BACHELOR OF SCIENCE HONOURS IN SOCIAL INNOVATION & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (BSCID)
| Module Code | Module Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| BSCID 105 | Introduction to Community Development | This is the first module of the Community Development strand and the most important because it lays the foundation on which all other Community Development activities are based. In this introduction to the field of community development, we will investigate the multiple meanings of key ideas such as “community” and “development,” and explore the roles that planners and related professionals can play in helping communities develop. The principles of equity and social justice are foundational in this module, and students will be challenged to reflect on some of their own experiences and perceptions. The module will also introduce students to a range of community development theories, approaches and practices. Both older “expert-driven” traditions and more recent approaches privileging participatory development and community action research will be discussed. Topics to be examined include: the links that connect communities, practices that spark development, and the ways in which local communities can participate in the design and planning of neighborhoods, programs, campaigns and initiatives to suit their needs and objectives. Finally, we will explore how we might work as researchers and practitioners, moving beyond the confines and structures of development and academic institutions to engage with communities globally. |
| BSCID106 | Introduction to Social Innovation | At the end of the course, students should be able to identify problems with communities and develop social innovation frameworks and guidelines for supporting less privileged and vulnerable members of society in different fields such as education; social protection; leadership/governance; health; transport; energy; droughts; climate change; epidemics; floods. It achieves this by introducing students to social innovation theories and enables them to develop and deploy effective solutions to challenging and often systemic social and environmental issues in support of social progress. While the custom has been to make social innovation the privilege of few elites in society, this course enables students to engage in multi-stakeholder engagement. These are necessary for community buy-in, share ideas and produce goods that add social value, switching roles and relationships (gender focus); as well as synergies involving Private Public and Community Partnerships. |
| BSCID102 | Poverty & Inequality | The module is concerned with understanding the way poverty has been conceptualized and defined. It will allow students to explore the incidence, magnitude and measurements of poverty and inequality, and the interventions for reducing inequalities. |
| BSCID 104 | Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship and Small Business Managemen | This module allows students to explore different social problems as well as identify the different entrepreneurial principles, processes and operations necessary to achieve social change and alleviate poverty from a grassroot level. Students will then be introduced to sustainable management of small businesses in a way that complements social entrepreneurship. The overall aim of this module is reinforcing the principles of social innovation in development initiatives – bringing in new entrepreneurial skills in a way that allows societal development – encouraging a business minded society in a way that focuses on benefiting the society as a whole as compared to individual business growth. |
| BSCID107 | Innovative Approaches to Community Work | The module explores contemporary, creative, and participatory ways of engaging communities to address social, economic, and environmental challenges. The module focuses on community-led solutions, inclusive development, and adaptive strategies that strengthen local capacities, promote collaboration, and enhance sustainable change in diverse community contexts. |
| BSCID 108 | Communication for Development | The world is replete with the development and innovation of sorts. The difficult is how to get marginalised communities to adopt these practices. In this module, we deal with how these practices are communicated. The module will cover role of information in development, the diverse technologies in the age of innovation, the Institutional contexts of innovation and the role of informal communications in development. At the end of the course students will be expert packagers of development focused information collected through acquired research techniques and professional engagement with communities |
| BSCID 103 | Innovation Policies and Strategies | This course aims at producing policy advisers in the field of community development. This course introduces students to the concept and examples of innovation in developing societies. Innovation can make a significant difference in addressing urgent developmental challenges in areas like agriculture, manufacturing, environment and health. The build-up of innovation capacities plays a central role in the growth of successful developing countries. Innovation capacity has to be built early in the development process in order to possess the learning capacities to enable ‘catch-up’ in development. Ultimately, a successful development strategy needs to build extensive innovation capacities to foster growth. By the end of the course, learners would have understood: The concept of innovation and its social and economic context; Significance of science and technology policy for innovation; The institutional framework that supports research and development (R and D) for innovation; The respective roles of industry, commerce, agriculture and ICT sectors as well as tertiary education institutions in contributing to innovation and Inclusive development and innovation. |
