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Unit outline_

SIEN6005: Social Entrepreneurship

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Social entrepreneurs are committed to furthering a social mission through enterprises that rank social, environmental or cultural impact on a par with, or even above, profit. Intersecting the business and not-for-profit worlds, social entrepreneurship addresses many complex local and global problems. This unit critically introduces the concept and develops frameworks for understanding social entrepreneurship (also referred to as social enterprise and social innovation). Teaching and learning utilise case studies and includes the opportunity to apply theory to real-world experiences. Topics include creating innovative social enterprises, sustainable business models, philanthropy and funding, impact assessment, and leadership. The unit is structured around learning from engaged practise and provides the opportunity to work with social enterprises.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
IBUS6016
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Edward Johnson, edward.johnson@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Edward Johnson, edward.johnson@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Online task Peer evaluation
Peer evaluation of your work, from your teammates
5% Formal exam period
Due date: 11 Nov 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 12 Nov 2024
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO6
Participation Workshop participation
Participation
10% Ongoing
Due date: 01 Nov 2024 at 23:59
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5 LO3 LO1 LO6 LO4
Assignment Stakeholder Interview Journal
Interview analysis
20% Week 06
Due date: 06 Sep 2024 at 23:59
800 words
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO5 LO6
Presentation group assignment Practice and final pitch
Practice pitch in week 10 Final pitch in week 12
30% Week 12
Due date: 23 Oct 2024 at 23:59
2 x 10 minutes + pitch decks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment group assignment Final report
Written report
35% Week 13
Due date: 01 Nov 2024 at 23:59
3500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Practice and final pitch: Students will showcase their project in a presentation, including elements such as strategy, marketing, operations, and finance.
  • Final report: Students will produce a document for distribution to the project partner following their consultation work. The document should provide sufficient operational detail to show how the product or service can be brought to market, and be supported with a financial plan and forecast.
  • Stakeholder interview journal: Students will provide evidence of identifying and validating a problem space relevant to their project through stakeholder interviews.
  • Workshop engagement and participation: Students are expected to complete readings prior to class; engage with guests, lectures, and fellow students; initiate project work; and foster a community of learning. Students will be assessed throughout the semester based on active participation. Students are expected to attend more than 80% of classes.
  • Peer evaluation on group project: Students will have the opportunity to give and receive feedback to all members of their team against a set of criteria on team processes. This assignment will be individual and based on peer assessment from team members. The final mark out of 5 will be made up of the average score from your teammate's rating, and how well students engaged with the feedback they received.  

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Unit overview; project introduction; context of social entrepreneurship Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 02 Kick off call; social entrepreneurship definitions and overlapping concepts Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 03 SE business models; action research Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 04 Learning about action research Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 05 Action research week Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 06 Problem identification pitch and Q&A session with project sponsor Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 07 SE strategy Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 SE marketing Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Social impact - understanding and measuring it Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 SE finance & practice pitches Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 11 Pitch doctor session Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 12 Report doctor session Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 Pitches to project partners; SE reflections Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO4 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance at lectures and tutorials is taken into account when marking group projects and participation.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

There are no textbooks for this unit. Required readings are available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Identify and evaluate social entrepreneurship opportunities
  • LO2. Develop strategy for a social enterprise
  • LO3. Prepare and present documentation to secure stakeholder support
  • LO4. Develop the skills and attitudes required of a successful social entrepreneur relevant to not-for-profit as well as for-profit social enterprises locally and internationally
  • LO5. Conduct and analyse primary research in the field of social entrepreneurship
  • LO6. Critically reflect on social entrepreneurship theory and practice

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Creating more practical learning options for remote students.

Site visit guidelines

Some students will have the opportunity to participate in a field trip in week 5 to conduct action research with the partner organisation. Participants will be nominated by the teaching staff. Travel and accommodation expenses will be covered by the University.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.