This unit explores the principles that underpin the successful operation of social enterprises as organisations that apply business strategies to achieve social or community aims. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, the essential elements of social enterprise operation will be examined, ranging from inception and strategy-setting to ongoing operation, growth, and evaluation.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Identify, design, plan, implement, evaluate, and reflect on a community-based social enterprise project that is designed to meet the business goals of the organisation;
2. Develop appropriate cultural and ethical competence to demonstrate and evaluate entrepreneurial skills including creativity, initiative, innovation, critical thinking, adaptability, leadership, opportunistic mindset, and resourcefulness for social enterprises in diverse settings, such as disability, Indigenous and cultural contexts;
3. Determine any potential blockages and barriers to success for social enterprises in a range on contexts and countries;
4. Critically explain the importance of the studying the future of business directions for a range of social enterprises, including Indigenous and global cultures; and
5. Investigate the activities, practices, values, and contributions of leadership, made by Australian Indigenous Social entrepreneurs in terms of impact and culture.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - apply their knowledge to working with Indigenous Australians in socially just ways
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - communicate and engage with Indigenous Australians in ethical and culturally respectful ways

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

8917 The Social Entrepreneurial Project

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.