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By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• use relevant theory to critically examine sustainability challenges through the lenses of social entrepreneurship, regeneration, social justice or wellbeing;
• reflect individually and collaboratively on experiential learning, to evaluate personal and collective roles in processes of change;
• develop evidence-informed proposals or recommendations for social entrepreneurial or intrapreneurial interventions;
• employ a range of professional and compassionate communication skills and strategies to engage effectively with community partners, academic and non-academic audiences.

In this module, you will examine how social and environmental value is generated within community, organisational or real-world settings. You will consider how change occurs through broad, often overlapping pathways of policy, activism and entrepreneurship. You will be introduced to approaches, such as soft systems methodology, critical social entrepreneurship, and collective action.

These ideas will then be explored through short volunteering and practical experiences - for instance, with local partner organisations engaged in progressive social and ecological initiatives. Depending on your choice of volunteering opportunity, you can expect to spend approximately ten hours engaged in this activity across the module.

Drawing on your experience, you will ultimately critically reflect on practice and develop evidence-informed proposals for socially entrepreneurial interventions that contribute to positive and inclusive change.

What you will learn:

• Theories that explain why social and environmental sustainability issues persist and how they can be addressed
• How to reflect on personal experiences, and relate those to broader theory
• How to draw on experience and qualitative data to substantiate a proposal

What you will do:

• Engage in social or environmental sustainable practice
• Journal and record your experiences in a multi-media portfolio
• Create and present a proposal, informed by theory and experience, for an intervention that furthers sustainability

The learning and teaching approach is designed to guide and support you through three phases of the module.

Firstly, you will be introduced to relevant theory and guided in its application when evaluating sustainability practice. To help inform your choice of theoretical focus, you will consider how change can occur through overlapping pathways of policy engagement, activism and social or institutional entrepreneurship.  With support from the module lead, you will then choose and plan for your volunteering experience.

Secondly, you will volunteer in an initiative that works towards social or sustainability goals.  During this stage, you will have regular check-ins with the module lead and will be supported in reflecting and applying theory to real-world community contexts in real time. 

Thirdly, after completion of the practical stage, you will use class time to reflect on your experience individually, collaboratively and collectively. Finally, you will be supported in the development and presentation of social change proposals that are informed by your practical experience.

All students will consider the concept of sustainability and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a whole. There will be a particular focus on:

SDG 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities 

SDG 9 on Innovation, Industry and Infrastructure

SDG 3 on Good Health and Well-Being

In addition, depending on the focus of your volunteering experience, other SDGs could be relevant. Nonetheless, you are not required to relate your work to any specific SDGs. Instead, the SDGs provide an optional framework for situating your project in the context of the wider world.

• Practical: Curated Reflective Portfolio - including a reflective journal and written and non-written elements - 3000 words or equivalent (75%) 
• Practical: Social Change Proposal - Presentation In-Person or Video Presentation (25%) 

The first assessment is a Curated Reflective Portfolio comprising three chapters. The first chapter will document your practical volunteering plans and outline how you will engage in theoretically informed critique. The second chapter will consist of journal entries produced during the practical experience; while the third chapter will provide reflections made afterwards. You will also be required to submit each chapter for formative assessment during the module, before finally submitting the entire portfolio at the end of the module.

The second assessment is a Social Change Proposal, completed in the final weeks of term, and presented to other students. You will develop an evidence-informed proposal or set of recommendations. Through this assessment, you will demonstrate how you meet the learning outcome to develop evidence-informed proposals or recommendations for social entrepreneurial or intrapreneurial interventions, including those enacted through activist or policy-oriented pathways.

• Requirements: You are expected to attend all classes and undertake approximately 85 hours of independent study in total during the module. Independent study includes reading and preparation for classes, researching and writing coursework assignments and preparing for other assessments.
• This module is designed as an undergraduate Level 6 module. For an explanation of levels, view the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Horizons Level Descriptors page.‌‌‌