Microlearning Module 1 - Introduction to social economy and social entrepreneurship
Osnova témat
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To understand the basics of social economy and social entrepreneurship, we must define the definition of it and how it is different from mainstream businesses. A social enterprise's main purpose is to promote, encourage, and make social change happen. In contrast to mainstream businesses, social enterprises do not aim to make a profit. The EU is trying to develop a policy framework that brings together all forms of social enterprises, helps measure them, enhances social investment, and supports start-ups. In 2021, the European Commission adopted a new action plan on the social economy. With the action plan, the Commission put forward concrete measures to help mobilize the full potential of the social economy.
These enterprises can be categorized by size, how they are financed, and in what field they operate. There are many organizations that are relevant in SE development in Europe, like OECD, Euclid Network, Ashoka, Impact Europe, and SEWF. Moreover, we can talk about different groups that somehow support the SEs ecosystems: the customers, policy makers, governments, funders, or peer organizations like universities.
Social innovation is one of the most relevant topics. It can be defined as the development and implementation of new ideas (products, services, and models). Assessing social innovation and measuring its impact is important to find out which policies, methods, and approaches work best.
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Social Enterprises have various definitions all over the world and they are rooted in national and regional history. So, in this unit participants have the opportunity to build a framework that helps them to distinguish Social Enterprises from mainstream businesses and also from civil society organizations. However, the focus is not only to distinguish them from each other but to see the similarities and opportunities for synergies.
As most importantly Social Enterprises provide an opportunity for cross sector innovation. They have great potentials as a tool for entrepreneurs, business people and innovators as well as for policy makers to collaborate and create positive change.
Stránka: 1 H5P: 1 -
In the European Union social economy is an important concept as it provides a policy framework for developing further the European social economic model. The institutions of the European Union for years have been deploying various strategies and action plans to coordinate support of the social economy among member states and support social economy development in accession countries.
The most recent one being the European Social Economy Action Plan adopted by the European Commission. With the action plan, the Commission put forward concrete measures to help mobilize the full potential of the social economy, building on the results of the 2011 Social Business Initiative and the 2016 Start-up and Scale-up Initiative.
Stránka: 1 H5P: 1 -
Social Enterprises can be categorized by various metrics and categorization. Most of them are similar to mainstream businesses or civil society organizations as they inhabit the same space as these organizations within our society. Due to their dual nature, they can and should be categorized also differently.
However, as the field is still growing more research is needed and also more business model should be developed in order to have a robust typology.
In the unit participants will be introduced to some of these typologies and also get to know some Social Enterprises throughout the world. This helps them also identify local examples of Social Enterprises and social innovation projects.
Stránka: 1 H5P: 1 -
As social entrepreneurship has become a more and more well-known concept, actors from all sectors have become involved building a robust cross-sector ecosystem. There is a strong transnational drive in the various support systems, however the supporting ecosystems of Social Enterprises are strongly related to the local context and society they operate in. Even with the ongoing integration of the European Union these differences persist.
Thus, the unit only gives a short introduction highlighting some of the international players in the field and provide some guideline how to identify local ecosystem actors. It is also important to point out that due to the rapidly changing landscape of social entrepreneurship and sustainable business theory and practices these players often change.
Stránka: 1 H5P: 1 -
Social innovation is strongly linked to Social Enterprise as these organizations in most cases develop products and services that in some shape or form tackle social problems unmet by the market or public authorities.
The unit aims to introduce social innovation and its main characteristics not only from a theoretical but also practitioner’s perspective. It also provides an overview of social impact and its main concept as well as gives an introduction to impact management and measurement.
Stránka: 1 H5P: 1 -