MSc Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Program Overview

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Why this course

The MSc Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship is embedded in a department which is passionate about supporting students who are dedicated to social and environmental change.

The Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship hosts the Socially Progressive Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SPIE) Research Cluster. SPIE's aim is to promote knowledge exchange and share new methodologies for socially progressive research and entrepreneurship, prompting trans-disciplinary research across real-world contexts.

Social innovation is concerned with ideas that address unmet social needs. Socially innovative ideas include restorative justice, hospices, kindergartens, distance learning and traffic calming (Mulgan et al., 2007), amongst others. These ideas are usually brought to fruition through an entrepreneurial process, which is concerned with turning innovations into viable and sustainable business models.

Never before has social innovation and entrepreneurship been so central to society: climate change, the threat of pandemics, increase in world population and poverty are only some of the mega-trends that require novel solutions and business models to implement them.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals stem from a global urge to address such issues. In tandem with the latter, research in this area has grown significantly in recent years. This is an important area of research, practice and teaching.

Strathclyde Business School prospectus

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What you'll study

The curriculum of the MSc Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship is shaped so that you have space to explore contemporary social and sustainability issues (e.g. Issues and Trends in Entrepreneurship; Social Entrepreneurship). The programme features practical classes and labs within which you work on creative problem solving for local and national businesses, as well as working on issues of global interest (Creativity and Venture Planning; Inclusive Strategy Lab and Global Innovation Lab).

You're also trained on core areas of the business venturing content and processes, such as in Mindset Lab, Entrepreneurial Finance and Entrepreneurial Management and Leadership. The programme concludes with an individual summer project for a social enterprise.

Classes in semester 1 cover key elements of entrepreneurship and are shared with students on the MSc Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Technology. It's possible to swap between programmes at the start of semester 2, based on your preferences and discussions with tutors.

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Social Impact Project

In semester 3 you will be able to work closely with an organisation to conduct voluntary work and/or project fieldwork to better their understanding and collect data for their project.

In addition to learning through fieldwork, you will also attend and participate in Social Enterprise & Impact seminar events, which will be hosted by Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and open to the community.

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Guest lectures

Visiting professors will be an integral part of the programme. Confirmed speakers for 2021-22 include:

Susan Aktemel - Executive Director, Homes for Good

Sarah Deas - Non-Executive Director. Trustee, Wellbeing Economy Alliance

Irene Graham - CEO, ScaleUp Institute

Dr Iain MacRitchie - Social Entrepreneur & Chair, MCR Pathways

Maggie O' Carroll - Chief Executive, The Women's Organisation

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Triple-accredited business school

AACSB accreditation logo

EQUIS accreditation logo

AMBA accreditation logo

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Strathclyde Business School

Strathclyde Business School was founded in 1948 and is a pioneering, internationally renowned academic organisation with a reputation for research excellence.

One of four faculties forming the University of Strathclyde, SBS is a triple-accredited business school (AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA) and was the first business school in Scotland to achieve this accolade in 2004. The Business School is home to seven subject departments and a number of specialist centres, all of which collaborate to provide a dynamic, fully-rounded and varied programme of specialist and cross-disciplinary courses.

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Strathclyde Business Network

As a postgraduate student at Strathclyde Business School, you may choose to join the Strathclyde Business Network, a student-led initiative that facilitates interaction with business and industry leaders.

The Network aims to foster knowledge sharing, facilitate discussion and enable networking opportunities with the very best business professional in industry. Every year the Network organises Glasgow Business Summit, which is the first-ever student-led business conference in Scotland and brings together students with leading businesses from across the UK.

Program Outline

Course content

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

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Creativity and Venture Planning

This class is important in terms of presenting an introduction for MSc students to the entrepreneurial process, from creative thinking to the development of a new business concept. This class has further thematic additions based on consultation with industry, specifically prototyping and storyboarding.

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Mindset Lab

Mindsets are at the core of everything that people think and do. Therefore, if we want to steer entrepreneurial behaviour towards success, we need to start by shaping the mindsets of those who start ventures.  From government agencies to investment panels, entrepreneurial mindsets are quickly becoming the buzzword that everyone wants to know about.  But what are those mindsets? And when are they a force for good or otherwise?

In this research-based class, you'll be exposed first hand to the daily struggles and successes of early-stage entrepreneurs and will be tasked with assessing their mindsets, how those mindsets are shaped by context and how, in turn, they shape the behaviour of the entrepreneur. You'll take a fascinating journey through the latest academic thinking on mindsets and will apply that thinking to the practice you observe in the entrepreneurs you will be following. Theory and practice will inform each other as you discover the often hidden power of the mind on human fears, goals, failures and achievements.

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Issues & Trends in Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Technology

This module provides a firm foundation in scholarly, practitioner and policy perspectives for "mega-trends" in entrepreneurship, innovation and technology. This is a student-driven class, where you'll develop research and presentation skills, and learn about cutting-edge developments such as digital health technology, the sharing economy and social innovation, while also learning how entrepreneurial ecosystems function.

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Data Lab

As increasing volumes of data are collected and made available to the public, identifying opportunities through analysis of data is a necessary skill for the contemporary entrepreneur. This course will empower students with a range of different analytic methods and software tools that will allow them to successfully identify high-value data-drive entrepreneurial opportunities.

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Strategic Innovation Management

This module is designed to build knowledge of the processes underpinning innovation. The class will provide an introduction to the main concepts and frameworks related to definitions, processes, strategies, organisation and sources of innovation. Towards the end of the class, new trends in innovation, such as social innovation and frugal innovation, will also be covered.

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Entrepreneurial Management & Leadership

Entrepreneurial leadership is distinct and different from leadership found in large corporates. (Röschke, 2018). Entrepreneurial leaders tend to be more adept at exploring and exploiting opportunities in the marketplace and dealing with constant change and competition.

