Navigate the process of creating a social enterprise from the ground up
8 weeks, excluding
orientation
7–9 hours per week,
self-paced learning online
Weekly modules,
flexible learning
1
The essential entrepreneurial knowledge and skills to develop a socially conscious organisation.
2
Knowledge of how to identify and address a social issue, and the tools to measure your organisation’s social impact.
3
A practical business plan to aid in the development of your social entrepreneurship project, along with the skills to drive positive change.
4
In-depth insights from one of the world’s leading social science universities about the need for greater social consciousness within government, business, and society.
This Social Entrepreneurship online certificate course is certified by the United Kingdom CPD Certification Service, and may be applicable to individuals who are members of, or are associated with, UK-based professional bodies. The course has an estimated 70 hours of learning.
Note: should you wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is on you. The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and GetSmarter accept no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.
Over the duration of this online certificate course, you’ll work through the following modules:
MODULE 1
The entrepreneurial imperative: Drivers of change
Delve into the notion of social entrepreneurship and its drivers of change in wider society.
MODULE 2
Understanding social problems
Discover the complexity of a social problem by using strategies of user engagement and empathetic design to create a grounded idea of a social problem.
MODULE 3
Becoming a social entrepreneur
Discover the important processes, tools, and skills for entrepreneurship.
MODULE 4
Business models for social entrepreneurship
Investigate how tailored business models can support social entrepreneurship.
MODULE 5
Funding for social entrepreneurship
Explore diverse sources of funding for the social business and how to secure them.
MODULE 6
To profit or not to profit: Choosing your organisational form
Discover different organisational forms, their strengths and weaknesses, and how to decide between them.
MODULE 7
Measuring social impact
Investigate impact measurement, including the difference between outcomes and impact, and an overview of evaluation approaches.
MODULE 8
Social entrepreneurship: Criticisms, challenges, and opportunities
Consider criticisms, challenges, and opportunities for the future.
Please note that module titles and their contents are subject to change during course development.
Professor Stephan Chambers
Director and Professor in Practice, The Marshall Institute for Philanthropy and Social Entrepreneurship, LSE
Stephan is an expert in social entrepreneurship. Before joining the Marshall Institute, he was the chair of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, the director of International Strategy at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and wrote a regular entrepreneurship column for the Financial Times.
Dr Jonathan Roberts
Teaching Director and Senior Lecturer in Practice, The Marshall Institute for Philanthropy and Social Entrepreneurship, LSE
As an expert on social enterprises, Jonathan leads the development of teaching activities at the Marshall Institute, where he has designed and developed a ground-breaking executive MSc programme on social business and entrepreneurship. Jonathan’s research interests include motivations and altruism, hybrid organisations, and the role of social enterprises and mutual organisations in delivering public services.
This LSE online certificate course is delivered in collaboration with online education provider GetSmarter, part of edX. Join a growing community of global professionals and benefit from the opportunity to:
Gain verifiable and relevant competencies and earn invaluable recognition from a world-leading social science university, entirely online and in your own time.
Enjoy a personalised, people-mediated online learning experience created to make you feel supported at every step.
Experience a flexible but structured approach to online education as you plan your learning around your life to meet weekly milestones.