Fondements de l’économie sociale et solidaire from edX

Quel est le point commun entre un repair café, une coopérative maraîchère en circuit court, une entreprise d’insertion par le travail, une banque sociale, un café citoyen... ?

Ces initiatives relèvent toutes du « troisième secteur » qui se distingue du secteur privé de type capitaliste comme du secteur public. Par leurs dynamiques entrepreneuriales, ces organisations défrichent de nouvelles activités porteuses de sens. Par leurs valeurs – finalité de service, gestion démocratique, autonomie, solidarité – elles inspirent confiance aux citoyens comme aux pouvoirs publics, qui leur confient de multiples missions d’intérêt général. Ce secteur représente jusqu’à 15 % de l’emploi salarié et des millions de volontaires.

En offrant une analyse rigoureuse de l’économie sociale et solidaire et des entreprises sociales qui se multiplient dans le monde entier, ce cours en ligne fournit les outils d’une compréhension en profondeur de ces formes d’entreprise différentes et prouve à quel point nos sociétés ont besoin d’une économie plurielle.

Ce cours analyse les concepts « coupoles » censés rassembler et nommer l’ensemble ou l’essentiel du troisième secteur : économie sociale, économie solidaire et, d’autre part, les formes d’organisation (coopératives, associations, entreprises sociales) considérées comme composantes centrales de ce troisième secteur. Loin d’opposer ces concepts entre eux, la démarche consiste plutôt à expliquer, pour chacun d’eux, ses racines historiques et le contexte institutionnel au sein duquel il a émergé, et à dégager son potentiel analytique pour éclairer les dynamiques de ce troisième secteur.

L'objectif du cours n'est pas de proposer une théorie unifiée du « troisième secteur » mais d'analyser, en profondeur, ces différents éclairages. Grâce aux contributions de l’équipe pédagogique et d’intervenants extérieurs pionniers dans ce domaine (Jacques Defourny, Laurent Gardin, Jean-Louis Laville, Margie Mendell…), vous serez invité e à considérer chacun de ces concepts comme une source originale d’éclairage que vous pouvez mobiliser, seul e ou avec d’autres, en connaissant ses apports et ses limites, ses couleurs et ses angles particuliers.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Définir et identifier les apports et limites des concepts qui composent le troisième secteur : économie sociale, économie solidaire, entreprise sociale, associations, coopératives.
Distinguer les entreprises sociales des autres acteurs, publics et privés, sur base d’une analyse de leurs caractéristiques spécifiques.
Interpréter la diversité des modèles d’entreprises sociales dans le contexte des trajectoires historiques qui les ont forgés et des évolutions plus récentes.

Identifier et interpréter les positionnements des acteurs de l’économie sociale par rapport aux modèles socio-économiques dominants et vous y référer dans votre propre positionnement.
Au terme de ce cours, vous serez capable de :

Définir et identifier les apports et limites des concepts qui composent le troisième secteur : économie sociale, économie solidaire, entreprise sociale, associations, coopératives.
Distinguer les entreprises sociales des autres acteurs, publics et privés, sur base d’une analyse de leurs caractéristiques spécifiques.
Interpréter la diversité des modèles d’entreprises sociales dans le contexte des trajectoires historiques qui les ont forgés et des évolutions plus récentes.
Identifier et interpréter les positionnements des acteurs de l’économie sociale par rapport aux modèles socio-économiques dominants et vous y référer dans votre propre positionnement.
Au terme de ce cours, vous serez capable de :

Syllabus

Module 1 : L’économie sociale

Module 2 : L’économie solidaire

Module 3 : L’entreprise sociale

Module 4 : Les associations

Module 5 : Les politiques publiques

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examine la diversité des modèles d'entreprises sociales dans le monde entier

Analyse les concepts fondamentaux du troisième secteur, tels que l'économie sociale, l'économie solidaire et les entreprises sociales

Identifie les caractéristiques spécifiques des entreprises sociales, les distinguant des autres acteurs publics et privés

Explore les trajectoires historiques et les évolutions récentes qui ont façonné les différents modèles d'entreprises sociales

Définie les différents concepts et cadres théoriques liés au troisième secteur

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Fondements de l’économie sociale et solidaire with these activities:

Review Previously Learned Concepts

Show steps

Review key terms and concepts related to business management, economics, and social impact to prepare for the course.

Browse courses on Business Management

Show steps

Review key concepts of economics and business

Show steps

Reinforce the fundamental principles to set a stronger foundation for building advanced knowledge and skills.

Browse courses on Economics

Show steps

Review notes and textbooks from previous courses in economics and business.
Take practice quizzes and tests to assess your understanding of the core concepts.

Explore the websites of different social economy organizations

Show steps

Gain insights into the practical applications of social economy principles and models by examining real-world examples.

