A new short course being offered at Brock University aims to teach skills needed to help address some of the world\u2019s most pressing problems.<\/p>\n
Delivered over four sessions, Foundations in Social Innovation Skills<\/a> will offer an introduction to different types of social innovation as well as the skills needed to become a socially innovative thinker.<\/p>\n The course will focus on how to identify social innovation problems, the skills needed to address those issues and how to handle potential barriers to the social innovation process.<\/p>\n Social innovation is about \u201ccreating solutions that put people and the planet first, and enhancing collaboration across government, business and the non-profit world,\u201d says Wesley Helms, Associate Professor in Strategic Management and Social Innovation at Brock\u2019s Goodman School of Business. \u201cSocial innovation is an increasingly relevant topic in our workplaces and communities.\u201d<\/p>\n Course participants will learn key skills and frameworks needed to identify and tackle social innovation challenges, whether working in government, business or the non-profit sector.<\/p>\n To provide insight into real-world social innovation challenges, the course will integrate a community partner into the cases, exercises and problems being explored. The course\u2019s first partner will be Goodwill Niagara<\/a>, with sessions looking at challenges surrounding the charitable donation of goods and thrift stores.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of what we\u2019ll be focusing on is how to become a socially innovative changemaker and the skills that are needed to solve the social and environmental challenges that will be confronting us in our workplaces and daily lives,\u201d Helms says.<\/p>\n In addition to his role at Brock, Helms is also a Research Fellow at the Center for Social Innovation at the University of Cambridge<\/a>, which is a partner in developing the course.<\/p>\n Foundations in Social Innovation Skills<\/a> will be offered in four in-person sessions March 21, 23, 28 and 30, each from 4 to 6 p.m. at Brock\u2019s main campus.<\/p>\n The course is open to Brock students as well as the wider community. Participants who successfully complete all the course requirements will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.<\/p>\n