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University College Cork

Co-operative & Social Enterprise

Course Outline
If you are interested in pursuing or developing a professional or voluntary career in the co-operative or social enterprise field, the MSc in Co-operative and Social Enterprise is designed with you in mind. It is a part-time course taken over one or two calendar years.

The main aims are:
-to equip you for management careers and/or voluntary service at senior level in a wide range of co-operative and social enterprises
-to equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to participate meaningfully and effectively at leadership level in the decision-making, management and entrepreneurial processes of co-operative and social enterprises
-to develop your capacity to respond creatively to the needs and problems of the wider community and society, if you are either a voluntary or a salaried practitioner in a co-operative and social enterprise
-to provide you with access to postgraduate and personal development opportunities whilst allowing you to combine family responsibilities and employment

Learning outcomes

On successful completion, it is expected that you will be able to:
-think critically about social and economic problems and have the confidence to propose organisational solutions
-articulate the role of co-operatives and social enterprises in the creation of an alternative economic system to a wide range of audiences, including the public, private and third sectors, as well as to society in general
-participate meaningfully and effectively at leadership level in the decision-making, management and entrepreneurial processes of co-operatives and social enterprises
-apply the specific marketing, governance and management skills necessary in co-operatives and social enterprises
-appraise critically the multiplicity of activities, strategies, skills and approaches in the co-operative and social enterprise field
-choose optimal courses of action for specific situations in co-operative and social enterprises
-discuss and debate professional opinion on the functioning and roles of co-operatives and social enterprises
-research and report analytically on different types of cooperative and social enterprise.

Why choose this course?
‌If you are interested in pursuing or developing a professional or voluntary career in the co-operative or social enterprise field, the MSc in Co-operative and Social Enterprise is designed with you in mind. This course will suit a variety of people from different walks of life. It is flexible because it is delivered by distance learning and can be taken over one or two years. It is graded by continuous assessment and there are no written end-of-year examinations.

Entry requirements

To apply for this course you must:
-be at least 23 at time of enrolment
-be able to access and use the Internet
-possess two years experience in a voluntary or professional capacity in a co-operative or social enterprise,

and either
-hold at least a 2.2 primary degree or an equivalent academic qualification

or
-have at least five years extensive practical, professional or scholarly experience in the co-operative and social enterprise field as approved by the School of Business, have sat the MSc (Co-operative and Social enterprise) Qualifying Examination and attained at least a Second Class Honours Grade II therein, and present for interview (if required) by the Department of Food Business and Development at UCC.

If you are applying with Qualifications obtained outside Ireland and you wish to verify if you meet the minimum academic and English language requirements for this programme please click here to view the grades comparison table by country and for details of recognised English language tests.

Non-EU Candidates
Non-EU candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to Irish university primary degree level. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language. To verify if you meet the minimum academic requirements for this programme please visit our qualification comparison pages.

For more detailed entry requirement information please refer to the International website .

Duration

2 years Part-Time
1 year Full-Time

Teaching Mode: Distance Learning, Online learning

The MSc is a taught masters course, with a research-based minor dissertation. Each module/course is delivered using a combination of text-based modules, academic text books, academic readings, web-based discussion and on-line lectures.

CKL10 Part-time; CKL42 Full-time

Careers or further progression

Skills and Careers Information
This course is designed for you if you are interested in pursuing or developing a professional or voluntary career in the co-operative or social enterprise field. It will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to participate meaningfully and effectively at leadership level in the decision-making, management and entrepreneurial processes of co-operative and social enterprises. Whether you are a voluntary or a salaried practitioner, this course will develop your capacity to respond creatively to the needs and problems of the wider community and society.

Further enquiries

Dr Carol Power
Email: cpower@ucc.ie
Tel: +353 (0)21 490 3354

Dr Olive McCarthy
Email:o.mccarthy@ucc.ie
Tel: + 353 21 490 3354

Subjects taught

The MSc in Co-operative and Social Enterprise is delivered by distance learning and comprises eight taught modules and a dissertation.

Core Modules (30 credits)

Co-operative and Social Enterprise

Research Methodology

Social and Co-operative Entrepreneurship

Co-operative and Social Enterprise Governance

Education and Marketing for Co-operatives and Social Enterprises

Optional modules (30 credits)

You will select any three of the following:

Innovation and Enterprise in Financial Co-operatives and Mutuals

Community Co-operatives and Social Enterprises

Worker Co-operative Strategies

Co-operative Food Processing and Supply

Social Enterprises and the Developing World

People Management in Member-Based Organisations

Leadership and Change Management in Co-operative and Social Enterprises

Dissertation in Co-operative and Social Enterprise (30 credits)

You will complete a 15,00030,000-word Dissertation in Co-operative and Social Enterprise.

Further details on the content and modules are available on the Postgraduate College Calendar.

Comment

Course Practicalities
The MSc is a taught masters course, with a research-based dissertation. Each module/course is delivered using a combination of text-based modules, academic text books, academic readings, web-based discussion and on-line lectures.

You will be assessed by way of continuous assessment, e.g. essays, group work, virtual contributions, etc. This means that there are no end-of-year written examinations for this course.

All our academic staff are experts in their field with PhDs and/or significant experience of working and researching in co-operative and social enterprises. Because we combine academic teaching and research into co-operative and social enterprises, with practical involvement with co-operative and social enterprises on the ground, we have unique insights into the key strategies, issues and problems they face.

Assessment method

You will be assessed by way of continuous assessment, e.g. essays, group work, virtual contributions, etc. This means that there are no end-of-year written examinations for this course.

Application date

Closing dates

Closing Dates for Application

Applications for 2018 start dates will open on November 1st 2017.

EU Applicants: UCC operates a rounds closing date system for the majority of postgraduate taught programmes (detailed below).

Some programmes have a specific closing date. Applicants are advised to consult with the postgraduate prospectus for programmes with a specific closing date.

The UCC rounds EU application system closing dates for Postgraduate Taught courses are detailed below. However, we would advise applicants to apply as soon as possible.

Deadline for receipt of Applications: Offers will be made:
For all completed applications received by January 15th 2018 Offers will be made by January 29th 2018

For all completed applications received by March 1st 2018 Offers will be made by March 15th 2018

For all completed applications received by May 1st 2018
Offers will be made by May 15th 2018

For all completed applications received by July 2nd 2018
Offers will be made by July 16th 2018

Late applications may be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for any courses that have remaining capacity for places.

While there is no official closing date for Research courses applicants are advised to submit their application at least two months ahead of their proposed start date. There are four official Research start dates September/October, January, April and July.

Non-EU Applicants:

Please visit the following page for further information for Non EU applicants http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/studyatucc/postgraduateprogrammes/tau...