University of Liege | Version française
Study programmes 2010-2011Last update : 11/04/2011
GEST3035-1  Introduction to social economy and social entrepreneurship
Duration :  30h Th
Credits/ECTS :  
Master in Economical Sciences, in-depth approach, 1st yearSecond semester5
Master in Management Sciences, in-depth approach, 1st yearSecond semester5
Master in Economical Sciences, didactic approach, 1st yearSecond semester5
Master in Management Sciences, didactic approach, 1st yearSecond semester5
Master en sciences de gestion, à finalité spécialisée en banking and asset management, 1st yearSecond semester5
Master in Economical Sciences, Professional Focus in Economic Policies and Analysis, 1st yearSecond semester5
Master en sciences économiques,orientation générale, à finalité spécialisée en economics and finance, 1st yearSecond semester5
Master in Management Sciences, professional Focus in Entrepreneurship, 1st yearSecond semester5
Master en sciences de gestion, à finalité spécialisée en financial analysis and audit, 1st yearSecond semester5
Master in Management Sciences, professional Focus, 1st yearSecond semester5
Master en sciences économiques, orientation générale, à finalité spécialisée en economic analysis and public governance, 1st yearSecond semester5
Master en sciences de gestion, à finalité spécialisée en management humain et organisation, 1st yearSecond semester5
Master in management Sciences, professional focus in management, 1st yearSecond semester5
Master en sciences de gestion, à finalité spécialisée en management des entreprises sociales, 1st yearSecond semester5
Master en sciences de gestion, à finalité spécialisée en intelligence stratégique et marketing, 1st yearSecond semester5
Advanced Master in Development, Environment and CommunitiesToute l'année5
Master in Population and Development Studies, Professional Focus in North-South Cooperation , 2nd yearToute l'année6
Master in Labour Sciences, Professional Focus, 1st yearToute l'année6
Master in Labour sciencesToute l'année6
Holder(s) :  Jacques Defourny
Language :  French language
Course contents :  This course analyses the economic realities which are part of what is more and more frequently called the "third sector", i.e. a sector which is distinct from the traditional private sector and from the public sector. The third sector mainly brings together enterprises belonging to the co-operative movement, mutual organisations and above all activities with an economic relevance carried out by associations (formal non-profit organisations, on the one hand, and informal associations, on the other hand). These realities are often poorly understood from an economic point of view although they represent a significant part of employment in industrialised countries. In a different way but even more importantly, they are also crucial and bear great hopes in developing economies where they are generally rooted in local communities and prove to be crucial in LDCs where the public sector has decreased a lot and the formal private sector is concentrated in profitable industries and areas.
In order to apprehend these realities, which are often poorly known and whose importance is usually strongly undervalued, different types of approaches are used complementarily: approaches based on the concept of the social economy, and those based on the notion of "non-profit organizations" (NPOs). Various approaches were forged during last decades to seize and analyze specificities of such organizations. Among these analytical frameworks, the concept of social economy took a particular importance to stress that the major stake is often to make live a true company by putting it at the service of a social mission.
Course objective :  
  • To identify the contributions and limitations of the different conceptual grids, developed to understand the "third sector" of our economies,
  • To understand the complementarity of these approaches and to learn how to combine them for a better understanding of the realities observed,
  • To promote a dialogue between European and American appoaches to social entreprise and social entrepreneurship.
Prerequisites :  General political economy course and if possible a microeconomic analysis course.
Organization :  The first part of the course presents the different conceptual and analytical approaches. The second part is devoted to the presentation of works done by groups of students on themes or fields of activity. The presentation is always followed by a discussion.
Written notes :  A set of books will be "banked" and made available to the students at he Documentation Center of CIRIEC (building B33, 2nd floor).The course will make extensive use of the virtual interface Lola. On this interface Lola, students can find:
  • Powerpoint presentations of the various sessions,
  • a reading portfolio with the articles of each meeting,
  • the works done by students for their discussions.
Assessment :  The evaluation will combine four elements:
  • the quality of written work and oral presentation,
  • the quality of the discussion of another group's work,
  • participation in debates,
  • an oral examination for the critical use of the different grids.
Contacts :  Teacher: Prof. J. DEFOURNY (B33, second floor, office II.10).


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