MSc/PgDip/PgCert Co-operative and Social Enterprise Management

Attendance

Part-time

Part-time – typically two and a half years
There are four modules a year, usually lasting four days each
Starts January

At a glance

About this course

This course helps you analyse and develop co-operative and social enterprises using established knowledge on business democracy and co-operative management.

It enables you to
• enhance your specialist support and advice skills
• contribute to the development of regional, national and international co-operative and social enterprise support bodies
• seek employment in relevant policy development roles
• enhance your profile and competence as an independent consultant
• improve your competence as an active co-operative member and social entrepreneur

The course is suitable if you are
• responsible for governance or management of an employee owned business, co-operative enterprise or voluntary sector organisation
• working in a public sector or trade union role which has been transformed by the introduction of public-private partnerships, public sector mutuals and the creation of social enterprises
• acting as a consultant or support specialist, providing advice private, public and third sector organisations that trade for a social purpose
• wishing to develop a career in co-operative and social enterprise education and research

We developed this course with insights from founders and practitioners in the UK's leading co-operative, employee ownership and social enterprise development agencies.

Our teaching staff are professionally and academically qualified with substantial commercial, industrial and professional experience. They are regular contributors to academic journals and conferences, and recently coauthored a new student text to develop the field.

You benefit from our lecturers’ links with the Social Enterprise Europe, Co-operatives Yorkshire and Humber, Social Enterprise Yorkshire and Humber, Co-operatives UK, Social Enterprise UK, Co-operative College, Social Firms UK, Employee Ownership Association, Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, UK Society for Co-operative Studies, UnLtd and other regional, national and international support networks.

If you are based in a charitable organisation we offer the MSc Charity Resource Management course. This allows you to study co-operative and social enterprise development within the framework of charity regulation.

Associated careers

This course gives you the skills and knowledge to develop further careers in offering specialist support to
• co-operative and social enterprises
• employee owned or controlled enterprises
• local enterprise partnerships
• business support networks
• trade unions
• local authorities
• the NHS

You also gain the ability to work in co-operative and social enterprise policy development roles as an independent consultant, active co-operative member or social entrepreneur.

Course content

Postgraduate certificate

Developing strategies for change
You gain a strong grounding in the key themes of organisational strategy and change. You study change as a journey which is experienced and not simply as a set of
rationally planned activities.

Coaching, mentoring and leadership
This module provides alternative models of leadership that support the development of co-operative and social enterprise management skills. You learn how coaching and mentoring can influence, and is influenced by, the study and practice of leadership, within an organisational context.

The context for social enterprise development
You learn to evaluate the rationale, purposes and practices of co-operative and social enterprises and disseminate them effectively to policy makers, financial institutions, business support advisers, charity trustees, company directors and work colleagues.

Democratic management, ownership and governance
You study the philosophy, history and application of democratic theory to organisation development, with particular reference to management and business practice. You critically appraise how the application of democratic theory affects the management, ownership and governance of public, social and employee-owned enterprises.

Postgraduate diploma

Consultancy theory and processes
This module develops your understanding of the theory and practice of consultancy – whether you are acting as external or internal consultant, or using or procuring consultancy services as a manager.

Third sector human resource management
You explore the field of human resource/relations management (HRM) from a third-sector perspective. This develops your ability to make contributions to governance, HRM and employee relations in organisations that do not prioritise profit above people.

Research methods
You learn to critically evaluate and appraise published research, develop your research skills, and develop the skills needed to undertake a dissertation.

Charity trading and social enterprise
This module brings together students from the charity, co-operative and social enterprise courses to share knowledge on creating and developing social enterprise projects, and the organisational forms through which this can be pursued.

MSc

Dissertation
The dissertation provides an opportunity to undertake an in-depth exploration of the link between democratic theory and a selected aspect of co-operative and social enterprise management.

Assessment

Each module is assessed by written assignment. For the masters you complete a dissertation.

Entry requirements

Normally you need a good first degree or an equivalent recognised professional qualification in a business or social science related discipline from an approved awarding body.

You may already have substantial knowledge, experience and skills in a relevant field. If you don’t have a first degree we still welcome your application and will consider it on an individual basis.

If your first language is not English you must show a high level of written and verbal English language proficiency. A TOEFL test minimum mark, paper-based 570, computer-based 235, or IELTS 6.0, is the standard for non-native speakers of English. We offer English language tuition for students before the start of this course.

Fees

Home and EU students

2013/14 academic year

Typically £3,060 a year for years one, two and three

How to apply

Complete the application form available at www.shu.ac.uk/study/form

Contact details

For more information contact Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, Stoddart Building, City Campus, Sheffield S1 1WB. Phone +44 (0)114 225 2820, fax +44 (0)114 225 5268, e-mail sbs@shu.ac.uk