Social and Solidarity Economy – Thematic Units

KAO50 PRINCIPLES AND THEORIES OF THE SOCIAL AND SOLIDARITY ECONOMY

T.U. Code: KAO50

ECTS Credits: 10

Type of Unit: Compulsory

Semester in which it is offered:First (1st)

Language of instruction: Greek

Module Outline

T.U. Objective – General description:

The T.U. aims to introducestudents to the field of the KAO. It is thus organized into two sub-sections:in the first the theoretical foundations and substance of the KAO are discuKAOd and compared to similar concepts. The second comprises an overview of the basic, classic, and contemporary approaches to the KAO, and aims to introduce students to the relevant scholarly discussions.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of KAO50, students will have learned:

• The content, history, and theoretical foundation of the concept of the KAO and its distinction from similar concepts.
• The content of concepts often encountered in the study of the KAO.
• The history of the theoretical discussion on the KAO and the significance of previous approaches to the issue on the modern discussion.
• The fundamental theoretical and epistemological assumptions and central arguments of the modern approaches to the KAO.

Cognitive Objects of the unit:

• Conceptual clarifications of the Social and Solidarity Economy.
• Classic and modern approaches to the Social and Solidarity Economy.

Evaluation: Completion of written assignments during the academic semester which constitute a 40 percent of each student’s grade, if a pass is obtained in the final or repetitive examination. Final exam grades constitute a 60 percent of the students’ final course grade. 

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this unit.

 

KAO51 SOCIAL AND SOLIDARITY ECONOMY ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES AND FORMS

T.U. Code: KAO51

ECTS Credits: 10

Type of Unit: Compulsory

Semester in which it is offered:First (1st)

Language of instruction: Greek

Module Outline

T.U. Objective – General description:

The objective of this thematic unit is to demonstrate how the various forms of the KAO go beyond strictly earning profit, serving principles that promote addressing social – environmental concerns while concurrently fulfilling needs connected with every phase of the economic cycle. The unit is divided into three sub-sections: forms/types of KAO enterprise, rewards for labor, and commercial exchanges. Teaching also includes examples, to contribute to students’ understanding of the spectrum of KAO ventures.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of KAO51, students will have learned:

• To discern the various types and forms that KAO ventures and enterprises can take.
• To understand how labor is rewarded in the KAO.

• The various types of KAO commercial exchanges.

Cognitive Objects of the unit:

• Forms and types of Social and Solidarity Economy Enterprises.
• Forms and types of reward for labor in the SSocial and Solidarity Economy.
• Forms and types of commercial exchanges in theSocial and Solidarity Economy.

Evaluation: Completion of written assignments during the academic semester which constitute a 40 percent of each student’s grade, if a pass is obtained in the final or repetitive examination. Final exam grades constitute a 60 percent of the students’ final course grade. 

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this unit.

 

KAO52 THE COMMONS: AN ALTERNATIVE PARADIGM

T.U. Code: KAO52

ECTS Credits: 10

Type of Unit: Compulsory

Semester in which it is offered:First (1st)

Language of instruction: Greek

Module Outline

T.U. Objective – General description:

This thematic unit aims to familiarize students with the modern research, theories, and practices of the “commons” as an alternative paradigm for social organization of the economy, administration, political action, culture, and communication.

The “commons” is an umbrella term that denotes a wide variety of different terminologies and approaches, such as: commonsor“common-pool resources”, Ostrom 1990), “commonsbased peer production”, Benkler and NiKAOnbaum 2006)), or simply the“common” (, Hardt and Negri 2012∙ commun, Dardot and Laval 2015). The “commons” are, eKAOntially, a name for the goods and resources owned, produced, administered, and shared collectively by communities.

These common goods assume numerous different forms: communal natural resources (pastures, fishing grounds, forests, irrigation networks), communal means of production utilized by labor co-operatives, open-source digital resources (freeware, Wikipedia ), etc. In all the aforementioned cases, the common denominator is that access to the goods is equal for all members of a given community (these equal terms may differ significantly between communities, leading at times either to the extremes of communal abstention from consuming the goods, and universal free access, with every variation in between). The communities that produce or control a common good manage it through mechanisms of equal participatory co-management by all the members of said community. These mechanisms produce alternative means and systems of production in contrast to the dominant forms of the state (public/state property, bureaucratic administration) and the market (private property, profit-driven economy).

