Master in Social Innovation for Sustainable Development

Master in Social Innovation for Sustainable Development With a global faculty and participants, the master will challenge your current beliefs and notions of social innovation to develop a new understanding of its principles and tools. Global development trends show that the COVID-19 crisis, social exclusion, youth unemployment, migration, climate change, and aging society are escalating. By recognizing how social innovation goes beyond technology and current beliefs, you will explore the implications of different models. The Master duration is 1 year with only 9 weeks of face-to-face learning activities taking place in Turin, Italy. This makes the program accessible and affordable for working practitioners and students coming from outside of Italy.

Degree

The Master is delivered as a First level Master’s Degree by the University of Turin (60 ECTS) according to the Italian Qualifications Framework. The Master’s degree will be awarded to the participants who fulfill the following conditions:

• Administrative requirements and documents requested by the University of Turin;
• Successful passing of all exams demonstrating the level of competence required;
• Submissions of the final project within the set deadline and quality requirements.

Methodology

The Master merges theoretical and practical learning methodologies that are designed to engage and motivate students. This Master's draws from the ITCILO’s training portfolio, the ILO’s research, and the academic expertise of the Università di Torino.

Students interact with their environment through a hands-on learning approach, which includes case studies, workshops, and group exercises. Each student develops a unique final project.

Who attends this master?

The Master is intended for:

• Officials and/or professionals working in the public and private sectors, UN Agencies, foundations and NGOs;
• Recent university graduates from developing and developed countries;
• People working or interested in social innovation social entrepreneurship and related research;
• Members of cooperatives.
• The essential requirements for admission are a university degree (minimum of three years) and fluency in English.

Distance learning supported by a tutoring service

Students learn and practice on their own time using an online platform. This preparatory phase introduces students to the basic concepts of social innovation and sustainable development.

Topics covered include:

• Module 1: What is Social Innovation, its perspective, and the relevance of social economy
• Module 2: Sustainable Development and the Agenda 2030
• Module 3: Social Transformation and Societal Challenges: the ILO Future of Work
• Module 4: How Social Innovation Affects Sustainable Development
• Module 5: Introduction to Project Design

Face-to-face phase (blended)

Module 1: Social Innovation policies and tools & the contribution to the SDGs.

At the end of the Module, students will be able to:

• to better analyze the key drivers of change and social transformations in their respective community contexts.
• to apply in-depth knowledge of key objectives of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
• to identify and implement social innovation actions in the relevant fields
• to manage social innovation collaborative processes
• to single out successful social innovation mechanisms and transfer them into different contexts

Module 2: Innovation lab – from ideas to social business. The social business model

At the end of the Module, students will be able to:

• to better analyze the key dimensions of social business and their differences from ordinary business
• to apply social business models to the achievement of SDGs in different contexts and scales.
• to identify and implement social business actions in the relevant fields
• to identify unconventional management models for social innovation and collaborative processes
• to single out organizational hybrids and apply them to manage social innovation actions

Module 3: The importance of measuring impact results

At the end of the module, students will be able to:

• to define the more appropriate indicators for measuring the social impact of their social business idea.
• to develop a coherent strategy for ensuring adequate scaling up of their social business project and engaging the most relevant stakeholders (PPP).
• to present the draft social business project which will be completed during the third phase at a distance.

Module 4: Social Impact finance - the social business sustainability

At the end of the module, students will be able to:

• to better describe the key aspects of the social impact of finance
• to better understand the key elements for accessing social impact finance for development and growth.
• to select different fields of application of Social Impact Finance
• to apply social impact finance models to the achievement of SDGs in different contexts and scales.
• to single out the aptest social impact finance tool to manage social innovation actions

Home-based research for thesis/project work

Students complete an original project work related to a specific social challenge. The project should be testable at the country or community level. Tutors and professors will provide guidance.

What Topics Does This Master Cover?

The Master prepares students to become leaders in sustainable social innovation endeavors.

• Innovation for sustainable development
• Leadership, collective intelligence, and creativity
• Social business, finance, and impact evaluation.

What will I learn?

Participants will acquire tools and techniques to anticipate change and respond to complex situations in their respective relevant fields.

• A crucial role for social innovators and entrepreneurs in the implementation of the 2030 SDGs is expected in the medium term.
• Government agencies are encouraged to seek out “the best social innovations” in their programs.
• Entrepreneurs of tomorrow are requested to use their new models to achieve results and scale their services, including public-private partnerships.

What will I be able to do?

Students learn how to design the social development policies and principles of the future.

• Design responsive solutions that fit the 2030 Agenda framework
• Foster collaborative networks and spark public action
• Analyze the impact of social innovation projects.

What will I be able to do?

Students learn how to design the social development policies and principles of the future.

• Design responsive solutions to societal challenges that fit the 2030 Agenda framework
• Foster collaboration, through partnerships and networks, that spark public action
• Analyze the social impact of innovative sustainable development projects

Why Study at the TSD?

The Turin School of Development (TSD) is a leading international institution in the field of development cooperation, it offers a unique learning environment that combines academic rigor with practical experience.

Why choose the TSD?

There are many reasons to choose the TSD for your graduate studies. Here are just a few:

• Academic excellence: The TSD is a leading international institution with a reputation for academic excellence.
• Practical experience: The TSD offers a unique learning environment that combines academic rigor with practical experience.
• Expert faculty: Our faculty are renowned experts in their fields, with extensive experience in research, teaching, and policy-making.
• Global network: The TSD has a strong alumni network that spans the globe.
• The Campus: The TSD campus is located in a beautiful and safe area of Turin. The campus is home to a variety of amenities, including tennis courts, volleyball courts, a soccer field, and a gym. The campus is also close to a variety of restaurants, shops, and cultural attractions.

The TSD is a great place to study if you are looking for a challenging and rewarding academic experience. The TSD offers a unique learning environment that combines academic rigor with practical experience. The TSD also has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion and welcomes students from all backgrounds.