The course is divided into four modules:

Module 1, Social Entrepreneurship in Theory, covers the following topics: 

• Research and policy on Social Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation and related concepts
• How can Social Entrepreneurship apply to sustainable development, especially in urban and global contexts

Module 2, Social Entrepreneurship in Practice, covers the following topics:

• Leadership and organization in social entrepreneurship organizations and partnerships: Management, strategy and communication
• Network and support structures
• Resource-based theory and social capital
• Community and social entrepreneurship

Module 3, Think Piece, consists of research work. Here students, individually or in pairs, can focus on an issue of their particular interest within the field of social entrepreneurship.

Module 4, Connecting the Social Entrepreneurship Idea to Sustainable Development, entails:

• Development of a matrix of activities
• Connecting activities to Sustainable Development Goals
• Connecting activities to social impact in communities

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: 

• Discuss and relate to literature, discourse and policy on social entrepreneurship and innovation;
• Find, evaluate and synthesize current research on social entrepreneurship related to participant’s particular area of interest;
• Make informed decisions on choice of management models, strategies of communication and in handling a project or organization’s relation to its context;
• Understand the relation of social entrepreneurship to sustainable development. 

Teaching methods include lectures, field trips, guest lectures, seminars and casework.

Depending on the course level, literature in the form of contemporary articles for specific course occasions will be added, as well as other literature in consultation with the course coordinator.

Example:

• Dees, J. G. (1998) “The Meaning of Social Entrepreneurship”. Kauffman Foundation and Stanford University.
• Austin, J., Stevenson, H., & Wei-Skillern, J. (2006). Social and commercial entrepreneurship: Same, different, or both? Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 31(1), 1–22
• Martin, L.R. and Osberg, S. (2007) Social Entrepreneurship: The Case for Definition. Stanford Social Innovation Review, Spring 2007, p. 29-39.
• Kerlin, A.J. (2010) A Comparative Analysis of the Global Emergence of Social Enterprise. Voluntas, 21:162–179.
• Chichevaliev, S. (2019) Conducive Factors for Development and Promotion of Social Entrepreneurship in North Macedonia, Journal of European and Balkan Perspectives, Spring 2019, p. 63-74.

Each module in the course will be evaluated separately upon completion. This provides periodic feedback on course development. The course as a whole will also be evaluated upon completion. A summary of results will be kept in the Academy’s archive.