Course coordinator
Dr Jonah Zankl
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Business School
This course is for those students looking for practically-based, ground-up business learning that focuses on creating both social and financial value at the same time. Students are directed as to how to create social entrepreneurship opportunities of their passion and attract other students to form project teams. An overarching theme is teaching students how to integrate a social impact model with a business model. Students are taught a discovery-driven approach to finding the right social entrepreneurship opportunity. Students must devise innovative solutions to their social opportunity and learn how to design it in a way that could transition into a viable and sustainable, financially self-sufficient business. Assessment in the course is based on the demonstration of course-taught practical skills, ability to make a financially sustainable social impact, and reflective learning-from-experience skills.
Social entrepreneurship is the process of creating, evaluating and exploiting opportunities for positiveﾠsocial impact through profitable business models. As such, this course aims to give students practical experience at using lean startup methodology to work towards a viable, sustainable and impactful social enterprise. Students are exposed to a process which, by the end of the course, helps them to 1) build social business models, 2) actually test key assumptions in the real world and 3) aim to have a real social impact on a particular social issue. The vision of the course is motivated by the belief that the world needs social entrepreneurs who go beyond 'good intentions' to instead be skilled and experienced in both social impact and social change. Students will be introduced to various ways of understanding social entrepreneurship and the array of opportunities that the field presents for social and economic change ranging from incremental to more radical change and from local to global scope. Students will develop professionally by learning the key theoriesﾠbehind social impact and social business models and putting this into practice using a cost-effective, risk-controlled process. Students will also develop personally by being prompted to question how they wish to make an impact in the world as well as by having to experience a social issue firsthand. Students will leave the course with a process for social entrepreneurship, practical experience at having an impact, an evolved social business model, and more personal capability.
Sustainable Development Goals - UQ Business School is a proud supporter and Advanced Signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (UN PRME). As part of the largest global collaboration between business schools and the UN, the school emphasises its role in empowering students to drive societal transformation through the Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs highlight that a thriving economy relies on a healthy environment, aiming to balance economic growth, social well-being, and environmental protection for a sustainable future.
Course requirements
Assumed background
As an introduction to social entrepreneurship, no prior knowledge is assumed. However, there is an assumption you will read selected materials critically.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Jonah Zankl
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Please note: Teaching staff do not have access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation. Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please email business.mytimetable@uq.edu.au from your UQ student email account with the following details:
- Full Name
- Student ID
- Course Code
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to provide a theoretical and practical introduction to social entrepreneurship.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Understand what social entrepreneurship is and the scope of the field
LO2.
Clearly articulate personal values and how they relate to wider business, community and global issues and outcomes
LO3.
Develop a social impact model for a specific social issue while working in teams
LO4.
Plan, execute and evaluate a social business model in entrepreneurial teams whilst managing diverse viewpoints, needs and outcomes
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation, Portfolio |
Test the Problem + Solution Review: Group Video and Report
|
35% |
Map the System Worksheet 1 6/03/2025 5:00 pm Map the System Worksheet 2 13/03/2025 5:00 pm Map the System Worksheet 3 20/03/2025 5:00 pm Map the System Worksheet 4 27/03/2025 5:00 pm Map the System Worksheet 5 3/04/2025 5:00 pm Map the System Worksheet 6 10/04/2025 5:00 pm Group Video and Report 29/04/2025 2:00 pm
Due end of Seminar |
| Essay/ Critique | Test the Problem Audience Evaluation | 21% |
8/05/2025 1:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Presentation |
Test the Solution: Group Presentation and Report
|
24% |
20/05/2025 2:00 pm
During Seminar |
| Examination, Reflection |
Social Entrepreneurship Reflection
|
20% |
End of Semester Exam Period 7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025 |
Assessment details
Test the Problem + Solution Review: Group Video and Report
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Presentation, Portfolio
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
Map the System Worksheet 1 6/03/2025 5:00 pm
Map the System Worksheet 2 13/03/2025 5:00 pm
Map the System Worksheet 3 20/03/2025 5:00 pm
Map the System Worksheet 4 27/03/2025 5:00 pm
Map the System Worksheet 5 3/04/2025 5:00 pm
Map the System Worksheet 6 10/04/2025 5:00 pm
Group Video and Report 29/04/2025 2:00 pm
Due end of Seminar
- Other conditions
- Peer assessment factor.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03
Task description
Students will form groups and are expected to complete the following tasks:
- Students will complete 6 Map the Systems worksheets, to be submitted at the end of the seminar for the relevant week.