Lessons will center on modern research into the “commons” in their various forms, discussing the extent to which the “commons” offer viable, constructive means of alternative social organization, through the nurturing of values such as: sharing, free cooperation and creation, political participation and social self-organization of citizens, solidarity, community openness and pluralism, ecologically sustainable development or degrowth..

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of KAO52, students will have learned:

• The modern research on the commons.
• The technologies and practices based on or focused toward the commons, in addition to the organization of enterprises that produce commons.
• To study the aforementioned subjects through an interdisciplinary, multi-faceted approach, combining theoretical study and discussion with practical and participatory learning procedures.
• The opportunities and challenges connected with the development of new cooperative means of producing common goods.

• The primary theories of the commons as a political plan, in addition to the political principles and means of government that define the commons as an alternative paradigm.
• To develop their critical thinking skills regarding the modern theories and approaches to the commons.

Cognitive Objects of the unit:

• Fundamental principles and theories of the commons.
• Digital commons and networks: technologies, governance, economy, and innovation.

• Political theories of the commons.

Evaluation: Completion of written assignments during the academic semester which constitute a 40 percent of each student’s grade, if a pass is obtained in the final or repetitive examination. Final exam grades constitute a 60 percent of the students’ final course grade. 

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this unit.

 

KAO60 SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL INNOVATION AND THE SOCIAL AND SOLIDARITY ECONOMY

T.U. Code: KAO60

ECTS Credits: 10

Type of Unit: Compulsory

Semester in which it is offered:Second (2nd)

Language of instruction: Greek

Module Outline

T.U. Objective – General description:

The thematic unit focuses on the relationship between the KAO, local/community development, and spatial development at all levels. Concurrently, the unit aims to demonstrate the social innovation that KAO enterprises cause as a primary factor in the aforementioned relations. For this reason, the unit is divided into three sub-sections. The first is a critical overview of a series of approaches to development, with emphasis on its spatial aspects. The second discuKAOs the approaches to social innovation. The third examines the interaction between the aforementioned factors and the KAO. Teaching in all three sub-sections includes examples.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of KAO60, students will have learned:

• The various approaches to development and their spatial parameters.
• The various approaches to social innovation.

• The relationship between spatial development, social innovation, and the KAO.
• To plan at the community level and above the organization of KAO ventures, aimed at producing social innovations.

Cognitive Objects of the unit:

• Alternative approaches to spatial development and their relationship with the Social and Solidarity Economy.
• Approaches to social innovation and their relationship with the Social and Solidarity Economy and spatial development.

• Spatial aspects and planning of the Social and Solidarity Economy for the production of social innovation within the framework of spatial development.

Evaluation: Completion of written assignments during the academic semester which constitute a 40 percent of each student’s grade, if a pass is obtained in the final or repetitive examination. Final exam grades constitute a 60 percent of the students’ final course grade. 

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this unit.

 

KAO61 SOCIAL AND SOLIDARITY ECONOMY PUBLIC POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

T.U. Code: KAO61

ECTS Credits: 10

Type of Unit: Compulsory

Semester in which it is offered:Second (2nd)

Language of instruction: Greek

Module Outline

General description of the unit:

The KAO has been discuKAOd publicly by various different actors, often with contrasting political standpoints and practices, such as, for example, the European Commission, national governments from across the political spectrum, and anti-austerity social movements. Why is the KAO such an attractive prospect to representatives of such disparate politics? Is support for the KAO an ideologically neutral position, as the public discussion often suggests? Are there competing reasons and different public policies for the promotion of the KAO? What impact does public policy pertaining to the KAO have? The present unit aims to utilize the experiences other states have gained over the course of the ongoing financial crisis in promoting the KAO, in order to produce graduates capable of contributing to the development and planning of KAO public policies in Greece. The comparative analysis of public policies attempts to deconstruct the perception of ideological neutrality that is often connected with the promotion of the KAO, to denote the differences of experience in particular fields of development and implementation of public policy, and to demonstrate that scholarly disagreements regarding the definition of the field and the terms utilized to describe it (social and solidarity economy, social entrepreneurship) are not mere academic scholasticism, but instead encapsulate different visions and policies.

Learning outcomes:

Upon successful completion of KAO61, students will have learned:

• To discern the different political orientations of public policies planned and implemented in particular states.
• The factors that shape public policy, in addition to their objectives.

• To contribute to the planning and implementation of public policy regarding the KAO.

