RATIONALE

Internationally there is a growing academic and policy interest in gathering evidence and theorizing the "third sector" as a field of interest related to SE, and there is an interest to work on the distinctions and clarifications of similarities, inter-relations and differences between the various flags of SE, such as social entrepreneurship (and social enterprise), social economy and solidarity economy. There is also an interest in understanding the institutional configurations and contextuality of SEs. Such trends can be seen across most European countries, in Asia, and all around the world. Traditional perspectives like the "social economy" perspective are being complemented with "solidarity economy" perspectives; and the recent focus on social entrepreneurship and social enterprise is proving most fruitful as welfare regimes are being reshaped by market dynamics and forces stemming from the civil society.

In parallel to the disciplinary developments currently underway in traditional university schools (such as political science, sociology, economics, anthropology) and in business schools, it is clear that the contribution of multi-disciplinary perspectives is particularly significant in rethinking the intellectual frameworks and research approaches in this rapidly developing field. This can be seen in the growing number of international research conferences and research centres that are reorienting their programmes towards the three SE pillars. One important consequence of this is the growing number of young researchers at PhD and Masters level who are attracted to conduct research in this field.

The 1st EMES PhD Summer School, held at Pasquale Paoli University of Corsica (France) in 2008, had been an outstanding success, with 37 PhD students from 21 countries taking part in the event. The event had also resulted in the creation of an EMES PhD Student Network.

OBJECTIVES

This doctoral summer school, being the second one, will build on the previous experience in a number of ways. It will: 

• maintain a strong focus on participants learning about the major theoretical approaches and debates in the field (social economy and solidarity economy, NPO theories, and newer perspectives linked to social entrepreneurship and social enterprise);
• strengthen the training of graduate students by means of in-depth and varied theoretical lectures, debates, workshops and presentations;
• strengthen the emphasis on research design and methodology;
• provide well-supported small group discussion sessions on participants’ research projects, their research questions, approaches and theoretical understandings, so that each doctoral student receives personalised feedback and support;
• provide space for social and intellectual discussion so that doctoral students will have ample opportunity to establish and expand their own peer networks and benefit from contacts and feedback from established scholars;
• encourage the international dimension of study and participation since exchanges among researchers in different countries and continents can support stimulating and fertile reflections on research approaches.

ACADEMIC COMMITTEE AND FACULTY

Linda L. Andersen  Centre for Social Entrepreneurship (Denmark)
Taco Brandsen       Radboud University Nijmegen (The Netherlands)
Jacques Defourny  Centre d’économie sociale, HEC-ULg Management
                               School (Belgium) 
Bernard Enjolras    Institute for Social Research (Norway)
Adalbert Evers       Justus Liebig Universität Giessen (Germany)
Lars Hulgård          Centre for Social Entrepreneurship (Denmark)
Jean-Louis Laville Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (France)
Marthe Nyssens     Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium)
Roger Spear           CRU, Open University (United Kingdom)

The faculty will be composed of well-known professors from recognised research centres covering a wide spectrum of research themes, and this multi-disciplinary approach will represent a major strength for the participating doctoral students.

The summer school will also aim to maintain a high level of relevance and topicality by ensuring that discussions and debates are located within the current profound crisis of capitalism, where the three SE pillars offer a viable and socially innovative response for the different regions of the world.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

- REGISTRATION FEE:

        For students from OECD countries: 350 € per participant
        For students from other countries: 100 € per participant

Accommodation and all meals during the duration of the summer school are included.

- GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES: Several travel grants and subsidies are available and will be granted based on the excellence of the application. We strongly advise students to contact their university department and/or any local, regional or national research council or foundation that may provide funds to cover travel costs.

- LANGUAGE: The working language of this international summer school will be English.