| FSBT100 |
Social & Behavioural Theory (Faulty Wide Module) |
This interdisciplinary module introduces students to foundational concepts in the social and behavioural sciences, spanning Sociology, Social Work, Psychology, Demography, Political Science, Public Policy, and Lifelong Learning. It equips students with analytical tools, values, and competencies to study human behaviour and society through the lens of social and behavioural theory. Emphasis is placed on theorising as a practical activity, encouraging students to critically apply theory to issues affecting individuals, groups, communities, and societies. The module also serves as preparation for professional practice, fostering skills for engaging with policy, politics, economics, and knowledge production as emerging social scientists. |
| SDLSSB101 |
Student Development and Life Skills (University Wide Module) |
This module equips learners with essential personal, social, and professional skills to thrive in academic and everyday life. It focuses on self-awareness, emotional intelligence, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and responsible decision-making. Students will also develop practical competencies such as time management, teamwork, leadership, and adaptability, preparing them to navigate challenges and opportunities in both personal growth and future careers. |
| IDSB101 |
Information & Digital Skills (University Wide Module) |
The Information and Digital Skills module develop learners’ ability to find, assess, and use information effectively while building confidence with digital tools. It covers online research, data management, communication, and collaboration, emphasizing ethical and responsible practices. By completion, learners can critically engage with digital resources across academic, professional, and everyday |
| LAICSBKI100 | Language Acquisition And Intercultural Communication For Social And Behavioural Sciences - KISWAHILI | This is a Kiswahili module targeted for beginners with no prior knowledge of the language. There are no predetermined prerequisites required to undertake this module. Any beginner student who intends to learn and speak Kiswahili as a second or foreign language can benefit from this module. The course offers interactive skills which underlie elementary communication in view of developing learners’ skills in social interactions. The teaching philosophy adopted is based on communicative and competency-based approach to language teaching. Focus is on the competency which learners have to accomplish in the target language for them to be able to communicate naturally in business and other social settings. It is hoped that the module will equip Kiswahili students with listening, speaking, reading and writing skills through various learning activities such as role play, exercises and tests. Upon completion of this module, students will have basic language skills that will enable them to function in multilingual and multicultural contexts in the spirit of Education 5.0. |
| BSCID201 | Institutions in Community Development | Institutions in community development are universally important and inevitable. Past and present societies are founded on institutions in community development. This module will introduce how sociologists scientifically study institutions and along with them community development in terms of its influence on well-being and social security of different social groups in society. We consider both the “public” and “private” dimensions of institutions in community development as central for academic study. A central theme will be diversity and change, as we consider the many ways institutions have changed over time worldwide; and the myriad forms of institutions diversity that surround us. We will discuss some sociological theories and methods used to study and understand institutions in community development including theories of modernization, sustainable livelihoods framework and postmodernism. We will also focus on institutions of different societies, considering diversity in contemporary development agendas, how variations in institutions are socially patterned and political aspects of community development. We will then look in detail at some of the major and specific factors which influence the relationship of civil society and the state; how the activities of the two argument each other in community development and factors which strain the relations between the two. Finally, we will consider how institutions in community development throughout the world, are reflecting and adapting to fundamental global changes that have economic and other impacts on them. |
| BSCID210 | Principles and Practices of Community Development | The module focuses on the foundational theories, values, and practical approaches that guide effective community development work. The module examines key principles such as participation, empowerment, equity, sustainability, and collective action, and how these are applied in real-world community settings. It equips learners with practical skills for working with communities, including needs assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of development initiatives, while emphasizing ethical practice, local ownership, and inclusive decision-making processes |
