Social Enterprise

Social entrepreneurs are problem solvers who take calculated risks with the desire to generate lasting change for the communities they intend to serve. Students will develop an entrepreneurial mindset and the capacity to start and build mission-driven ventures that are financially, socially and environmentally sustainable. Informed by a variety of local, national and global contexts, students will focus on innovative solutions, whilst developing the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to access pathways across the Social Sciences and in the world of business, entrepreneurship and organisational management.

Course Aims

Encourage a growth mindset, enhance collaborative skills and develop 21st Century leaders.

Promote the recognition and development of enterprise skills and attributes through practical application.

Develop the ability to critically assess and make strategic decisions in response to environmental, social and economic factors.

Explore entrepreneurship for societal change from a range of different perspectives.

Encourage a culture of problem solving with an informed approach to risk, leading to innovative solutions to contextual issues.

Course Outline

UWC Social Enterprise will provide the opportunity for students to explore and apply business concepts through the lens of social entrepreneurship. Students will engage with real-world challenges and innovative ideas, empowering them to address societal issues creatively. This course emphasises critical thinking, collaboration, and ethical decision-making, encouraging students to connect course content with global and local challenges. Students will develop practical skills to design, finance, and scale social enterprises while fostering a deeper understanding of how businesses can be a force for positive change.

Through project-based learning, students will enhance their communication, analytical, and leadership skills. The course aims to inspire a new generation of socially conscious entrepreneurs who view business as a tool for addressing local and global challenges.

Grade 9

Unit 1: Enterprise Communities
Students explore the fundamentals of social enterprises, focusing on their objectives, stakeholders, and the characteristics of successful social entrepreneurs.

Unit 2: Entrepreneurial Design & Development
This unit introduces the enterprise process, including market research, business planning, and ethical considerations, using tools like the Double Diamond model.

Unit 3: Finance - Getting Started
Students learn how startups secure funding, manage costs, and use financial tools like break-even analysis and budgeting to plan for success.

Unit 4: Marketing & Operating in a Competitive Environment
This unit examines strategic tools like SWOT, PEST, and the marketing mix to understand how enterprises compete effectively in dynamic markets.

Grade 10

Unit 1: Foundations of Entrepreneurship
Students delve deeper into entrepreneurial skills and explore innovative approaches used by social entrepreneurs to address societal challenges.

Unit 2: Human Resources Management
This unit focuses on managing people effectively, covering recruitment, training, motivation, and leadership within social enterprises.

Unit 3: Sustainable Financing
Students analyse how established enterprises manage cash flow, access financing, and evaluate investment decisions like the payback period.

Unit 4: Measuring Social Impact & Scaling
Students learn to measure the success of social enterprises using frameworks like logic models and balanced scorecards while developing strategies for growth and scalability.

Skills Developed

The skills of analysis and evaluation are developed by students on the course, whilst applying business theory to case studies and their own ventures. They will equip themselves with a range of tools, techniques and theories from the world of organisational leadership and management.

Critical Thinking
Self-Management
Collaboration
Research
Calculated Risk-Taking
Communication
Decision Making
Resilience

Assessment

These will vary in their form and purpose, ranging from coursework involving collaborative team tasks, presentations, report writing, projects and end-of-year examinations.

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