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Social Enterprise Incubator (MULT90059)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
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About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 - Dual-Delivery |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Social enterprises are businesses that exist with the specific purpose of solving social and/or environmental problems through trade. These enterprises merge the best features of business and the non-profit sector to create innovative solutions that address both social and market gaps. Within these enterprises, success is thus measured in social and/or environmental terms, in addition to financial sustainability.
This multidisciplinary subject has been developed in partnership with Unbound, a Melbourne-based social enterprise leading innovative education programs on social change through entrepreneurship across the Asia-Pacific region. The subject equips students with a critical understanding of social entrepreneurship, and provides them with a practical opportunity to develop their own start-up social enterprise. Groups will be formed according to personal interest and students will work in small project teams to conceptualise, develop and pitch a viable social enterprise initiative. Students are also expected to test their idea in the marketplace in real time, for example, liaise with external organisations to receive feedback on your product/service and/or develop a minimal viable product that can be showcased.
To support the development of ideas, the subject draws from case studies, field trips and guests speakers from the Victorian start-up ecosystem that share their personal experiences and advice as successful social entrepreneurs. Students will also have the opportunity to receive direct support on their idea during a feedback salon with academics, business leaders and social enterprise practitioners.
Upon completing this subject, students will develop a critical understanding of the nature of social enterprise in contemporary society and the practical requirements for developing sustainable social enterprise projects. The subject also uniquely provides students with the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world solutions in real time.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject should:
- demonstrate a detailed, critical understanding of aims, practicalities and limitations of social enterprise;
- demonstrate a detailed, critical understanding of the scholarship pertaining to social entrepreneurship;
- apply rigorous methods of inquiry and appropriate methodologies to the field of social enterprise with intellectual honesty and a respect for ethical values;
- work effectively as a member of a project team to devise, test and pitch a detailed business case for a social enterprise project;
- communicate effectively with community groups, individuals and potential project stakeholders to identify and develop a social enterprise project; and
- communicate the results of the project effectively to community, professional and academic audiences.
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, students should gain the following generic skills:
- advanced communication skills (written and verbal) and stakeholder management skills appropriate to professional contexts;
- project management and business planning skills, including scoping projects, developing timelines and meeting deadlines;
- task management; and
- research and critical thinking skills as applied to a professional context.
Last updated: 12 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Students undertaking an internship with a host agency may be required to satisfy a number of requirements, including:
- undergoing a recent National Police Record Check
- holding a valid Working with Children Check for the relevant state/territory
Last updated: 12 November 2022
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
A business concept proposal (15%) and personal reflection (5%)
| Week 4 | 20% |
A group oral presentation, due during the final teaching week
| End of the teaching period | 20% |
Business plan
| During the assessment period | 60% |
| Hurdle requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 75% of classes in order to pass this subject and regular class participation is expected. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Submission of all assessment is required to pass this subject. Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 2% per working day. After five working days, assessment submitted without an approved extension will not be marked. There is no provision for late submission of in class tasks without permission.
Last updated: 12 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Julian O'Shea Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours Total 24 hours: 8 x 3-hour seminars and group project meetings Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 28 February 2022 to 29 May 2022 Last self-enrol date 11 March 2022 Census date 31 March 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 6 May 2022 Assessment period ends 24 June 2022 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 12 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Readings will be available via the LMS.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Creative Writing, Publishing and Editing Course Master of Global Media Communication Course Master of Public Administration Course Master of Public Administration (Enhanced) - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
Last updated: 12 November 2022