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M.A. IN SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Introduction

The field of Social Entrepreneurship which has grown very rapidly in recent years, leverages business management and entrepreneurial skills to pursue the multiple bottom-line of the social enterprise by keeping stakeholder value intact rather than only that of shareholder value.

The Centre for Social Entrepreneurship came into existence after careful thought about the emerging needs of wider society to develop change leaders in the field of social sectors to create enterprises with social purpose, and thus generating wealth to enhance livelihood and sustainable development.

The two-year, full time, Master of Arts in Social Entrepreneurship (MA in SE) aims at training and developing change leaders for wealth generation with social progress in social sectors/non-profit markets. These qualified professionals are expected to emerge as social entrepreneurs themselves in collaboration with the state, market and civil society institutions. The course curriculum blends for cutting edge theory with innovative field based learnings to develop appropriate, effective, efficient, economically sustainable and politically viable entrepreneurial activities.

The contents of the course will cover an overview of the business, finance, economics, society, ethics, innovation, entrepreneurship, profit making and non-profit making organisations and their structures, decision making and management, leadership development, linkages with stakeholders and development of business plans for the non-profit sectors.

TISS Post-graduates in Social Entrepreneurship are expected to take up professional positions in International and National Government or Non-governmental Organisations. The candidates successfully completing the two years programme are expected to get absorbed in the fast growing profit and non-profit sectors, and also to emerge as social entrepreneurs themselves.

A distinctive feature of the course curriculum is its inductive pedagogy blending classroom teaching and experiential learning through block fieldwork, assignments finding innovative solutions to social problems individually and through group exercises, in-depth examination of the strengths and weaknesses of social entrepreneurial activities across the world, interacting with successful social entrepreneurs.

Course Outline

Distribution of Credit Hours*

The total credit hours for the degree programme will be 84, divided between the first and second years of the programme as detailed below. However, the year-wise distribution of total credit hours may change depending upon the semester class timetables.

*Under revision

Semester-wise Listing of Courses

All full-time Master's Degree programme students are required to take a set of Foundation Courses (FCs). These courses will provide students with an orientation to basic perspectives, issues and themes in society, politics, economy and culture. The FCs seeks to provide a common minimum base of understanding for all TISS students on which they will build on during the rest of their course of study. The list of courses is common for both streams. Please note that the curriculum is under review.

*Optional Courses

Eligibility

1. A Bachelor's Degree of minimum 3-year duration or equivalent grade (under the 10+2+3 or 10+2+4 or 10+2+2+1 year bridge course pattern of study or any other pattern fulfilling the mandatory requirement of 15 years of formal education) in any discipline with minimum aggregate marks of 50% (40% for Scheduled Castes [SCs] and Scheduled Tribes [STs]) from a recognised University.
   OR
2. Candidates who will complete all the requirements of their final year Bachelor's Degree examinations by July 31, 2007, will also be eligible to apply provided they have obtained a minimum aggregate marks of 50% (40% for SCs and STs) in any discipline from a recognised University in their first and second year college/university examinations taken together , if the degree course is of three years; and the first, second and third year college/university examinations, if the degree course is of four years, for all the subjects examined. In such cases, admission to the M.A. in HRM & LR programme will be provisional. If a provisionally admitted student fails in the final year examination, the offer of provisional admission will be automatically cancelled.

Selection Procedure

Eligible candidates will be called for a written test to TISS in Mumbai, and those who qualify will be required to appear for Group Discussion and Personal Interview on the next day of written test.

Those satisfying the eligibility requirements will be assessed for selection (Total Marks: 200) through the following:

1. Written Test (40 Marks): All candidates are required to submit along with the application form, a short hypothetical business plan of not more then 500 words on any topic broadly within social sector. This would be part of written test carrying a weightage of 30 marks. The Written Test includes (i) proficiency in English language and comprehension, (ii) Awareness of socio-economic issues related to society, economy, entrepreneurship, social sector. The time allotted is 45 minutes.
2. Group Discussion (30 Marks): The Group Discussion (GD) aims at assessment of knowledge about contemporary issues in the field and sensitivity to social issues expressed orally in English in a group situation. The time allotted is 25 minutes.
3. Personal Interview (75 Marks): To become eligible for the GD and Personal Interview (PI), a general candidate should secure a minimum combined score of 43 marks (35 marks for SCs and STs) in the short hypothetical business plan submitted and Written Test to be considered for the GD and PI.
4. Academic Background (25 Marks): Marks are awarded to each applicant on the basis of overall percentage of marks secured in the Bachelor's Degree Examination and the maximum marks are 25. However, high academic achievement is not the only criterion on which the candidate will be selected.

Reservations

The TISS is an equal opportunity institution and there is no discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, age or physical disability. As per the Government of India directives, there is a reservation for the following groups:

• 15% for SC candidates and 7.5% for STs.
• 3% for the persons with disability, of which 1% each for (a) Low Vision/ Blindness (b) Hearing Impairment, and (c) Locomotor Disability/ Cerebral Palsy in all the programmes.
• 15% supernumerary seats for foreign nationals.
• GoI directives will be followed for Other Backward Classes (OBC) candidates, as applicable.

Career Opportunities

TISS post-graduates in Social Entrepreneurship are expected to take up professional positions in international and national government or non-governmental organisations. The candidates successfully completing the two-year programme are expected to get absorbed in the fast growing profit and non-profit sectors, and also to emerge as social entrepreneurs themselves.

Contact Details

Postal Address: Post Box 8313, Deonar, Mumbai 400 088.

Please address all your letters to the Deputy Registrar, Academic Section, Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

Telephone: 91-22-2556 3289-96, Extn. 258, 259 and 261.

The telephone board functions from 9.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

Fax: 91-22-2556 2912

E-mail: pgadmissions@tiss.edu ; acadsec@tiss.edu