Social Entrepreneurship: Challenge for Social Work in a Changing World

Abstract

In a rapidly changing world, social entrepreneurs innovate and create social value. Social workers today need to redefine their roles to include that of the social entrepreneurs.

Social entrepreneurs may be defined as “people with the mission to create and sustain social value. These social change agents are not limited by resources currently at hand but pursue new opportunities to serve people, take calculated risks and engage in a process of continuous social innovation, adaptation and learning. Ultimately, social entrepreneurs have a sense of accountability to the constituencies served and for the outcomes.”

The social worker's response to the challenges of the new economic environment and globalisation includes advocating for policies that promote social as well as economic development, social participation, and equality. Implications of entrepreneurship for social work education include training which equips social workers for new challenges and developing curriculum to include new content areas and skills as well as an exposure for a broader knowledge-based economy. The recognition for economics and social connectedness is vital. Conscious effort must also be made to internationalise the social work curriculum and be proactive in initiating faculty and student collaboration, research and exchanges.

Social entrepreneurship is a deliberate move from the remedial orientation to developmental activities. The focus should be on enhancing social capital. Social entrepreneurs are the trailblazers to help find new ways toward a better social world.