The social economy is making its way into university classrooms: what courses are offered?

Being efficient and competitive. Recognizing market opportunities before the rest of the money is better. Teaching in the faculties of economics and business is a challenge. However, the landscape is beginning to change, at least. Chair of Social Economy at Tecnocampus-UPF.

Specifically, this university center, located in Mataró, is one of the most committed to incorporating the social and solidarity economy into its academic offerings. Today, all business degree programs include a mandatory course on this alternative economic model, which places people and the common good at the center of economic activity, independent of the obsession with profit. They also offer specific courses in ethical finance and responsible public accounting. "This commitment responds to the desire to present business not as a single reality, but as a plural concept: private, public, and social," says Serrano.

This phenomenon is also occurring at the University of Barcelona (UB). Various courses on social and solidarity economy and sustainable development are currently taught in the Business Administration and Management and Sociology degrees. "We are committed to a transformative approach to the economic system, focused on people, sustainability, and social justice," says Núria Rodríguez, senior lecturer in sociology and coordinator of the social economy program at the UB's University of Experience. For Rodríguez, gaining ground in these topics at the university is key to training professionals with conscience and commitment."

The same thing is happening at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). It offers the ninth edition of the Specialization Diploma in Social and Solidarity Economy, a postgraduate program aimed at professionals and individuals interested in this field. "It's a specific training program fully focused on this economic model, with a general academic approach," explains Rosa Garcia-Hernández, professor of applied economics at the UAB and coordinator of the postgraduate program. The Open University of Catalonia (UOC) and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) have also begun to incorporate the social and solidarity economy (SSE) into their programs, for example.

A growing interest

And how do students react when they encounter a course that deals with the social and solidarity economy? Serrano detects two common trends. "Some see the cooperative model as unrealistic or idealistic, but others are very interested, especially because of its alignment with current concerns about the climate crisis, inequalities, and democracy," he asserts. "In any case, almost everyone appreciates being able to learn about an alternative to conventional business." The UB notes that more and more students are showing interest in alternative economic models. "A good indicator is the rising participation in the Social Economy Awards, which recognize the best undergraduate, master's, and postgraduate theses in this field," explains Rodríguez.

One of the main challenges in expanding the social and solidarity economy model is reaching groups who are not yet familiar with it. "There is a profile of people who are already interested in training: those who are part of associations and cooperatives or work in public departments linked to the SSE," explains Garcia-Hernández. These people continue their training, doing so at a slow but steady pace.

However, García-Hernández emphasizes that the real challenge is reaching out to those profiles who have not yet had any contact with these models. "We still have a long way to go to reach those groups who know nothing about them: this is where we should focus," he points out. He believes it is especially important to spark interest among young people so they can see the social economy as a viable career path.

Finding work in the SSE

Little by little, this university education is contributing to the professionalization of the social and solidarity economy. However, this is not a new process: thousands of people have been building their careers within this sector for decades. In fact, it represents almost 7.5% of Spain's GDP and employs nearly 1.5 million people. However, until recently, there was no platform that specifically addressed the employment needs of this ecosystem.

This is the gap that Upmeup, a web platform and app promoted by the Federation of Cooperatives and Social Economy of Madrid (Fecoma), Facto Cooperativa, Tazebaez, and Ecooo, has sought to fill. It not only offers job offers but also takes into account each candidate's values and compares them with the culture and priorities of each organization.

The pending challenges

Despite institutional recognition and the territorial expansion of the model, the social and solidarity economy still has several avenues for growth in universities. "A first challenge is to go beyond the boundaries of those already aware of it and reach a broader audience," notes Rosa Garcia-Hernández of the UAB. For her, it is necessary to continue consolidating the model as a real alternative to addressing socioeconomic problems with criteria other than profit maximization. She also advocates for the SSE to be integrated transversally into secondary school, vocational training, and university curricula to raise awareness and activate young people.

From the UB, Núria Rodríguez agrees on the need to ensure the stable presence of the social economy in the curriculum and advocates for connecting the university world with organizations in the sector. She concludes: "We need to generate useful, committed, and impactful knowledge that doesn't remain in the academic sphere but reaches society."