Cognitive Objects of the unit:

• Institutional framework for the Social andSolidarityEconomy
• Welfare policy and Social andSolidarityEconomy
• Employment and social protection policies and the Social andSolidarityEconomy

Evaluation: Completion of written assignments during the academic semester which constitute a 40 percent of each student’s grade, if a pass is obtained in the final or repetitive examination. Final exam grades constitute a 60 percent of the students’ final course grade. 

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this unit.

 

KAO62 SOCIAL MOVEMENTS, STATE, AND THE SOCIAL AND SOLIDARITY ECONOMY

T.U. Code: KAO62

ECTS Credits: 10

Type of Unit: Compulsory

Semester in which it is offered:Second (2nd)

Language of instruction: Greek

Module Outline

T.U. Objective – General Description:

The T.U. discuKAOs the KAO from the perspective of the wider social and political environment that birthed it. Concurrently, it aims to study the KAO in relation to both existing power relations and proceKAOs of social change.

For these reasons, the T.U. examines the relations between the KAO and social movements and the state, from both a theoretical and a historical perspective. The common denominator here is the issue of power relations, and KAO bibliography has written extensively on the subject. On the one hand there is the state, as the classic expression of power, which may impose limits for alternative enterprises, support them, or even incorporate them, and on the other we have the social movements, which, similarly to KAO enterprises, challenge the various forms of power and often seek social change.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the thematic unit, students will have learned:

• The points of contact and differentiations between the strategies adopted by social movements and those of KAO enterprises that aim for social change.

• To utilize conceptual and methodological tools drawn from the field of social movements in order to better understand the KAO.
• To critically analyze the various ways the state has viewed the KAO over the course of history.
• The history of the political discussion surrounding the KAO.

Cognitive Objects of the unit:

• Social Movements and the Social and Solidarity Economy

• State and the Social and Solidarity Economy

Evaluation: Completion of written assignments during the academic semester which constitute a 40 percent of each student’s grade, if a pass is obtained in the final or repetitive examination. Final exam grades constitute a 60 percent of the students’ final course grade. 

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this unit.

 

KAO70 SOCIAL AND SOLIDARITY ECONOMY BUSINESS PLANNING

T.U. Code: KAO70

ECTS Credits: 10

Type of Unit: Compulsory

Semester in which it is offered:Third (3rd)

Language of instruction: Greek

Module Outline

T.U. Objective – General Description:

The T.U. seeks to provide students with the necessary planning skills and mind-set to identify and evaluate KAO-related business “opportunities”. Students are thus encouraged to familiarize themselves with business planning and analysis through teamwork, by forming teams developing a business idea. Concurrently the T.U. discuKAOs various issues of entrepreneurship and innovation management.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of KAO70, students will have learned:

• To recognize and evaluate “opportunities” for entrepreneurship and innovation.
• The latest technological advances and their impact.

• To analyze project issues and organize the appropriate management strategies.
• To categorize consumers into individual groups through market segmentation methods.
• To develop and promote the appropriate strategies for product and service placement and diversification.
• To implement strategic analysis and planning models.
• To translate business ideas into concrete social enterprise projects.

Cognitive Objects of the unit:

• The nature of the business idea in the Social and Solidarity Economy – Methods of producing original ideas
• The business models of Social and Solidarity Economy enterprises
• Product development and market research – Marketing
• Business function planning

• Development of Social and Solidarity Economy enterprise business plans

Evaluation: Completion of written assignments during the academic semester which constitute a 40 percent of each student’s grade, if a pass is obtained in the final or repetitive examination. Final exam grades constitute a 60 percent of the students’ final course grade. 

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this unit.

 

KAO71 SOCIAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT

T.U. Code: KAO71

ECTS Credits: 10

Type of Unit: Compulsory

Semester in which it is offered:Third (3rd)

Language of instruction: Greek

Module Outline

T.U. Objective – General Description:

The primary components for the sustainable development of KAO enterprises are the composition of the founding members, their internal functions, and their democratic management. On the one hand, given the lack of other forms of capital, relations of trust between the founding members of a team have increased importance. On the other, KAO enterprises must balance various different functional principles and pressures (market competition, state regulation and oversight), while concurrently reinforcing the relations of trust between team members and their wider environment.

The objective of the present unit is three-fold: First, to explain how teams are formed and function. Second, to familiarize students with the plethora of decision-making models, practices, and methods of facilitating internal functioning. Third, to familiarize students with the management principles that apply to KAO enterprises.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of KAO71, students will have learned:

• The various types of teams, the terms and preconditions for team formation, and the stages of team development.

