This study pilot concentrates in two main topics: social entrepreneurship and social innovations.
Who is it for?
The course is directed to social work bachelor students at the Diaconia University of Applied science, Helsinki, Finland. Also, international exchange students may take part. The course is offered in English to students who make their whole studies in this language. Successful completion of this study unit will compensate the whole of the course Entrepreneurship in Social Service Sector (ENT) (5cr). Hence, students may choose this course as part of their regular study programme. Pilot is arranged for 20 students.
Why join?
As pointed out above, this study unit can be studied as part of regular studies, but it offers some special features: experts from social enterprise field will tutor student teams, this gives a unique experience of developing solutions to real life problems and gaining real-life experience as a future professional. This pilot program provides a chance for a networking and creating contacts with experts on the field.
Pedagogical approach
Studying is based on relative independent teamwork of students. Learning materials, assignments that guide through weekly studies, asynchronous and synchronous interactions are provided on Howspace platform. The pilot is so called Blended Intensive Program (BIP). It combines online studies with face-to-face learning and studying. During their studies students will get acquainted with concepts and approaches of social enterprises and social innovations. They will, with the guidance of working life mentors, innovate and produce their own ideas of a future social enterprise.
Programme structure
- 6th of May 2026 3pm-4pm: kick-off, introduction of two social entrepreneurship mentors
- 1st Study week (11th – 15th of May 2026): online studies, student teams meet their mentors and discuss their business ideas and possible innovations, possibility of online consultation with teachers
- 2nd Study week (18th – 22nd of May 2026): online studies, student teams meet their mentors to further develop their business ideas, literature review assignment, possibility of online consultation with teachers
- 3rd Study week (25th – 29th of May 2026): online studies, student teams make an action plane for campus week, teams meet their mentors to discuss their action plan, possibility of online consultation with teachers
- Campus week (1st -5th of June 2026): contact teaching on Diak Kalasatama campus, study visits, meetings with team mentors, research visits to meet people and get to know locations that are important for students’ business ideas, by the end of the week students present their social enterprise business ideas developed during the course
- 10th June 2026: student upload their final social enterprise business idea to Howspace, in this assignment they use Social Enterprise Business Canvas as a framework