Abstract:

The current financial and economic crisis in combination with these social and environmental problems, is having a great effect on an increasingly interdependent world that we live in. In this context characterised by growing difficulties and increased uncertainty, and also by the need to tackle the great, exciting challenges we are faced with, there is a constant search for referents that can provide us with vision and inspiration. Leadership is seen as one of the key elements for the generation of the positive changes we aspire to. The concept of social leadership is associated with the development of those individuals who are the driving forces behind civil society organisations and who are working to bring about social change.

Little attention has been devoted to the development of social innovation and leadership competencies in the existing workforce of the third sector organizations. While there are many courses and educational opportunities available in the field of marketing, social entrepreneurship, management etc., few initiatives were found, offering tailored training/educational solutions for third sector organizations. Hence, INSPIRE project aims to fill in this gap by developing social innovation and leadership skills of third sector professionals. The project has been co-designed around DBE and pedagogy that is relevant to Third Sector professionals taking into account learning styles, personality traits, and nuances most suited to developing skills for innovation and leadership. Consequently, an evidence-based pedagogy for the enhancement of operational capacity of NPIs (Non for Profit Institutions) has been developed and translated into a new and unique European Social Innovation and Leadership Curriculum, aiming to boost the operational capacity and leadership mindsets of the NPIs from an European approach.

The present proposal aims at sharing lessons learnt from the above mentioned INSPIRE in developing the curriculum for Third Sector Capacity building, focusing on the competences and skills development of social leadership.

Keywords:

Social leadership, Third Sector, Leadership development, Curriculum Development, Design Based Education.