• To identify issues connected with team dynamics(inclusiveness, team structure, inter-member relations).
• To promote effective models of communication between team members.
• To promote dispute resolution methods and reflective and self-evaluation proceKAOs for the team.
• To plan proceKAOs for the formation of collective and solidarity teams and enterprises.
• The variety of management models within a single KAO enterprise.

• To support KAO enterprise team members in planning and implementing decision-making and management models.
• To support KAO enterprise team members in the implementation and function of decision-making proceKAOs that facilitate the function of each enterprise, by evaluating the positive and negative aspects of individual choices.
• To train the members of KAO enterprises and consult them regarding the facilitation of inter-group functions.
• To organize the various management functions of an KAO enterprise.
• To collectively coordinate KAO enterprise employees.

• To program and oversee the implementation of production proceKAOs.

Cognitive Objects of the unit:

• Team dynamics in Social and Solidarity Economy enterprises.
• Models of democratic management, decision-making models and proceKAOs, methods of facilitating the internal function of Social and Solidarity Economy enterprises.
• Human resource management in Social and Solidarity Economy

Evaluation: Completion of written assignments during the academic semester which constitute a 40 percent of each student’s grade, if a pass is obtained in the final or repetitive examination. Final exam grades constitute a 60 percent of the students’ final course grade. 

Prerequisites:There are no prerequisites for this unit.

 

KAO72 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND FUNDING OF SOCIAL AND SOLIDARITY ECONOMY ENTERPRISES

T.U. Code: KAO72

ECTS Credits: 10

Type of Unit: Compulsory

Semester in which it is offered:Third (3rd)

Language of instruction: Greek

Module Outline

T.U. Objective – General Description:

The objective of the unit is to introduce students to the issues of securing and correctly budgeting funds, in order to further the goals of KAO enterprises. The unit aims, in particular: to discuss methods of financial management with emphasis on capital investment budgeting, together with financial operations and the management of KAO enterprise financing, to introduce students to the financial statements, investment budgeting and analysis, and overall financial management of KAO enterprises, as well as to explain the particularities of the products and services of social finance and financial management of KAO enterprises. Over the course of the unit, the following subjects will also be discuKAOd: cost analysis, evaluation of business plan financial and funding data, analysis of funding requirements depending on the stage of development and nature of the business activity, and the description of alternative means and sources of finance to cover the requirements of social and solidarity economy enterprises. In contrast to the conventional approaches to business and financial instruments, the KAO approach to financial analysis and funding of ventures emphasizes maximizing social impact (as opposed to maximizing profit).

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of KAO72, students will have learned:

• To manage the financial statements and determine the funding/financial requirements of KAO enterprises
• The national and European policies in place for funding KAO enterprises

• To identify and evaluate the available sources of alternate funding for KAO enterprises.
• To aKAOss the possible risks of alternative sources for finding KAO enterprises and fulfill their individual objectives.
• To make decisions in conditions of uncertainty and risk, ensuring the investment readiness of an KAO enterprise.
• To negotiate and propose funding solutions appropriate to the objectives and targets of KAO enterprises.

Cognitive Objects of the unit:

• Financial reporting
• Use of cost data for planning and decision-making
• KAO enterprise and organization funding
• Socio-Economic evaluation of KAO investments

Evaluation: Completion of written assignments during the academic semester which constitute a 40 percent of each student’s grade, if a pass is obtained in the final or repetitive examination. Final exam grades constitute a 60 percent of the students’ final course grade. 

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this unit.

 

KAODT: POST-GRADUATE DIPLOMA THESIS

T.U. Code: KAODT

ECTS Credits: 30

Type of Unit: Compulsory

Semester in which it is offered: Fourth (4th)

Language of instruction: Greek

Module Outline

Subject:

The subject of the post-graduate diploma thesis must be connected with the Thematic Units and their individual sub-sections. The thesis may be based on primary research or on an original critical review of the existing literature.

The thesis is meant to combine theoretical and applied aspects of the research field of the PSP, and favors case studies on individual Social and Solidarity Economy enterprises.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of the nine (9) total T.U. of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd semesters.

General Regulations for Postgraduate DiKAOrtation in MSc courses with semester-long thesis.

For more information regarding thesis Specifications – For useful material for the writing of Post-Graduate Diploma Theses and uploading the Thesis to the H.O.U. digital repository, please visit the Digital Education Portal http://courses.eap.gr Curriculum sub-section.