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Free University of Bozen-Bolzano

Solidarity Economy and Social Agriculture

Semester 2 · 51115 · Bachelor in Social Work · 4CP · DE


In the industrialised countries, solidarity economies of the past decades have reacted in particular to the technology-driven changes in the labour markets and were associated with responses to deindustrialisation and mass unemployment. From the
realisation of the need to create sustainable alternatives of sufficiency, of "enough for all", a new eco-social movement of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) is growing worldwide today. The combination of social and ecological intentions is new compared to previous decades and results in a greater potential for innovation through the integration of different social movements. Today, the solidarity-based economy is part of an awareness of the turnaround in growth and is linked to alternative ideas of welfare, a good life for all and the preservation of the natural and cultural foundations of life. Its significance lies not only in its economic potential and its contribution to overcoming the current social crises, but also in its emancipatory power vis-à-vis dependencies on the state and the market.
Social farming (SoLaWi) is part of the SSE. Social farming refers to health-promoting interventions and social integration measures in the context of agriculture and forestry or horticultural activities that aim to improve the social, physical, mental or psychological well-being of people and to open up learning opportunities and options for meaningful and affordable employment for specific target groups.

Lecturers: Miriam Zenorini

Teaching Hours: 30
Lab Hours: 0
Mandatory Attendance: In accordance with the regulation

Course Topics
Solidarity-based economy and SDGs Forms of organisation and fields of action in Italy and Europe Historical and current developments Special potentials Solidarity-based economy as social innovation Successful examples in South Tyrol, Italy and Europe

Teaching format
Lecture, seminar-based learning, project development, interviews and exercises

Educational objectives
Students understand the potential and organisational methods of the fields of action and research of solidarity economy (SSE) and social farming (SoLaWi) in their socio-political context. They recognise the innovation potential of these approaches for numerous fields of social work as well as the possibilities of eco-social transformation and sustainable development. They will be able to understand the roles and tasks of the social professions in this field and develop appropriate concepts.

Additional educational objectives and learning outcomes
The students have developed a critical perspective and are able to identify, in their surroundings, projects that can be assigned to the two fields

Assessment
Students attending the course: written documentation and oral presentation of this documentation (two options: 1. development of a realistic project in the field of Solidarity Economy or Social Agriculture; 2. documentation of an existing project in the field of Solidarity Economy or Social Agriculture in Italy or abroad). Students not attending the course: written documentation (summary and commentary of Elsen S. et al. 2020. Perspectives of Social Agriculture with special attention to developments in Italy. Bolzano: BUP) and an oral exam.

Evaluation criteria
Students attending the course: active participation (10%), written documentation (60%), and oral presentation (30%). Students not attending the course: written documentation (50%) and oral examination (50%).

Required readings
  • Elsen, S. 2019: Eco-Social Transformation and CommunityBased Economy. New York: Routledge
  • Elsen S. et al. 2020. Perspektiven der Sozialen Landiwrtschaft unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Entwicklungen in Italien. Bozen: BUP


Supplementary readings
  • Ilcheong et.al. Encyclopedia of social and Solidarity Economy;
  • Andres, D.: Soziale Landwirtschaft im Kontext Sozialer Arbeit
  • Limbrunner, A./Elsen, T.: Boden unter den Füßen


Further information
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Sustainable Development Goals
This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the following Sustainable Development Goals.

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