Overview of the Module
General Aim of the Module
This module discusses the need to match legal structures and governance models for social enterprises with their mission and operational plans. The stakeholders of social enterprises must understand basic legal frameworks and governance foundations to integrate social missions with economic activities. Social enterprises’ legal forms such as nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies, or hybrid structures like benefit corporations or social purpose corporations are diverse and the students should get an overview to apply the best suited form into practice. Each legal structure affects funding, ownership, and profit distribution and thus its role in society. The module also comprises ethical aspects of social enterprises and touches on public policy aspects regarding the legislation regarding social entrepreneurship. Students who complete the module should be able to successfully establish a social enterprise in the legal form that mostly suits their purpose.
Module Specific Objectives
- Provide an overview of ethical frameworks regarding social enterprises.
- Introduce to students the different legal forms of social enterprises
- Involve students in discussions about specific advantages of the different legal forms of social enterprises or use cases.
- Provide students with a basic understanding of the legal framework and public policy aspects of social enterprises.
Brief Instructons on how to Study in this Module
Learning Resources for Curious Minds
Marketing a Social Enterprise, Ethics and Values: Offers insights about the branding of a social enterprise, the ethics of cause-related marketing and the risk of being misunderstood. Watch on Youtube.
The social economy and support to social enterprises in the European Union: About the role of the social economy and how social enterprises are supported in the European Union, including policies, funding mechanisms, and initiatives designed to promote social enterprises. Read here
The Dark Side of Social Enterprises: provides a critical view of social enterprises. Some can be driven by ulterior motives or private gain rather than social good, have little or no impact on the societal problems they’re attempting to address. More here
