Scenario of Social Entrepreneurship Curricula in Thailand

Abstract

This research aimed to explore the scenario of social entrepreneurship curricula in Thailand. The study involved interviewing experts, including educators and practitioners in social entrepreneurship, to gain insights into the future direction of these curricula. Semi-structured interviews were utilized as the primary research tool. The data were analyzed using content analysis, where information from interviews with experts was interpreted and categorized into key components. The findings are summarized as follows:

The results identified seven key aspects: (1) Challenges and obstacles in business operations, where most social entrepreneurs lacked knowledge and expertise in business management; (2) Solutions to business challenges, with most social entrepreneurs opting to enroll in short-term training courses to enhance their knowledge; (3) Content for teaching, which was divided into two parts: core business administration and social entrepreneurship-specific subjects; (4) Teaching and learning methods, which predominantly used an active learning approach, emphasizing hands-on practices; (5) Teaching materials, including visual aids from both domestic and international sources, such as static images, video clips, or guest lecturers by social entrepreneurs; (6) Assessment and evaluation using tools such as tests, business plan design for social enterprises, and portfolio creation, with a higher weight placed on practical skills in designing and solving social business issues than on cognitive knowledge assessments; and (7) Curriculum development for social entrepreneurship in Thailand, which was proposed in three formats: 1) short-term courses and bachelor’s degree programs, 2) short-term courses only, and 3) bachelor’s degree programs.