- Students will develop systems maps and synthesise research surrounding a chosen societal issue, exposing levers of change that are suitable for a social enterprise/not-for-profit to address. Using this insight, students will develop a synthesised PCSM (problem-cause-strategy-measure) model that will inform solution development, identifying three levers of change that will be explored in the solution review. Students will submit this as a visual report (developed using tools of their choice; i.e. Kumu [systems maps], PowerPoint, Prezi, Canva).
- Students will report on and defend findings in a 10-minute video to be submitted via Blackboard.
Detailed assessment guidelines will be available on Blackboard.
Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) for this assignment?
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
Worksheets must be completed in hard copy at the end of the seminar, which will be initialed by the course coordinator, and uploaded to Blackboard.
The video and presentation materials must be uploaded separately to Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Test the Problem Audience Evaluation
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 21%
- Due date
8/05/2025 1:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L03, L04
Task description
Students will be assigned three peer group presentations to individually watch and evaluate. Students are expected to provide structured developmental comments for opportunities to improve the analysis of their system, using a provided template.
Detailed assessment guidelines will be available via Blackboard.
Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) for this assignment?
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Test the Solution: Group Presentation and Report
- Team or group-based
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Presentation
- Weight
- 24%
- Due date
20/05/2025 2:00 pm
During Seminar
- Other conditions
- Peer assessment factor.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L04
Task description
Students will be expected to explore three levers for change that can intervene in a chosen system, connecting to PCSM developed by team in Assessment 1. Students will justify the selection of one lever for change that is well-suited to a social enterprise business model, and develop social business model canvas, demonstrating prospect of business sustainability in both financial and social dimensions
Students will report on and defend findings in a 10-minute presentation and Q&A in-class.
Detailed assessment guidelines will be available via Blackboard.
Please Note: The presentation will be recorded for marking purposes per UQ Policy.
Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) for this assignment?
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
Presentation materials must be uploaded to Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Extensions or deferrals are not available for an in-class presentation. An extension may be available for the submitted material only.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
10% Late Penalty applies to submitted material only. Late submissions are not accepted for in-class presentations. Failure to present at the scheduled time will result in a mark of zero for the presentation portion of this assessment.
Social Entrepreneurship Reflection
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination, Reflection
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Students will be asked to critically reflect on how a systems mapping approach has supported understanding of how social enterprises can intervene in societal issues and identify any obstacles faced in applying systems mapping to a chosen issue.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Open Book examination |
| Exam platform | Inspera |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 46 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 47 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
Grades will be allocated according to University-wide standards of criterion-based assessment.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 |
Seminar |
What is social entrepreneurship? An overview of the course, its content, and assessments. Learning outcomes: L01 |
Week 2 |
Seminar |
Project Pitch & Launch This seminar focuses on project areas for social entrepreneurship, an approach to understanding systems, and forming successful teams. Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Week 3 |
Seminar |
Creating Your Entrepreneurial Opportunities This seminar focuses on defining an appropriate social problem to examine as a team. Learning outcomes: L02, L03 |
Week 4 |
Seminar |
PCSM Social Impact Model Part 1 This seminar introduces a structured social impact model. We will focus on tools to identify and systematically understand causes and impacts of social problems. Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
Week 5 |
Seminar |
PCSM Social Impact Model Part 2 This seminar focuses on employing systems analysis tools to understanding social impact. We will explore the Iceberg framework and examine existing solutions and possible solutions. Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
Week 6 |
Seminar |
Social Impact Measurement This seminar focuses on measuring social impact and systematically examining how different interventions can be assessed. We will consider unintended consequences of social impact. Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
Week 7 |
Seminar |
Assignment 1 Review Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 8 |
Seminar |
Minimum Viable Products This seminar focuses on moving from problem to solution, and developing a plan of action to collect evidence to understand feasibility. Learning outcomes: L03 |
Mid-sem break |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid-Semester Break |
Week 9 |
Seminar |
Social Impact & Business Strategy This seminar focuses on bridging social impact with sustainable business models. Learning outcomes: L03, L04 |
Week 10 |
Seminar |
Building your Business Model This seminar focuses on developing the business model using the social business model canvas. Learning outcomes: L04 |
Week 11 |
Seminar |
Financial Forecasting & Assessment Three Review This seminar focuses on how to forecast the financial viability of the social enterprise. Learning outcomes: L04 |
Week 12 |
Seminar |
Presentations for Assessment 3 Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 13 |
Seminar |
Presentations Assessment 3 & Wrap-up Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Additional learning activity information
Sustainable Development Goals
This course integrates the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) throughout course design, learning activities and / or assessment.
Goal 3: Good health and well-being
Goal 5: Gender equality and women’s empowerment
Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation
Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy
Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
Goal 9: Industries, innovation and infrastructure
Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course:
- Business School site
- Exams and assessment advice
- Program and course advice