The concept. Good practices of social innovation around the world. Social innovation vs. social enterprises.
- Impact washing. What is it? How to avoid it?
Topic 3. Social impact: measuring and management
- What is Impact?
- Why Enterprises should care about Impact
- Methodologies and frameworks to measure Impact
- Metrics and Indicators
- Introduction to Impact Management
Topic 4. Social Enterprises vs. Responsible enterprises
- CSR as a concept. Shareholder value maximisation vs. corporate citizenship.
- Benefit corporations as a reinvention of CSR.
- BCorp certification in Spain
- Fair Trade Movement
- Cooperatives and Employee Ownership
Topic 5. Financing of social enterprises, as a mechanism of funding and marketing
- Introduction to financing social enterprises. Governmental grants, charitable foundations, Crowdfunding and ethical banking.
- Microfinance - concept, origin, achievements, successes and failures
- Impact Investment
- Marketing of social enterprises - storytelling (for selling, looking for funding and positioning)
Topic 6. Social Enterprise Project: Impact Business Model (based on challenges of real social enterprises)
- Stanford’s social business model canvas. Problem and mission statement.
- Social marketing mix
- Operations plan for a social enterprise
- Financial and legal framework of a social enterprise - legal structure
- Measuring social impact
Teaching and learning activities
In person
Lectures: 2-hour sessions with the whole group. The teacher presents the key theoretical concepts according to each topic.
Tutorials: Students can contact the teachers by email, check Moodle for their office hours or ask for an appointment.
Individual work: Personal study of the material provided by the course to assimilate the concepts and procedures covered during the classes. The objective of the individual work is an in-depth comprehension of and reflection on the contents of the course.
Group work/case studies and project-based learning: Includes work in groups of roughly 5 students to solve a case study or carry out a project linked to a challenge that will be proposed by a social entrepreneur.