Summer School: Social enterprises, third sector
2 July 2008 - 7 July 2008
France
A variety of approaches to the field of study loosely referred to as the "third sector" exist across most European countries and around the world. Regardless of the approach used – non-profit studies, social economy, solidarity-based economy, social enterprise, etc. – the academic recognition of this field is being mirrored by a number of specialized university programs and research centers that attract an increasing number of young researchers. In a similar vein, the number of Ph.D. and Masters theses being prepared on topics related to this extensive field are currently found in traditional university schools such as political science, sociology, economics, anthropology, etc, as well as in business schools.
Nevertheless, specific doctoral training programs for young scholars in the third sector that address theoretical and hands-on research issues do not abound. Those programs that exist favor either a sociopolitical or a non-profit perspective.
In this context, the international summer school “Social enterprises, third sector, social economy, solidarity-based economy: Empirical and theoretical debates” aimed at completing and widening the offer available to future scholars with important analytical frameworks. By avoiding narrow disciplinary focuses, the summer school was seeking to strengthen the training of graduate students by means of in-depth and varied theoretical lectures, debates, workshops and presentations. Some key professors – also members of the EMES and/or CINEFOGO networks – presented both traditional and non-traditional disciplinary approaches to this field of study as part of the theoretical corpus of the summer school. Most of these well-known professors manage research centers covering a wide spectrum of research themes, which represented a major strength for the participating doctoral students. Specifically, Ph.D. students had an opportunity to directly interact with and receive immediate input from these experienced scholars and thus advance their own research.
From a content standpoint, the specificity of this summer school can be articulated through:
* An innovative cross-analysis of the major theoretical trends in the field (social economy and solidarity-based economy, and NPO theories), with an eye on providing new analytical tools to undertake research in the sector;
* A solid and pioneering experience on research related to social enterprise and social entrepreneurship, with an eye on creating a dialogue with other conceptions.About CINEFOGO
CINEFOGO is an acronym for Network of Excellence “Civil Society and New Forms of Governance in Europe – the Making of European Citizenship”. CINEFOGO aims at enhancing the understanding of social and democratic processes, citizenship and democratic participation in Europe. It seeks to provide knowledge about civil society, citizenship and social protection, nourish a public debate on governance and strengthen intellectual co-operation. To learn more on CINEFOGO, visit http://www.cinefogo.org(opens in new window) or send an e-mail to cinefogo@ruc.dk. The CINEFOGO Network of Excellence is supported by the European Commission within the Sixth Framework Programme, Priority 7: New Forms of Citizenship and Cultural Identities of the European Union.
Nevertheless, specific doctoral training programs for young scholars in the third sector that address theoretical and hands-on research issues do not abound. Those programs that exist favor either a sociopolitical or a non-profit perspective.
In this context, the international summer school “Social enterprises, third sector, social economy, solidarity-based economy: Empirical and theoretical debates” aimed at completing and widening the offer available to future scholars with important analytical frameworks. By avoiding narrow disciplinary focuses, the summer school was seeking to strengthen the training of graduate students by means of in-depth and varied theoretical lectures, debates, workshops and presentations. Some key professors – also members of the EMES and/or CINEFOGO networks – presented both traditional and non-traditional disciplinary approaches to this field of study as part of the theoretical corpus of the summer school. Most of these well-known professors manage research centers covering a wide spectrum of research themes, which represented a major strength for the participating doctoral students. Specifically, Ph.D. students had an opportunity to directly interact with and receive immediate input from these experienced scholars and thus advance their own research.
From a content standpoint, the specificity of this summer school can be articulated through:
* An innovative cross-analysis of the major theoretical trends in the field (social economy and solidarity-based economy, and NPO theories), with an eye on providing new analytical tools to undertake research in the sector;
* A solid and pioneering experience on research related to social enterprise and social entrepreneurship, with an eye on creating a dialogue with other conceptions.About CINEFOGO
CINEFOGO is an acronym for Network of Excellence “Civil Society and New Forms of Governance in Europe – the Making of European Citizenship”. CINEFOGO aims at enhancing the understanding of social and democratic processes, citizenship and democratic participation in Europe. It seeks to provide knowledge about civil society, citizenship and social protection, nourish a public debate on governance and strengthen intellectual co-operation. To learn more on CINEFOGO, visit http://www.cinefogo.org(opens in new window) or send an e-mail to cinefogo@ruc.dk. The CINEFOGO Network of Excellence is supported by the European Commission within the Sixth Framework Programme, Priority 7: New Forms of Citizenship and Cultural Identities of the European Union.