Ontario: SSE-O Q & A
General
What is SSE-O?
What is a social entrepreneur?
What is a social enterprise?
SSE-O’s Fellowship Program
What is the Fellowship Program?
Who are the students?
What qualifications do I need?
What level of English is required?
How much does it cost?
Where are the classes held?
Learning Approach
What is action learning?
What are Action Learning Sets?
Miscellaneous
What is SSE-O's relationship with Housing Services Corporation?
What is SSE-O?
SSE-O stands for the School for Social Entrepreneurs – Ontario. Based on the highly successful SSE model in the UK, the School for Social Entrepreneurs – Ontario contributes to game-changing social change by providing action-based and practitioner-led learning for social entrepreneurs in Canada. Read more…
What is a social entrepreneur?
A social entrepreneur is someone who works in an entrepreneurial manner, but for public or social benefit, rather than to make money. Social entrepreneurs may work in ethical businesses in the private sector, governmental or public bodies, or the nonprofit and community sector.
There is no mold or template for social entrepreneurs; they employ a diverse range of approaches and are people of different ages, backgrounds, gender, interests, and expertise. What they share are entrepreneurial skills and allegiance to a social mission or purpose.
What is a social enterprise?
A social enterprise is an organization whose primary goal is the betterment of society.
What is the Fellowship Program?
SSE-O’s Fellowship Program is a 6-month course centred entirely on you and your project. What you learn is largely up to the effort you put into the program. At a minimum, you will learn how to set up and secure funding for your social venture, how to improve your working methods, and how to communicate about your initiative effectively. You will develop and acquire skills and knowledge that will add to your confidence as the leader of your venture. Beyond fostering these core skills, the program provides you an opportunity to achieve deeper social impact and to undertake significant personal growth.
Who are the students?
Anyone who wants to start a social venture that will make a difference!
Our students tend to be very diverse, and the range of perspectives and experiences they bring ensures a lively and challenging group experience. Students say that working with other social entrepreneurs is liberating, fun, and exciting.
What qualifications do I need?
None! There are no hard and fast entry requirements and no particular credentials are necessary; however, you will be interviewed to ensure that you have the drive, enthusiasm, and commitment to get your initiative off the ground.
What level of English is required?
SSE-O does not operate like many traditional schools. There are no tests or required reading. If you are able to carry on basic conversations in English, you will be comfortable in our classroom.
How much does it cost?
The standard rate for the 6-month Fellowship Program is $1,500 (includes all course materials and School fees).
Although every student is expected to make a minimum contribution towards the fee, flexible payment plans, bursaries, and scholarships are available: SSE-O commits to making sure that fees are ultimately not a barrier for our students. Please get in touch if you want to know more.
Where are classes held?
The SSE-O Fellowship Program sessions will be held primarily at the Daniels Centre of Learning, 540 Dundas Street East in the Regent Park neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario.
What is action learning?
Action learning is an approach to education and is based on the notion of learning-by-doing. It is also often called practical learning. Our experience indicates that entrepreneurs are much more suited to this type of learning.
What are Action Learning Sets?
Action Learning Sets (ALS) consist of students working in small groups to tackle issues and problems that individuals in the group have encountered. Students take turns sharing a current challenge. Then, with the help of peers posing non-judgmental questions that provide a different perspective, students are supported in exploring their own actions. SSE Fellows consistently rate ALS as a deceptively simple and extremely powerful form of learning. In fact, many Fellows continue organizing ALS sessions even after they graduate.
What is SSE-O's relationship with Housing Services Corporation?
SSE-O is a collaborative initiative led by Housing Services Corporation (HSC), MaRS, ACCESS Community Capital Fund, and Toronto Centre for Community Learning & Development. HSC has generously agreed to serve as the legal incubator for SSE-O, providing critical administrative and management support; as such, SSE-O staff are employees of HSC.