Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Do you want to take part in making a social change for other people and society? Do you want to work with innovative processes and creative and decisive actions in a curious and open environment? Join Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship !

Type

Exchange

Duration

1 semester (30 ECTS)

Campus city

Viborg

Study start

February

Internship

Fieldwork

About the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship exchange programme

  • Application deadline:

    1 November

    Language:

    The programme is taught in English

    About the programme

    All over the world, people encounter social difficulties and challenges in relation to the world's current problems. There is a need to find global solutions, which relate to living conditions, environment and mental as well as physical health. These challenges demand creativity, reflexive thinking and decisive action by professionals working for the well-being of children, young people and adults.

    You will encounter new ways of thinking, new approaches and acquisition of tools and skills that will help you become an innovative professional with facilitation skills which you can use in in your future profession.

    During the semester, you will create, explore, initiate, and lead activities that point towards new solutions to social problems regarding living conditions, environmental issues, mental health, and physical stimulation. You will gain knowledge about innovative processes that support people's quality of life, well-being and motivation for change.

    Participation is a key word at this exchange programme as you both have to participate in groupwork throughout the module as well as participate in in exploring the social fields in institutions and at Campus.

    To sum up. If you want to work with innovative processes making a social change for people and society by means of a Scandinavian, democratic, and pedagogical education tradition, and you want to explore and interact with the pedagogical field through internship and field work in your projects you should join the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 

    Internship and fieldwork as a part of the education 

    During the semester, you will participate in an internship at an institution for two-three weeks and in fieldwork as a part of the projects you work with. Both in the internship and in the field studies you will engage in practical challenges. You will learn to work in teams to create innovative solutions to solve these challenges. You will learn about co-creation processes, innovative research facilitating, documentation and evaluation of innovative processes and solutions.

    Target groups

    You have the opportunity to focus on one of the following target groups:

    • Children and young people
    • People with social difficulties

    In trying to understand these target groups, we do not just ask them what they want. Instead, we try to explore what they say, what they do, what they think and how they feel.

    The modules

    During the semester in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, you will attend two modules. Both modules are mandatory. 

    1. Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship (20 ECTS)

    • You will learn how to facilitate, plan, carry out, document and evaluate innovative processes with various target groups. You will also take an active part in co-creating processes.
    • You will learn how to facilitate and motivate physical activities that improve people's lives
    • You gain knowledge and insight in theories on processes concerning; innovation, co-creation and physical activity.

    2. The cross-professional collaboration (10 ECTS)

    • You can identify, analyse and reflect about cross-professional and cross-sectorial challenges and potential opportunities. You also take part in, coordinating and managing holistic and cross-professional processes of cooperation.
    • You gain knowledge understanding the profession and the action competence of social educators and other professionals
    • Understanding the various sectors of the welfare society, its agents and their perspectives on duties and challenges.

    Exams

    There are two exams during the semester. One written individual exam after “The cross-professional collaboration” period and a final group exam in the end of the semester “Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship”

    Social life 

    As a part of both a personal and professional development, the social aspect of the module is important. Therefore, you will experience a strong focus on social activities throughout the module.
    Some of the activities are a part of the curriculum initiated by the teachers, others are student-initiated activities. The aim is to support both personal and professional development through close relations in both study activities as well as leisure time activities. Furthermore, focus is not only on meeting other international students, but also on meeting Danish students.

    The student housing, Camp Logos, is right next to VIA University College and houses both Danish and international students likewise is the Student House next door to Campus, where you can attend different social activities.

    The city center of Viborg is within walking distance to Camp Logos.

    More information

  • The minimum requirement to apply for the course, is to have passed the first two semesters at bachelor’s level at your relevant university or another institute of higher education.

    Concerning language proficiency, it is required to have an English level, spoken and written, equivalent to B2, according to the Common European Framework.

    A maximum of 30 students will be admitted per semester.

    Who can apply?

    Anyone is welcome to apply, but the programme is designed for students of social work, teaching and/or health.

  • Your home institution must have an inter-institutional agreement with the Department of Social Education at VIA University College in order for you to be able to apply for this exchange programme at VIA.

    If an agreement exists, you will be able to fill in the application form. Please be aware that VIA must receive a nomination from your home institution as well.

    Go to the application portal to apply now

  • Exchange students do not pay tuition fees.

    Per definition, exchange stays are an exchange of one or more students between partner universities and therefore, exchange students do not pay tuition fees.

    If you do not know, if your institution is a partner of VIA, please contact the international office at your home institution. If your institution is not a partner of VIA and you would like us to discuss the possibility of establishing an exchange agreement with your home institution, please contact us at partnerships@via.dk.

  • As a student in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, you can rent a room in Viborg at Camp Logos. This student housing is just next to Campus Viborg, where the semester will take place.

    Both Danish and international students live at Camp Logos.

    Read more about Campus Viborg

  • Contact our Incoming team at incoming@via.dk if you have questions about the exchange programme or how to apply.

    Campus address

    VIA University College
    Prinsens Allé 2
    DK-8800 Viborg

    Find us on Google Maps

    Read about Campus Viborg

Meet students

Ling, Anna and Boudeqwijn study Social Entrepreneurship 

Ling, Anna and Boudeqwijn study Social Entrepreneurship