ESRC South West Doctoral Training Centre (SWDTC) Studentship: Sustainability approaches and growth strategies of Social Agricultural Co-operatives in Italy

Research Potential: This project investigates the approaches to growth and sustainability adopted by Italian Social Agricultural Co-operatives (SACs). With strong support from a wide range of stakeholders, the study explores the strategies, scaling up/growth, and social and environmental sustainability issues of SACs, drawing on a theoretical understanding of the role of co-operative social enterprises in the transformation to a more sustainable economy and society.
Academic Excellence: First, this exploratory research will adopt a qualitative approach in a mixed method design to understand the composition of SACs, including the factors that enable them to pursue sustainable growth. A key focus is their articulation with welfare policies that address the crisis in the rural economy. Second, this will be one of the first studies investigating Italian SACs from both growth and sustainability perspectives, focusing on the balance between these two goals and on the strategies, resources and capabilities required to effectively scale up social enterprises’ positive impacts. Third, the research will suggest which performance management tools will be of benefit to SACs on different pathways toward scaling up and sustainability. Fourth, the empirical findings will contribute to practical implications for policy. Deepening the knowledge of SAC practice in Italy comes at a timely strategic juncture, as the Italian government is bringing the non-profit sector (defined by the Prime Minister “the third but the first sector”) to the forefront of national policy making. The government has recently started to provide improved legal and policy support for social business and a new law aimed to get the third sector out of its niche is currently following its parliamentary iter, to be implemented in spring 2015. The EU is looking at the outcomes of these interventions to shape wider EU policy, which means that the research has potential practical (policy) implications.
Academic entry requirements: For the 1+3 programme students must have a strong first degree (at least an Upper Second Class Honours or equivalent) in a relevant discipline. Candidates for the +3 programme must, in addition, have (or be about to complete) a research Masters degree in a relevant discipline or have equivalent research training. Personal qualities should include the ability to work independently and the motivation necessary to complete a PhD in three years.