Inhalt

Abstract:

Imagine you could develop a solution that would make the world a bit fairer, healthier or more sustainable. The Social Entrepreneurship course shows you how to do this.

You will learn to recognize social challenges - and to develop viable, impact-oriented and scalable ideas from them. You will discover how social innovation works, what drives successful social entrepreneurs and how you too can become active - whether as the founder of your own project or as an intrapreneur within an organization.

With inspiring case studies, illustrative videos, interactive exercises and sound methods, you will develop your own effective project step by step - and become part of a growing movement that combines entrepreneurial thinking with social responsibility.

The Social Entrepreneurship course is aimed at students from all disciplines who are interested in entrepreneurial thinking with social added value – whether from the fields of economics, social sciences, technology, design, sustainability, or education.

The German-language version of the course was designed specifically for bachelor's students and offers a sound introduction to the world of social entrepreneurship.

The English-language version is aimed at master's students who want to deepen their knowledge, apply it in a practical way, and expand their international skills.

Gliederung:

1. Introduction to social entrepreneurship
2. Understanding social challenges and recognizing opportunities
3. Problem space – dialogue with stakeholders
4. Solution Space – Designing Innovative Solutions for Social Added Value
5. Organizational Structure for Social Businesses
6. Financing Social Businesses
7. Effective Communication Strategies for Social Businesses
8. Growth and Scaling of Social Businesses
9. Global Perspectives on Social Entrepreneurship
10. The Future of Social Entrepreneurship
    
    

Detaillierter Inhalt:

1. Introduction to social entrepreneurship. What is social entrepreneurship? Where do social enterprises fit in the spectrum between non-profit and for-profit? What drives social entrepreneurs? What fundamental concepts are used in social entrepreneurship?

2. Understanding social challenges and recognizing opportunities. What are the characteristics of social problems? How can social challenges be better understood? How can opportunities be identified in social challenges?

3. Problem Space – Dialogue with stakeholders. What is design thinking? How is the design thinking process structured (in social entrepreneurship)? What methods and tools are available for the empathize phase? What methods and tools are available for the define phase? How do I conduct a stakeholder analysis?

4. Solution Space – Designing innovative solutions for social added value. How is the Solution Space structured in the Design Thinking process? What methods and tools are available for the Ideate phase? What methods and tools are available for the Prototype phase? What methods and tools are available for the Test phase? What is the Theory of Change?

5. Organizational structure for social businesses. How is corporate management structured in social businesses? How do vision and mission define the orientation of a social business? How does the lean startup methodology differ from traditional business planning?

6. Financing social businesses. What is the social lean canvas? What financing options are available for social entrepreneurs? How are the revenue streams of social enterprises structured? What characterizes the due diligence process?

7. Effective communication strategies for social businesses. What is communication, what is PR, and what is marketing? What problems arise in communication for social enterprises? How are communication crises or negative reporting dealt with? What effective communication strategies are there for social enterprises?

8. Growth and scaling of social businesses. What is scaling and how does it differ from growth? What scaling strategies are available? How can the reporting standard for social entrepreneurs help? How can the idea of growth be reconciled with the social idea of a social business?

9. Global perspectives on social entrepreneurship. What is the global scope of social entrepreneurship? How is social entrepreneurship changing the logic of global social change? What location factors and inequalities influence the development of social businesses?

10. The future of social entrepreneurship. To what extent is social entrepreneurship subject to criticism? Why do social entrepreneurs fail? How can social businesses remain sustainable? Looking back, what have you learned in this course?

Lern-/Qualifikationsziele:

After completing the course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of what social entrepreneurship is all about – and how you can implement it yourself.

You will learn

• how to analyze social challenges in depth and identify areas for action
• how to develop innovative business ideas that meaningfully combine social and economic goals
• create a viable business plan – with a clear mission, target group, business model, and impact strategy
• tap into suitable sources of financing such as donations, funding programs, or impact investors
• strategically scale your project without losing sight of its social core
• deal with legal and ethical issues in the context of social entrepreneurship
• build resilience in dealing with setbacks and align projects with ethical leadership for the long term
• form partnerships and networks to gain resources, know-how, and reach
• measure the social impact of your idea and communicate it effectively
  
  

In addition, you will develop critical reflection and continuous learning skills – as a basis for sustainable entrepreneurial success. Master's students deepen their knowledge in a practice-oriented e-portfolio that promotes analytical thinking, structured work, and transfer to real-world application scenarios.

Lehrveranstaltungstyp:

Virtuelle Vorlesung

Interaktionsformen mit Betreuer/in:

E-Mail

Interaktionsformen mit Mitlernenden:

Forum

Kursdemo:

zur Kursdemo

Nutzung

Kurs ist konzipiert für:

Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg:

• Digital Entrepreneurship (Master)
• Interkulturalitätsmanagement (Master)
• Leitung und Kommunikationsmanagement (Master)
  
  

Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt:

• Entrepreneurship & Digital Business (Master)
• Automotive & Mobility Management (Master)
• Global Business (Master)
  
  

Technische Hochschule Deggendorf:

• Gaming (Master)
• Master Global Public Health (Master)
  
  

Formale Voraussetzungen:

Course enrolment via the Virtuelle Hochschule Bayern (vhb)

Erforderliche Vorkenntnisse:

none

Hinweise zur Nutzung:

The generally known rules of netiquette apply.

Kursumsetzung (verwendete Medien):

Lecture slides with audio lectures, digital exercises, introductory videos, interviews with practitioners, self-check quizzes, and a wide range of additional digital material.

Erforderliche Technik:

-

Nutzungsentgelte:

für andere Personen als (reguläre) Studenten der vhb Trägerhochschulen nach Maßgabe der Benutzungs- und Entgeltordnung der vhb

Rechte hinsichtlich des Kursmaterials:

-

Verantwortlich

Anbieterhochschule:

OTH Regensburg

Anbieter:

Prof. Dr. Thomas Groll

Prof. Dr. Eric Eller

Autoren:

Thomas Groll

Eric Eller

Betreuer:

Prof. Dr. Thomas Groll

Prof. Dr. Eric Eller

Prüfung

Written examination (50%) & ePortfolio (50%)

Art der Prüfung:

schriftlicher Leistungsnachweis (Klausur)

Bemerkung:

The overall grade is composed of a 90-minute written exam (50% of the grade) and an ePortfolio (50% of the grade).

Prüfer:

Prof. Dr. Thomas Groll

Prüfungsanmeldung erforderlich:

ja

Anmeldeverfahren:

Die Anmeldung zur Prüfung erfolgt über das vhb-Portal.

Prüfungsanmeldefrist:

01.11.2025 00:00 Uhr bis 15.12.2025 23:59 Uhr

Prüfungsabmeldefrist:

01.11.2025 00:00 Uhr bis 15.12.2025 23:59 Uhr

Kapazität:

–

Prüfungsdatum:

–

Prüfungszeitraum:

–

Prüfungsdauer:

90 Minuten

Prüfungsort:

OTH Regensburg, TH Ingolstadt and others on request (if applicable)

Zuständiges Prüfungsamt:

Examination office of the students' home university

Zugelassene Hilfsmittel:

Dictionary (English/German)

Formale Voraussetzungen für die Prüfungsteilnahme:

Registration for the exam via the vhb portal

Inhaltliche Voraussetzungen für die Prüfungsteilnahme:

Course content

Zertifikat:

Ja (graded certificate)

Anerkennung:

–