Diploma in Social Integration and Enterprise for Community Development Workers
This Diploma provides a university qualification for community development workers in the area of Social Integration and Enterprise.
The course emphasises the importance of the social economy, providing the necessary information on social integration and the setting up of community businesses, while enhancing the knowledge and skills of community workers. The Diploma arose from an EU project examining the training needs of community development workers. It was developed by the Centre for Co-operative Studies, a research centre in University College Cork. All of the Centre’s activities are focused on helping people identify their own problems and meet their own needs through co-operative, economic action.
The course is designed using a distance education format. Distance learning caters specifically for students who, due to work or other commitments, are unable to attend formal structured lectures or classes. It also ensures that the Diploma is accessible to community development workers throughout Ireland. Specially designed learning materials are supported by a tutorial system and optional web-based support. Full support is offered to students for the duration of the programme via the course co-ordinator.
Entry Requirements
Normally applicants will be required to:
have satisfied the minimum requirements of the Faculty of Commerce and be over 21 years on 1st of January of the year of enrolment,
OR
be at least 23 years on the 1st of January of the year of enrolment
AND
have relevant practical experience of work with development organisations or disadvantaged groups
Course Content
FE 1710 Introduction to the Social Economy
FE 1711 Social Mobilisation Skills
FE 1712 Development Work in the Social Economy
FE 1713 Enterprise Skills for Development Workers
FE 1714 Managing A Local Development Service
FE 1715 Co-operative Management
FE 1716 Social Skills for Disadvantaged Groups
FE 1717 Organising Training
FE 1718 Project Development for Social Enterprises
FE 1722 Organisational Communication
FE 1707 Research Methods
IS 1701 Information Management
Assessment
Assessment takes the form of a combination of continuous assessment assignments and projects as well as end of year written exams.
Students’ Interests
Students of the programme represent a diversity of interests, experiences and backgrounds to include both staff and volunteers from a range of organisations including various social economy initiatives, community co-operatives, area-based partnership companies, family resource centres and organisations that cater for people with intellectual disabilities. Graduates of the Diploma are engaged in a variety of employment fields in these areas.
The Diploma constitutes the first year of the BSc in Mutual & Credit Union Business. Graduates of the Diploma are therefore eligible to proceed to year two of the degree. The degree programme is specifically developed for those involved in credit unions and other co-operatives and mutual businesses as well as community development organisations, social enterprises and voluntary organisations. These organisations often have as their focus social rather than commercial goals. This so called “third sector” or “social economy” is gaining prominence as it is recognised that either the public or private sectors do not meet all of the needs of society. This degree offers a thorough grounding in this area.
In examining social enterprises and credit unions the core disciplines of public policy, strategic management, marketing, law, human resources, accounting and economics are covered. The degree is designed on a part-time or full-time equivalent distance learning basis with learning materials supported by a tutorial system, as with the Diploma.
For further information or informal discussion on the programmes, contact:
Ms. Bridget Carroll,
Centre for Co-operative Studies,
O’Rahilly Building,
University College Cork,
Cork
Tel: + 353 (0)21 4902070
Email: b.carroll@ucc.ie