SOCIAL INNOVATOR

The Certificate aims to develop students’ ability to understand, interpret and design social innovation models that combine entrepreneurial vision, social purpose, organizational sustainability and measurable impact. The programme uses the experience of Dynamo Camp and the broader Dynamo ecosystem as a privileged lens through which students can explore a contemporary model of social innovation. Dynamo will not be approached merely as a case study, but as a living entrepreneurial and social experience: a model created from the vision of Vincenzo Manes, inspired by an international experience, adapted to the Italian context and developed through an organizational structure that combines philanthropy, management, partnerships, business culture and a strong social mission. Dynamo Camp was founded in 2007 and it is part of the SeriousFun Children’s Network, the international network of camps founded by Paul Newman for children with serious illnesses. The Certificate will guide students through three temporal perspectives. The first is the past, explored through Adriano Olivetti’s vision of enterprise as a social, cultural and territorial actor. The second is the present, examined through Muhammad Yunus’s concept of social business and the idea of using entrepreneurial tools to solve social problems. The third is the future, focused on emerging trends in social innovation, including impact measurement, strategic philanthropy, ESG and social sustainability, corporate citizenship, inclusive leadership, accessibility, multi-stakeholder partnerships and the role of technology and artificial intelligence for social impact. By the end of the programme, students will have acquired conceptual and practical tools to analyse social needs, understand hybrid organizational models, map stakeholders, evaluate the sustainability of an impact-driven initiative and develop a professional mindset oriented towards responsibility, listening, relationship-building, concrete action and transformation.

No mandatory prerequisites are required. A basic familiarity with management, sustainability, corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, third sector organizations, public policy or innovation may help students benefit more fully from the programme. However, the Certificate is designed to be accessible to students from different academic backgrounds. An interest in social impact, entrepreneurship, inclusion, philanthropy, stakeholder engagement, organizational transformation and community development is recommended.

The Certificate is particularly relevant for students interested in professional paths related to sustainability, ESG, social impact, social entrepreneurship, foundations, philanthropy, third sector organizations, corporate social responsibility, public-private partnerships, consulting, people management, diversity and inclusion, education, public affairs and community development. Upon completion of the Certificate, students will be able to: Analyse a social innovation model by identifying its social need, purpose, stakeholders, governance structure, operating model, economic sustainability, legal structures and expected impact. Interpret the Dynamo model as an entrepreneurial and social ecosystem, understanding the role of vision, philanthropy, management, partnerships, corporate engagement and impact-oriented culture. Compare different traditions of responsible enterprise and social innovation, from Adriano Olivetti’s idea of enterprise and community to Muhammad Yunus’s social business model. Apply stakeholder mapping and social need analysis tools to real or simulated contexts. Design a preliminary social innovation proposal that is inclusive, sustainable, measurable and coherent with the needs of a specific community or group of stakeholders. Evaluate emerging trends in social innovation, including impact investing, AI for social impact, corporate philanthropy, DEI&B, accessibility and social sustainability. Communicate a social innovation proposal in a concise, professional and evidence-based way, integrating purpose, feasibility, impact and stakeholder value. Reflect on the role of the social innovator as a professional figure able to connect entrepreneurial thinking, social responsibility, organizational design and human-centered leadership.

The Certificate explores social innovation as the ability to transform a social need into a sustainable, organized and scalable model of action. The course combines theoretical frameworks, entrepreneurial experience, case-based learning and practical exercises. The programme is structured around three main perspectives: Past – Adriano Olivetti and enterprise as community Students will explore the Italian tradition of responsible enterprise through Adriano Olivetti’s vision, where business, culture, work, welfare, territory and community are part of an integrated model of development. Present – Muhammad Yunus and social business Students will examine social business as a model that uses business methods to solve social problems while ensuring financial and economic sustainability. Yunus’s principles emphasize that the objective of social business is to address problems affecting people and society, rather than maximizing profit. Future – trends in social innovation Students will analyse current and emerging trends, including impact measurement, hybrid organizations, corporate citizenship, social sustainability, DEI&B, accessibility, AI for social impact, new philanthropy, corporate volunteering and multi-stakeholder partnerships. Throughout the course, the Dynamo experience will act as the main connecting thread. Students will examine how an idea inspired by an international model was adapted to Italy; how a foundation can operate with strong entrepreneurial and managerial logics; how free services for beneficiaries can coexist with organizational sustainability; and how education, advisory, experiential learning, corporate partnerships and connected entities can contribute to a broader impact ecosystem. Specific attention will be devoted to: Dynamo Camp and the model of Recreational Therapy; The influence of the SeriousFun Children’s Network; The entrepreneur’s philanthropic role; Fondazione Dynamo Camp ETS and the broader Dynamo ecosystem; Dynamo Academy as a bridge between Dynamo’s experience and the corporate, institutional and educational world; the Dynamo Method as an approach based on inclusion, accessibility, relationship and experiential learning; the connection between social impact, business culture and community value.

Reference materials will be defined and shared by the faculty during the Certificate.

The Certificate will adopt active, experiential and collaborative teaching methods. Frontal lectures will be combined with guided discussions, case analysis, entrepreneurial testimonies, simulations, group work, practical exercises, peer feedback and individual reflection. The teaching approach will be consistent with the Dynamo perspective: students will be encouraged to observe needs, listen to stakeholders, design intentionally, act concretely, adapt to complexity, evaluate impact and communicate responsibly. Teaching methods will include: • case-based learning; • experiential learning; • stakeholder mapping • social innovation canvas; • guided debates; • role-play and simulations; • project work; • peer feedback; • learning journal; • final pitch; • guided use of digital and AI tools for trend analysis, preliminary research, scenario building and project design. • The course will encourage students to connect theory and practice, individual reflection and teamwork, entrepreneurial thinking and social responsibility.

Assessment Method Assessment will be based on a pass/fail evaluation, with no numerical grade. Students will be evaluated through three main components: 1. Active participation Students are expected to attend sessions, contribute to discussions, participate in exercises, engage respectfully with peers and demonstrate active listening and collaborative behaviour. 2. Group project work Students will work in groups to develop a concise social innovation proposal, strategic note or project concept inspired by one of the themes addressed during the Certificate. 3. Individual reflection paper. Each student will submit a short individual reflection paper focused on the role of the social innovator and on the personal learning generated by the course. Final assessment format The final assessment will take the form of a Social Innovator Shadowing Lab, a scalable simulation of job shadowing inside an impact-driven organization. The overall assessment is expressed on a pass/fail basis. Requirement for obtaining the Certificate: regular attendance of at least 70% of the learning activities and successful completion of the final assessment. For non-compliant students and students exempt from the attendance requirement, learning outcomes will be assessed through an oral examination, defined by the instructor in accordance with the Certificate content, learning objectives, and expected learning outcomes. For this purpose, the examination for non-compliant students and students exempt from the attendance requirement may include, at the instructor's discretion, questions on course content, discussion of cases or practical scenarios, analysis and discussion of materials, presentation and discussion of individual assignments, or any other assessment method deemed appropriate to verify the full achievement of the expected learning outcomes. The Digital Badge will only be awarded to students who meet the minimum 70% attendance requirement. Therefore, students who, for any reason, including exemption from the attendance requirement, do not meet this threshold will not be eligible to receive the Digital Badge, even if they successfully pass the final examination.

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