First National Conference on ‘Teaching Social Entrepreneurship: A Timely Agenda’ in St. Petersburg
22 Russian regions and 22 universities took part in the conference.
Alexandra Moskovskaya demonstrated the different approaches to teaching social entrepreneurship in different kinds of universities, entrepreneurial and research, at the conference’s plenary session. While an entrepreneurial university is more oriented towards interacting with the local community and solving social problems in a collaborative way (hence their practical courses targeting community needs, like fighting youth unemployment, developing flexible employment for women, promoting entrepreneurship in the social sphere), a research university has to train students to be experts in social entrepreneurship. In addition to doing research, the latter have a practical purpose, to develop political recommendations, bills, fact based arguments for strategies and business models, which could be implemented by professionals in this area. In each case, the format and evaluation methods of teaching social entrepreneurship are different.
Speaking of teaching social entrepreneurship, HSE in fact combines the two approaches. On one hand, the HSE Center for Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation Studies carries out research on Russian and international social entrepreneurs, prepares academic publications, helps students write topical papers, and provides a platform for the expert discussion of bills. On the other hand, HSE implemented three programmes in 2011-2014. They covered various target audiences, including heads of municipal social departments, lecturers at branches of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), students, and emergent entrepreneurs in the social sphere. Depending on the audience and the tasks defined by the Center together with commissioners, teaching was carried out in various formats: as continuing professional education for government officials (together with RANEPA), as an intensive course for students and young researchers (supported by ‘Our Future’ foundation), and as a two-week practical course with consultations for entrepreneurs who want to start businesses in the social sphere (supported by Moscow city Department of Entrepreneurship).