Show steps

Identify social economy organizations operating in your local area or industry of interest.
Visit their websites to learn about their mission, activities, and impact.

Three other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all six activities

Participate in online discussion forums

Show steps

Engage with peers to exchange perspectives, ask questions, and deepen your understanding of course concepts through collaborative learning.

Show steps

Join online discussion forums or groups related to social economy and entrepreneurship.
Actively participate in discussions by sharing your thoughts, asking questions, and providing feedback to others.

Volunteer with a local social economy organization

Show steps

Gain firsthand experience in the social economy sector, observe its practices, and contribute to its impact while applying your classroom knowledge.

Show steps

Identify local social economy organizations that align with your interests.
Contact the organizations to inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Participate in volunteer activities, such as assisting with events, providing administrative support, or engaging with clients.

Develop a business plan for a social enterprise

Show steps

Apply the concepts learned in the course to a practical project, fostering deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the social economy sector.

Browse courses on Business Plan

Show steps

Identify a social issue or need that you are passionate about addressing.
Develop a business model that outlines your proposed solution, including its social and financial objectives.
Research the market and competition to assess the feasibility of your idea.

Career center

Learners who complete Fondements de l’économie sociale et solidaire will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Social Enterprise Consultant

A Social Enterprise Consultant helps non-profit organizations and social enterprises find sustainable solutions for social challenges. This role requires an ability to understand how the social sector functions and the necessary frameworks used within. This course helps you build that understanding, making you a more effective consultant.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Enterprise Consultant

Social Impact Investor

Social Impact Investors seek out investment opportunities that aim to create positive social and environmental outcomes. An understanding of how social and environmental issues intersect with the business world is very important. This course can help you build that understanding, making you a more effective social impact investor.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Impact Investor

Nonprofit Manager

Nonprofit Managers plan, direct, and coordinate the activities of nonprofit organizations. An in-depth understanding of this sector's specific characteristics and management style is necessary. This course helps you understand these elements and can give you an edge when it comes to managing nonprofit organizations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nonprofit Manager

Grant Writer

Grant Writers research available grants, prepare proposals, and submit applications on behalf of nonprofit organizations and social enterprises. Knowing how to understand an organization's needs and express them within the framework of a grant proposal is very important. This course can help you do just that.

See salaries and explore the career path for Grant Writer

Community Development Worker

Community Development Workers assist communities in improving their quality of life. A good understanding of social and community dynamics, as well as the role of non-profit organizations and social enterprises, helps this role bring about meaningful change. This course introduces these concepts and will prove useful in your work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Development Worker

Cooperative Manager

A Cooperative Manager's role is to look after the day-to-day business operations of various cooperative enterprises, including those in banking, housing, insurance, and agriculture sectors. An understanding of the cooperative model and the values involved would be beneficial to obtain and excel in this role. This course provides the base of knowledge for this model, giving you an edge over others.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cooperative Manager

Urban Planner

Urban Planners develop and implement plans to improve the built environment. An understanding of social, economic, and environmental issues, as well as how to create sustainable communities, is necessary. This course provides some of that groundwork and may be useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner

Market Researcher

Market Researchers collect and analyze data to understand market trends. An understanding of social and economic issues, as well as the role of research in informing decision-making, is necessary. This course provides some of that groundwork and may be useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Researcher

Social Worker

Social Workers provide support and services to individuals, families, and communities. An understanding of social and economic issues, as well as how to help people overcome challenges, is necessary. This course provides some of that groundwork and may be useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Economic Development Specialist

Economic Development Specialists develop and implement strategies to promote economic growth and improve the quality of life in communities. An understanding of economic principles, as well as the role of government and nonprofit organizations in economic development, is necessary. This course provides some of that groundwork and may be useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Economic Development Specialist

Public Policy Analyst

Public Policy Analysts research, analyze, and make recommendations on public policies. An understanding of social and economic issues, as well as the role of government in addressing these issues, is necessary. This course provides some of that groundwork and may be useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Policy Analyst

Social Entrepreneur

Social Entrepreneurs combine business principles with social and environmental goals to create positive change in the world. An understanding of social issues, business models, and how to create sustainable organizations is necessary. This course covers some of these elements and may be useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Entrepreneur

Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

Corporate Social Responsibility Managers develop and implement strategies to ensure that businesses operate in a socially responsible manner. An understanding of social issues and how to address them through business practices is necessary. This course helps you understand these social issues and may be useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts provide financial advice to individuals and organizations. An understanding of financial markets, as well as the role of social and environmental issues in investment decisions, is necessary. This course provides some of that groundwork and may be useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Sustainability Manager

Sustainability Managers develop and implement strategies to ensure that organizations operate in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. This role requires an understanding of how social, economic, and environmental factors intersect. This course provides some of that groundwork and may be useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Manager