Graduate Certificate of Social Impact | Courses | Swinburne University

Study at Swinburne > Courses > Find a course > Graduate Certificate of Social Impact

GC-SI Postgraduate Hawthorn Send me a link to this course

The course addresses social investment and philanthropy, social entrepreneurship and innovation, creativity and design, and corporate responsibility and accountability. You will learn the core capabilities required to lead people effectively in a changing social economy and business environment and to develop innovative responses to complex social and business problems. The course allows articulation into the Master of Social Impact.

The Graduate Certificate of Social Impact is taught by the Centre for Social Impact in partnership with three founding partner business schools from the University of New South Wales, University of Western Australia and Swinburne University of Technology's Faculty of Business and Law.

Tech things up a notch with postgrad study

A graduate certificate, diploma or master degree with a strong tech focus could future-proof your career. Get all the course info and application advice you need to help you make that next crucial career step.

Find your way.

Duration

1 year part-time

Intakes

Hawthorn (HE Block 1, Semester 1, Semester 2, Term 4) - View application and start dates

Study mode

Part-time

2021 Start Dates

Semester 1 - 01 March 2021

Winter - 21 June 2021

Semester 2 - 02 August 2021

2022 Start Dates

Semester 1 - 28 February 2022

Semester 2 - 01 August 2022

Course information in detail

- Course detail, course structure and units of study.

Course description

The Graduate Certificate of Social Impact is designed for high-performing students who are looking to build skills and advance careers in the philanthropy and not-for-profit sectors, social enterprise and entrepreneurship, and social innovation facing positions in the commercial and public sectors. The four foundation units address social investment and philanthropy, social entrepreneurship and innovation, creativity and design, and corporate responsibility and accountability. The course provides core capabilities required to lead people effectively in a changing social economy and business environment and to develop innovative responses to complex social and business problems. The course allows articulation into the Master of Social Impact.

The Graduate Certificate of Social Impact forms the first stage in a three-stage nested suite of programs consisting of:

Graduate Certificate of Social Impact (GC-SI)
Graduate Diploma of Social Impact (GD-SI) ^
Master of Social Impact (MA-SI)

^ Students are unable to enrol directly into the Graduate Diploma of Social Impact but it is available as an exit award.

This course is for working professionals. That’s why we offer it in Intensive Mode. It’s an efficient and faster way to complete a postgraduate qualification with minimal impact on your professional and personal life. Units (subjects) are either delivered after work hours or on Fridays or Saturdays, and run throughout the year in six week teaching periods instead of the usual 12 week semesters. This means you can complete more units and graduate faster, or take breaks when you need to.

Course structure

To qualify for the award of Graduate Certificate of Social Impact, students must complete 50 credit points comprising 4 x core units (12.5 credits points each).

The Graduate Certificate of Social Impact is offered part-time only. Units of study are taught in blended learning mode and/or 'block mode' (usually 2 to 3 x 1.5 day blocks – all day Friday and a half day on Saturday). Students are expected to spend a minimum of the equivalent class contact hours per week in private study and/or team project work.

This course is not offered to International Students.

Units of study

Want to know more about the units that make up your course, how many units you need to complete, our recommended study sequence, and what your timetable looks like this year? Check out our Course Planner and get enrolled.

Core units

Students complete the following four units: (50 credit points)

SIP60003 Social Impact: Entrepreneurs and Social Innovation *
SIP60001 Corporate Responsibility and Accountability *
SIP60004 Social Investment and Philanthropy *

ENT60009 Opportunity Discovery, Creativity and Design *

* Outcome units - matched exemptions are generally not granted for higher education outcome units.

Careers and graduate outcomes

- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives and graduate skills.

Career opportunities

Leadership positions in the developing fields of social impact, social innovation, social investment and social entrepreneurship.

Aims and objectives

There is an evident growth in community concern about the consequences for the community – positive and negative – of the interplay of business, private wealth and philanthropy, and government. Lately the term ‘social impact’, alongside such others as ‘the social economy’, social entrepreneurship, and social enterprises, has been employed to recognise these interactions.

The growing economic importance of the not-for-profit sector and rising levels, and new forms, of corporate community investment are not yet reflected adequately in the teaching and resourcing of management education in Australia. At the same time the dynamism of the market needs to be directed toward social innovation.

These forces, and the rethinking required by the global economic crisis, require that business leaders of today and tomorrow be equipped with academic support in integrating the goals of an inclusive and sustainable global economy into their corporate behaviours. New skills must be available to those who seek a leadership career in business, social enterprises, community agencies; for those, already in the sector, who wish to enhance their skills; to those who wish to contribute their commitment and experience in a voluntary capacity to the governance of not-for-profit institutions; and to donors, philanthropists and social investors. Themes covered include knowledge of the creation of social value, the dynamics of social enterprise, the foundations of social innovation and the measurement of social impact.

At completion of the Graduate Certificate of Social Impact, graduates will be able to:

apply coherent and advanced knowledge of social impact in diverse contexts and applications using critical thinking
apply problem solving, design and decision making to methodologies to identify and provide innovative solutions to complex problems with intellectual independence
communicate proficiently in professional practice to a variety of audiences, function as an effective member or leader of a diverse team and use basic tools and practices of social impact within project work
demonstrate professionalism, integrity, ethical conduct, accountability, respect and an awareness of professional practices and cultural practices and cultural norms in a global and sustainable context.

Graduate skills

The Swinburne graduate attributes signify that Swinburne intends that its teaching programs assist all its graduates to be:

capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas
entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community
effective and ethical in work and community situations
adaptable and able to manage change
aware of local and international environments in which they will be contributing.

Pathways and scholarships

- Pathways, credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and scholarships.

Scholarships

Each year, the Centre for Social Impact (CSI) awards a number of scholarships to students deemed most likely to emerge from the Graduate Certificate of Social Impact as change agents and innovators who can lead organisations with social purpose and create social value across sectors. Find out more about CSI's scholarships.

Credit

Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Learn more about credit.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Learn more about RPL.

Course fees and requirements

- Fees, entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.

Course fees

2021 rate*	Estimated total cost of the course	Estimated cost of the course per year if studying full-time*	Annual Amenities fee if studying full-time*
Full fee	$15,960	$15,960	See how your SSAF is calculated

Fees are estimates for students commencing in 2021 only: Tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply for units studied in 2021 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.

How do I pay my fees?

FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible full-fee paying higher education students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. The Commonwealth Government pays the amount of the loan directly to Swinburne.

The total tuition fee is dependent upon the combination of units of study selected by the student. Fees are reviewed each year. Find out more about fees.

Entry requirements

A recognised bachelor degree in any discipline PLUS a minimum of 3 years equivalent full-time relevant professional experience* or

a minimum of five years equivalent full-time relevant professional experience*

*Relevant professional/managerial experience and evidence of academic capability will be determined by the Faculty PVC (or delegate) with reference to Faculty determined guiding principles. Applicants will be required to submit a curriculum vitae (CV) with their application. Documents substantiating relevant experience are required, clearly detailing roles and duration, as well as evidence of formal and non-formal learning. Where relevant experience is used for the basis of admission, no further recognition for prior learning/credit can be granted on that basis.

How to apply

Find out more about how to apply.

Note: Students applying for this course for the HE Block 1 intake will commence studying with ENT60009 - Opportunity Discovery, Creativity and Design. All other units will be scheduled on or after the commencement of Semester 1.

Find out more

Submit an online enquiry

Tel: 1300 SWINBURNE

Email: postgrad@swinburne.edu.au