This module will help participants better understand their own leadership style and also understand the key characteristics and behaviours of entrepreneurial leaders. Entrepreneurial management shows similarities to management functions in established organisations – strategic planning, marketing, etc. However, is it really necessary in a start-up situation? This module will explore the importance of entrepreneurial management and how start-ups and SMEs can benefit from having a programmed approach to growing the business.

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Entrepreneurial Finance

This class addresses how startups and small businesses source and manage finances. Finance is a core function within most organisations and is especially pivotal for startups and SMEs that need to carefully navigate to survive and grow. The class is a core Semester 2 module. It builds on Semester 1 modules that address the foundational elements required to develop a promising new business concept (e.g. Creativity and New Venture Planning, Innovation, Entrepreneurial Mindset, etc.) by bringing in the finance toolkit required to make a successful business out of a good idea.

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Social Entrepreneurship

There is a growth in the number of entrepreneurs starting businesses with social and environmental purposes. This module examines ideas and practices for addressing social needs. These include social enterprises, collaborative innovation networks, hubs, digital platforms, and support intermediaries. The module is centred around how students can start their own social entrepreneurship projects. The module will consist of a selection of presentations and discussions around social innovation and social entrepreneurship.

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Social Impact Strategy Lab

The educational aim of this class is for students to understand how they can enact social impact through organisational strategy. The purpose of this class to develop students into organisational leaders who approach strategy with a social lens. Where social impact is not simply a CSR exercise but is embedded in the organisational outcomes and activities.

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Global Innovation Lab

The class responds to the need for developing skills for innovation at a global scale when social needs and sustainability-driven priorities with potential for impact are considered by organisations. It seeks to create the space for participants to gain a rich, informed view about underlying challenges at global scale, prototype alternative solutions via high level scenarios and create routes into impact through supporting a real organisation. It also seeks to adopt an intensely collaborative way of working, as a creative, innovation driven based method that informs its logic and approach, and supports the outcomes sought.

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Social Impact Project

This module replaces the traditional, academic dissertation with a final 'capstone' module that marries a student's academic knowledge with the ability to put this into practice to create a positive difference in a local social enterprise and/or provide strategic support for a new social innovation. Whilst still as rigorous as a dissertation, the summer project will provide a chance for students to provide fieldwork within the sector and communicate their findings to wider groups of stakeholders. All of which are key attributes that employers and governments are looking for in this field. Each student will work closely with an organisation(s) to conduct voluntary work and/or project fieldwork to better their understanding and collect data for their project(s).

In addition to learning through fieldwork, you will also attend and participate in Social Enterprise & Impact seminar events, which will be hosted by Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and open to the community.

Days 1and 2: The first two half days occur at the beginning of the project. These launch the module for the students and clients, as well as provide an update on the status of Social Innovation and Enterprise in the Scottish Ecosystem, and Key Trends and Challenges that businesses face - from the businesses themselves.

Day 3 and 4: marks the half way point for the module. Here, we invite international guests and stakeholder workshops to a) increase awareness of key trends in the area b) invite the public to be involved in our work at the University c) provide support and workshops for our Social Enterprise clients and the Industry and d) provide the students with a chance to collect data and show a draft of their work to-date.

Day 5: near the end of their project, students will create their own Social Impact event, where they will showcase their work and 'give something back' to the local business community.

Day 6: end of the module, this will be a final celebration event, with final deliverables by the students in combination with public, academic events on social enterprise and impact.

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Chat to a student ambassador

Want to know more about what it’s like to be a Strathclyde Business School student at the University of Strathclyde? A selection of our current students are here to help!

Our Unibuddy ambassadors can answer all the questions you may have about their course experiences and studying at Strathclyde, along with offering insight into life in Glasgow and Scotland.

Chat now!

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Learning & teaching

The bulk of the taught classes run in semesters 1 and 2. However, there will still be classes and workshops running in semester 3, so you'll be required to be present in Glasgow throughout semester three. Classes will be taught through a combination of lectures, workshops, lab sessions and practical activities. The Social Impact Project is undertaken in Glasgow from May to September. There will also be numerous networking events throughout the year.

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Assessment

Assessments methods vary by class. Typical assessment will be through a combination of group assignments, individual assignments and exams. Exams will take place at the end of each semester in December and April/May.

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Strathclyde Inspire

At Strathclyde, we live and breathe entrepreneurship. The University of Strathclyde started life as a place of useful learning, an institution that wanted to make a difference through dong things innovatively, boldly and socially oriented; this founding mission has never been more relevant. Today, we continue to nurture generations of influencers, innovators and industry leaders, empowering our staff, students and alumni to embrace entrepreneurship, transforming their own lives and the lives of others.

Strathclyde Inspire supports and encourages entrepreneurship in all its forms, so whether you want to be more entrepreneurial in your approach to life, business and society, have an idea for a business, or are considering commercialising your research, we will support you at every stage of your journey.

Strathclyde Inspire

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Careers

As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, many governments (including the Scottish Government) have pledged an economic recovery centred on sustainability, fairness and wellbeing. Going forward, many employment opportunities are expected to emerge in the area of sustainability and socially progressive economic development. Having a firm-level, hands on understanding of such matters will give you a competitive advantage.

You may find employment with large corporates who have socially progressive projects or divisions. (One example is EY foundation, which works with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to create skills leading to employment).

Employment may be sought with support organisations, think-tanks and policy organisations working in the areas of social entrepreneurship of social innovation. (One example is Social Enterprise UK)

You may also take this programme because if you intend to start a social enterprise, or already have started a social enterprise but feel you would benefit from focused training.

This MSc will also be an asset to individuals already working or wishing to work for NGOs and public sectors organisations for social development.