Spheres of Activities of Nonprofit-Organisations

Faculty

Faculty of Business Management and Social Sciences

Version

Version 1 of 29.11.2023.

Module identifier

22M1116

Module level

Master

Language of instruction

English

ECTS credit points and grading

5.0

Module frequency

only summerterm

Duration

1 semester

 

 

Brief description

This practice-oriented seminar, involving field trips and guest speakers, gives students the opportunity to explore and learn about the various submarkets of the NPO sector. Students are familiarized with the problems, challenges, and specifics in various fields of action of NPOs. In addition to the seminar, students go on a study program-specific field trip during the block week to visit a wide range of NPOs.

Teaching and learning outcomes

The module is part of the specialisation in Fields of Action. Students undertake practice-oriented explorations of specific problems and challenges faced by NPOs in various fields of action (cultural, social, environmental, etc.) at the national, regional, and local levels in cooperation with practical institutions, and analyse and address them with reference to the theoretical knowledge gained.

  1. Description of the structures and fields of activity of NPOs in the areas of culture, education, environment, sports, development cooperation, and social affairs
  2. History and development trends in the fields of culture, education, sports, environment, social affairs, and development cooperation
  3. Description of special institutions and organisations in the aforementioned areas and their management profiles
  4. Interested practices: practical experiences of nationally and internationally operating NPOs/NGOs.

Overall workload

The total workload for the module is 150 hours (see also "ECTS credit points and grading").

Teaching and learning methods
Lecturer based learning
Hours of workloadType of teachingMedia implementationConcretization
25SeminarPresence-
20ExcursionPresence-
Lecturer independent learning
Hours of workloadType of teachingMedia implementationConcretization
40Work in small groups-
65Preparation/follow-up for course work-
Ungraded exam
  • Presentation or
  • Oral presentation, with written elaboration
Exam duration and scope

Presentation: approx. 10-30 minutes

Report: apporx. 10-30 minutes with a written paper of 5-10 pages.

The requirements are specified in the relevant class.

Recommended prior knowledge

Participation in Module 1 of the specialisation

Knowledge Broadening

Students are familiar with the significance of NPOs operating nationally and internationally in the context of national and regional policies as well as global governance. They discover which nationally, regionally, and internationally operating NPOs are important in selected fields of action. In addition, students know about the practical experiences of various NPOs in different fields of action.

Knowledge deepening

Students are able to demonstrate and justify the benefits of NPO participation in national socio-political decision-making and good governance. In addition, students are able to identify and compare the conclusions drawn from different experiences.

Knowledge Understanding

Students are able to analyse the prerequisites for NPOs to operate successfully under different framework conditions. They are able to understand and assess the circumstances and framework conditions of various subsectors of the NPO sector.

Application and Transfer

Based on their knowledge, students recognize, record, and analyze the activities of NPOs operating nationally, regionally, and internationally. Building on this, they are able to propose solutions for better goal achievement or for the correction of non-compliance, taking into account a systemic approach.

Academic Innovation

The knowledge gained in the first module of the specialization gives students the theoretical framework needed to be able to assess practical contacts in the “Fields of action” module.

Communication and Cooperation

Students present their results orally or in writing, demonstrating the explanatory power of the results. They are responsible for contacting the institutions to be visited, enabling them to familiarize themselves with professional communication.

Academic Self-Conception / Professionalism

The students’ contacts and visits to NPO institutions, their assessment of the situation at hand, and their active questioning of the institutions and their managers enable them to operate confidently in the professional environment and to find out which area they might be interested in for their future careers.

Literature

Anheier, Helmut; Toepler, Stefan (2020): The Routledge Companion to Nonprofit Management, Routledge, New York 

C. Badelt et al. (Hg.)(2013): Handbuch der Nonprofit Organisationen. Stuttgart, aktuelle Auflage

Helmig, B. / Boenigk, S. (Hrsg.): Nonprofit Management, 2012 München

weitere Literatur abh?ngig von den Praxiseinrichtungen und Handlungsfeldern

Linkage to other modules

The module is directly related to the first and third modules of the specialisation in Fields of Action.

There are also links to most other modules in the Master program, given that topics from all areas of nonprofit management are addressed during the field trip.

Applicability in study programs

  • Management in Nonprofit-Organisations
    • Management in Nonprofit-Organisations M.A. (01.09.2024)

    Person responsible for the module
    • Birnkraut, Gesa
    Teachers
    • Birnkraut, Gesa