Units

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Sample subject outline - 6 Week Teaching Period - 2 2012

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Social innovation and entrepreneurship are emergent concepts in the field of philanthropy and nonprofit management, and in partnerships between nonprofits and other sectors. It is important for students to be able to critically evaluate the drivers of these approaches, and to be able to integrate their knowledge into high quality professional practice.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to develop a student's knowledge and skills to reflect critically on emerging trends in philanthropic and nonprofit practice, with a particular focus on social innovation and entrepreneurship.

Objectives

Course Learning Goals (Postgraduate)

The QUT Business School has established the Assurance of Learning (AOL) Goals to meet contemporary industry needs and standards. Achieving these learning outcomes will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT - aligned with other internationally renowned business schools. Students will develop the following capabilities relevant to a contemporary global and sustainable business environment:

Have knowledge and skills pertinent to a particular discipline (KS)

1.1 Well-researched knowledge and critical understanding applied to issues at the forefront of a specialised discipline area
1.2 Ability to select and use effectively a range of tools and technologies to locate and/or generate information appropriate to the disciplinary context

Be critical thinkers and effective problem solvers (CTA)

2.1 Apply logical, critical and creative thinking and judgement to generate appropriate solutions to problems in the disciplinary context

Be professional communicators in an intercultural context (PC)

3.1 Ability to create and present professional documents and/or reports using high levels of analysis/synthesis/evaluation for a range of contexts and audiences
3.2 Ability to orally communicate and justify ideas and information, at a professional level, for a variety of contexts and audiences, including peers and discipline specialists

Be able to work effectively in a Team Environment (TW)

4.1 Operate effectively and with flexibility to achieve common goals in collaborative settings, using a range of skills, including leadership, negotiation, reflection, proactivity and support for team members

Have a Social and Ethical Understanding (SEU)

5.1 Apply knowledge of the ethical, social and cultural dimensions relevant to business situations, including appropriate standards or codes of practice, to provide courses of action


Unit Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:

1. Describe emergent approaches to social innovation and entrepreneurship
2. Critically evaluate the drivers and challenges of these new approaches
3. Produce a well-designed proposal for a new or expanded social innovation initiative

The specific course learning goals and unit objectives that apply to this unit are shown in the assessment section of this unit outline.

Content

In this unit students will develop skills in social innovation evaluation and design. Students will engage with conceptual and practical developments in social innovation and social entrepreneurship within the nonprofit sector and between sectors. This will include an examination of practical and theoretical perspectives on social innovation and social entrepreneurship, new approaches to engagement and volunteering, progressing ideas to market, networking and stakeholder engagement,. Students will practice and be assessed on the skills of critical analysis, oral and written communications, time management and independent working. Students' work will be assessed based on the specified learning criteria for each of the assessment tasks.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Learning resources for this unit will include: face to face lectures and discussions; documentary resources based on ACPNS research with social innovators; a list of required and recommended readings; and a blackboard site on which learning materials are hosted and lectures are accessible in real-time via Elluminate.

Learning activities will include: small group discussion; interactive classroom lectures; preparation for class discussion and assessment through reading and independent research. Students will be supported in their learning through regularly scheduled consultation hours and timely feedback on their assessment items.

Assessment

Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:

Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation

Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary

Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation

Indirect: to the whole class

Assessment name: Research Essay
Description: Students will be required to respond to a set essay question based on the concepts and drivers of social innovation and entrepreneurship.
Length/Duration: 1,000 words
Formative or Summative: Formative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), (1.2), CTA (2.1)
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 4

Assessment name: Social Innovation Proposal
Description: Students will develop a proposal for a new or expanded social innovation initiative.
Length/Duration: 2,000 words
Formative or Summative: Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 2, 3 and AOL goals: CTA (2.1), PC (3.1), SEU (5.1)
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 7

Academic Honesty

Academic honesty means that you are expected to exhibit honesty and act responsibly when undertaking assessment. Any action or practice on your part which would defeat the purposes of assessment is regarded as academic dishonesty. The penalties for academic dishonesty are provided in the Student Rules. For more information you should consult the QUT Library resources for avoiding plagiarism.

Resource materials

Prescribed Text
There is no prescribed textbook for this unit.

Required References
A list of prescribed readings is provided in the Week One document and on the unit's Blackboard site.

Other Resources
A list of recommended readings and useful links is provided on the unit's Blackboard site.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with lectures or tutorials in this unit. You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to
view the Emergency video.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 05-Mar-2012