Study Guide

Learning outcomes

Student is able to
- collaborate and co-create within intercultural and interdisciplinary teams
- identify the social, cultural, economic, and legal aspects of the IFE in the given context
- understand concepts related to sustainability concepts and apply principles of sustainability relevant to the case.
- comprehend the essentials of impact-focused entrepreneurship and identify opportunities for addressing global challenges in a given context
- identify, analyze, and engage with stakeholders within the ecosystem
- apply design thinking and service design to add value to impact-focused enterprises
- apply the relevant business model framework to the given case
- assess the social, environmental, and ecological impact of the given case

Implementation and methods of teaching

Course Objectives:

1) Understand the principles of impact-focused entrepreneurship and how it differs from business-as-usual and social entrepreneurship.
2) Identify and analyze societal challenges, including poverty, healthcare, and climate change.
3) Develop sustainable and scalable solutions to address pressing developmental concerns aligned with the United Nations' seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
4) Identify success using financial performance, social and environmental impact metrics.
5) Collaborate with a diverse group of international students to foster connections and share perspectives on global challenges.
6) Engage in networking opportunities to build relationships with peers and professionals in the field of impact-focused entrepreneurship.


The course adopts the Learning by Developing (LbD) as its pedagogy. In this approach, learning is seen as a tool for facilitating the achievement of new competencies needed in working life. Students learn by working with others on projects connected to real-life situations. LbD integrates different kinds of knowledge, and learning components in a professional context. The resulting outcomes are individual and group learning.

There will be (a) In-person Sessions focusing on introductory lectures, team-building activities, and networking along with field/company visits, (b) Online Lectures and Workshops for preparation, core content, and practical skills, (c) Group Projects with IFEs in India for students, (d) Interactive Webinars with guest speakers and Q&A sessions. The format aims to provide a rich, engaging experience, balancing the need for intensive online learning with the benefits of in-person interaction to kick-off and wrap-up the course, fostering a sense of community and collaboration among the international participants.

Timing and attendance

Course timeline:
- January 2025: Preparatory Readings, Online Preparatory Sessions
- Jan 26th, 2025 to Feb 1st, 2025 at Goa, India: Workshop 1: Kick-off, Cultural visits, Intercultural and team-building workshops, Introductory Lectures, IFE Field-Visits
- February - March 2025: Lectures, Workshops, Project work, in between presentation
- Mar 23, 2025 to Mar 29, 2025 at Mumbai, India: Workshop 2: Cultural visits, Project Presentations Preparation, Presentations, Closing

Attendance is mandatory for all in-person and online sessions. Active participation in both the initial and final in-person weeks is crucial.
If you must miss a session, notify the instructor in advance and provide a valid reason.
Active participation in discussions, group activities, and online forums is required. Contributions should be respectful, constructive, and relevant to course topics.

Learning environment

The learning materials will be provided in Moodle.

Contents

The course is divided into seven modules. The seventh module on IFE in practice cuts across all the other modules and culminates with the presentation of case studies by the students.

Module 1. Understanding Context. Overview of the social, cultural, economic, as well as legal and regulatory perspectives on IFE in India. This module will also cover issues in the areas of education, health, and waste management.
Module 2. Introduction to Sustainability. Introduction to concepts related to sustainability (CSR, ESG, SDGs), their global impact, and circular economy with specific reference to India.
Module 3. Ecosystem and Stakeholder Analysis. Introduction to concepts and tools to recognize opportunities, analyze the ecosystem, stakeholder engagement, value creation, and value chain analysis.
Module 4. Designing, and communicating IFE. Using design thinking, service design methodology, and tools for IFE.
Module 5. Strategy. Introduction to organization and entrepreneurship strategy. Analyzing business models and the difference between impact-focused entrepreneurship and other types of enterprises. Learning project management for real-life business cases.
Module 6. Measuring Impact. Measuring the social, economic, and environmental impact of IFEs.
Module 7. IFE in Practice. Applying the knowledge and skills learned during the course to real-life cases.

Additional information for students: previous knowledge etc.

- Proficiency in English speaking, reading and writing
- Basic research skills
- Familiarity with tools – MSOffice, Canva

Assessment criteria

- Individual Assignments and Quizzes based on lectures, readings, and case studies - 30%
- Group Projects and Presentations, including peer evaluation - 50%
- Attendance, Participation, and Engagement based on active involvement in discussions and workshops - 20%

Assessment scale

1-5