Frequently Asked Questions?
- What are social entrepreneurs?- What is the Social Entrepreneurs School Action Learning Programme?- How is this programme different from others that are available?- Am I eligible to apply?- How and when do I apply?- How much does the Social Entrepreneurs School Action Learning Programme cost?- How do I apply for a Scholarship?- If I am unemployed or on a benefit can I participate in the programme?- Will NZCSI or the Social Entrepreneurs School provide funding for my social enterprise or project?- Is the Action Learning Programme accredited?- Where is the NZCSI Social Entrepreneurs School?
If you require any further information please contact us at:
info@nzcsi.org or
M. +64 21 780 138 (Faye Langdon)
What are social entrepreneurs?
Social entrepreneurs are people committed to creating and enabling sustainable success with positive social change at the heart of what they do. Social entrepreneurs draw communities together, grow new capabilities, innovate new solutions to hard problems and build new business models; ultimately adding value to New Zealand’s social structure and creating valuable jobs and opportunities.
What is the Social Entrepreneurs School (SES) Action Learning Programme?
The SES Action Learning Programme is designed for Social Entrepreneurs and aims to support those New Zealanders who see unmet social needs and build initiatives to address them.
The SES recognises that our social entrepreneurs need to build both life skills and business skills and networks in order to take their projects from an idea to sustainable reality.
SES NZ will help people to set up sustainable enterprises and non-profit ventures by providing an accessible and tailored ‘hands-on’ training and support programme. The emphasis is on practical learning not academic or theoretical learning. We want you to be immediately applying what you learn on your projects or ideas so that you see results throughout the year as you progress through the programme.
This is weekly programme with one residential block and set breaks throughout the 9 month schedule.
Key elements of the course include:
- Shared study sessions with experienced social entrepreneurs and subject matter experts
- Project visits
- Individual business coaching
- External mentoring
- Action Learning sets (Group problem solving)
The Weekly programme will require a day each week from 10am to 4pm. Semester breaks have been scheduled to align to New Zealand school holidays during the annual programme. This will enable students to work consistently on project and apply action learning skills and accelerate project development.
View full 2012 Programme scheduleHow is this programme different from others that are available?
Social innovators are a special type of person and they often act and learn in different ways from conventional academic book based learning programmes. The Action Learning Programme is designed to meet the specific needs of community based entrepreneurs by identifying and clearing away roadblocks for your projects, helping you see/ know yourself and your personal style better so that you can be more effective in your work and much more.
During the Programme you will be taught the disciplines of project planning and prioritising. You will learn how to make better decisions based on your successes and more importantly by learning from your failures. You will be put in direct contact, face to face, with people who have the experience scars and demonstrate success from doing the sorts of things that you are trying to do, people who want to see you succeed, and who are there to help guide you on your path.
The NZCSI Social Entrepreneurs School Action Learning Programme is different because it has been built specifically for social entrepreneurs in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2012 at a time when there has never been a greater need for social innovation.
Am I eligible to apply?
NZCSI School for Social entrepreneurs does not require you to have any formal qualifications however you must be over 21 years of age in the year of your application to be eligible. To apply you must:
- Have an idea or project that you are starting or already operating which has social or environmental good at its centre.
- Have control and or ownership of this idea or entity so that you are empowered to drive it throughout the ten months of the course.
- Commit to the ten month action learning programme and all its elements from start to finish
- Be able to demonstrate that you have taken your idea and translated it into some tangible actions and outputs so that it is ready to be scaled up and developed as part of the NZCSI Social Entrepreneurs Programme
- Demonstrate that you have the tenacity, passion and determination to make a difference
How and when do I apply?
Now is the time to express your interest.
All applications for the 2012 cohort must be received by
Wednesday 18th January 2012. ATTENTION: Closing Date Extended! Applications closing 1 February 2012.Applications consist of a completed application form and a minimum of two Community Support/Referee Nomination Forms from those people who know you and are supporting your application.
How much does the SES Action Learning Programme cost?
The Course costs $15,000 per person per programme to deliver. However some participants will apply for and be granted scholarships which will pay $15,000 toward the cost leaving just $1,500 for the participant to provide themselves. Other participants may pay their own way or be funded by their organisation or an external sponsor. The minimum payment by each participant of $1,500 before the beginning of the programme is an important commitment and enhances the chances of successful completion of the course.
How do I apply for a Scholarship?
There is no extra application form required for scholarships or funding support. It is our goal at the School to work with each successful applicant to try and make our Action Learning Programme accessible to them. Please indicate on your application if you need financial support.
If I am unemployed or on a benefit can I participate in the programme?
Yes this can be arranged on a case by case basis in negotiation with the relevant agencies of Government and the NZCSI will offer support and advice in this regard.
Will NZCSI or the Social Entrepreneurs School provide funding for my social enterprise or project?
No, NZCSI and SES do not provide funding for participant projects. We provide training and development to enable participants to be more effective in seeking and obtaining their own sustainable funding and provide access to networks and experts who will assist you.
Is the Action Learning Programme accredited?
No the programme is not accredited and is not a formal qualification. The programme is specifically designed to maximise easy access and to meet the needs of social entrepreneurs many of whom may have no previous qualification.
Where is the NZCSI Social Entrepreneur School?
The Social entrepreneurs School is located at the Ko Awatea Centre (at Middlemore Hospital), in Otahuhu, Auckland. There is excellent public transport access to this site as well as free local parking (outside the hospital grounds). For detailed directions please visit the following webpage:
http://koawatea.co.nz/home/facility/directions.html