Learning outcome(s) assessed by this assignment:

All learning outcomes were assessed.

At the postgraduate level, you are expected to:

• show evidence of assignment planning

• have a high standard of presentation, structure, layout, and design

• demonstrate appropriate coverage, critical appreciation, and evaluation of relevant literature

• demonstrate a critical understanding of key concepts and the application of theory to practical solutions

• show evidence of originality of thought and approach and creative problem-solving ability

The mark awarded for this piece of work remains provisional until ratified by the Assessment Board.

Assignment Brief:

The fashion industry has significantly contributed to environmental challenges, accounting for 8-10% of global  greenhouse  gas emissions. This pressing  issue  demands innovative and sustainable solutions to address throughout the entire fashion supply chain—from production and distribution to consumption and disposal.

This assessment invites you to embark on a transformative journey as a Social Entrepreneur dedicated to mitigating the environmental impact of the fashion industry. Your focus extends beyond traditional  methods, empowering you to develop strategies that minimise emissions and promote sustainability while enhancing social equity within the fashion ecosystem.

Country Selection:

Choose  a  country  of  your  choice  that   is  facing   significant   challenges  related  to  the environmental impact of the fashion industry. Envision starting  a new  not-for-profit social enterprise aimed at devising intelligent solutions for one of the various stages of the fashion supply chain mentioned.

Design Thinking Approach:

Utilise  Design  Thinking  principles  to  craft creative  and  impactful solutions.  This  involves empathising with the needs of the target audience, defining the problem, ideating  potential solutions, prototyping, and testing those solutions, and finally, implementing the most viable and effective approach.

Business Model Development:

Leverage Osterwalder's Business Model Canvas to structure your social enterprise's business model. This structure encompasses various aspects, including:

Introduction: Provide some background information about your social enterprise. The key problem  being addressed  and why  it  is an issue worth pursuing. State your position  and provide details of the most important points you are going to make which support your social enterprise.

Customer Segments:  Identify  the  key  stakeholders  and  beneficiaries  of  your  solutions, ranging from businesses, communities, governments, and non-governmental organisations.

Value Propositions: Articulate the unique value your social enterprise offers to address the  challenges. This could involve innovative technologies, services, knowledge-sharing platforms, and more.

Channels:  Determine  how  your  solutions  will  be  delivered  to  your  identified   customer segments. This could include online platforms, partnerships, workshops, and direct outreach.

Customer Relationships: Define the type of interactions and relationships  you will establish with  your  customers.  This  might  involve  continuous  engagement,  feedback  loops,   and collaboration.

Revenue Streams:  Explore  sustainable   funding   sources  for  your  not-for-profit   social enterprise. This could encompass grants, donations, partnerships,  or fee-based services (3- year projection).

Key Resources:  Outline  the  essential  resources  needed  for your  enterprise  to  function effectively. This includes human capital, technology, infrastructure, and knowledge assets.

Key Activities: Detail your social enterprise's core activities to develop, deliver, and maintain your solutions.

Key Partners: Identify potential partners, collaborators, and stakeholders who can contribute expertise, resources, or reach to enhance the impact of your solutions.

Cost  Structure:  Break  down  the  anticipated  costs  associated  with  running  your  social enterprise. This includes operational expenses, staffing, technology, marketing, and more (3- year estimation).

Conclusion:

Your report should  present  a  comprehensive overview of  how your social enterprise  will operate, the positive impact it will have on the challenges, and how it plans to achieve financial sustainability while prioritising the solutions to the key problem.

Important Note:

This is a practice-based assessment. Marks will be awarded based on the extent to which you address  the  assessment   brief,  provide  thorough  market  research,  and  present  specific numerical data and figures. The focus is delivering actionable recommendations for a real- world, business-simulated company, not outlining theoretical concepts. You must substantiate your recommendations with clear evidence and logical justifications. Simply presenting ideas without data and analysis will not suffice.

Format - further guidance:

• Assignment Cover Sheet

o Module Name

o Assessment Title

o Word Count

o Student ID number

•    You will include a correctly formatted reference list and in-text citations using UoS Harvard referencing format. Refer to

http://libguides.uos.ac.uk/friendly.php?s=academicskills/referencing .

•    Your work should be presented  in a report format, using headings, and including a content page and page numbers.

•    Please choose a clear font (either Arial or Times New Roman) using size 12.

•    Please ensure your work is 1.5 spacing.

•    Your total word limit is approximately 3,500 words (+/-10%).

Employability Skills

On successful completion of this module, a student will have had opportunities to demonstrate their employability skills acquired on the course through reading,  selecting, and analysing information from a range of sources, through producing different kinds of documents required for this module, and through preparing and disseminating critical information.

Assessment Criteria (part 1/2):

The assessment guidelines below offer guidance on marking criteria and outline expectations in this module regarding word limit, presentation time, referencing, and consequences for non- compliance. Submissions exceeding the word count by more than  10% will  be penalized. Presentations  exceeding  the  allotted  time  will  lose  marks.  Claims  without  proper  in-text citations and referencing will result in automatic failure.

Review guidelines carefully and consult library referencing guidance to avoid penalties.

Referencing:

Ensure that all submissions are appropriately  referenced and adhere to academic integrity guidelines. All claims and facts in your academic submission must be supported by references in Harvard style. Any work submitted without in-text citations and a reference list will result  in an automatic refer. Simply listing references at the end without using them as in-text citations throughout your work will also result in a refer. Refer to library guidance on the proper use of in-text citations and referencing.

http://libguides.uos.ac.uk/friendly.php?s=academicskills/referencing

Wordcount:

Written  submissions  within  (+/-  10%)  of  the  stated  word  limit  will not be  penalized. Submissions exceeding the word count by more than 10% will be penalized by deducting 10% from the overall marks. Any content exceeding the maximum word count by over  10% will neither be read nor contribute toward assignment marks. Word count excludes references and executive summary.

Presentation Length:

Presentations must be within the allotted time. Presentations will be stopped at the end of the allotted time. 5% will be deducted from the total marks for presentations which go over the allotted presentation time.

Using AI: On this module, you may use AI appropriately in your assessments,  such as Grammarly for grammar corrections or ChatGPT for generating ideas. However, AI should not be used to generate the final text—whether written, verbal,  or in video format— submitted for assessment. All work must be expressed in your own words, developed and constructed by you. If there are concerns about inappropriate AI use, you may be required to have a conversation with your module leader(s) to discuss your approach to the assessment.