| BSCID205 | Capacity Development for Transformation | This module aims to introduce students to transformative and innovative development practices that promote active ownership and involvement from communities and people that are involved in aid. Capacity development has increasingly become the central approach within development discourses. Development practice is increasingly shifting from simple financial and technical aid towards a new paradigm that encourages and demands active involvement and ownership from the communities involved in aid programmes. The module introduces students to capacity development and the broader social, political, and economic environments in which change takes place. Students are also exposed to capacity development which is continuously shifting as experience informs policy, practice, and theory. To assist students to have a better understanding and mastering of capacity development, students are introduced to key concepts and principles of capacity development. The main focus being to equip students with practical skills for designing, planning, implementation, and assessment of capacity development initiatives. This module is theoretical, experiential and project based; hence students will be required to perform different tasks that allow them to acquire relevant skills and knowledge that lays the foundation for modules to follow. |
| BSCID202 | Management of Social Innovation | The module will help students to be good managers and administrators for the proper functioning of a social organization, basic notions in project management adapted to the reality of innovative social organizations. The module will cover the following aspects project as a work method and management tool, the project organization and the line organization,organizational development projects The project manager and project management – relational aspects, Stakeholders and context, Risk and risk management, Managing change in social innovation, Adaptation and Management of Change, Project management, Monitoring projects : (planning, budgeting, cost management and reporting, Evaluation of projects emphasizing participatory methods) |
| BSCID203 | Facilitating Development Practices | Facilitating Development Practices focuses on the skills and approaches required to effectively support and guide development processes at community level. The module examines the role of facilitators in enabling participation, dialogue, learning, and collective action among diverse stakeholders. It covers practical techniques for group facilitation, conflict management, consensus building, and participatory decision-making, while emphasizing sensitivity to power dynamics, culture, and context. The module equips learners with practical competencies to foster inclusive engagement, strengthen local capacities, and support sustainable, community-driven development outcomes |
| BSCID206 | Project Planning and Management | This comprehensive module offers students an in-depth exploration of project planning and management. It delves into essential principles, methodologies, and tools crucial for successful project implementation across various sectors. From initial conception to project closure, students will engage in theoretical discussions, real-world case studies, and hands-on practical tasks to gain a robust understanding of project management dynamics in the Zimbabwean context. Emphasis is placed on addressing challenges specific to the region, including cultural nuances, economic constraints, and governmental policies. |
| SDLSSB201 |
Student Development and Life Skills (University Wide Module) |
This module equips learners with essential personal, social, and professional skills to thrive in academic and everyday life. It focuses on self-awareness, emotional intelligence, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and responsible decision-making. Students will also develop practical competencies such as time management, teamwork, leadership, and adaptability, preparing them to navigate challenges and opportunities in both personal growth and future careers. |
| CCLSSB201 |
Critical Consciousness & Life Skills (University Wide Module) |
Develops students’ awareness of social, cultural and personal issues while fostering essential life skills for decision-making, problem-solving and responsible citizenship. |
| RISSB202 |
Research and Innovation Skills (Faculty Wide Module) |
This module equips learners with the essential knowledge, tools, and practices required to conduct effective research and foster innovation in academic, professional, and entrepreneurial settings. It emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and the application of systematic research methods to generate new ideas and solutions. |
| SSRM201 |
Social Science Research Methods (Faculty Wide Module) |
This module engages with the emergence of Social Science Research Methods and their need to deal with unique experiences, meanings making processes and interpretations of people and thus of society. At the end of the module students should be able to conduct qualitative research to inform policies and development initiatives. |
| SDLSSB301 |
Student Development and Life Skills (University Wide Module) |
This module equips learners with essential personal, social, and professional skills to thrive in academic and everyday life. It focuses on self-awareness, emotional intelligence, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and responsible decision-making. Students will also develop practical competencies such as time management, teamwork, leadership, and adaptability, preparing them to navigate challenges and opportunities in both personal growth and future careers. |
| EPECPSB301 |
Entrepreneurship, Professional Ethics Communication and Philosophy (University Wide Module) |
The module capacitates students with skills to organically grow enterprises through cultivating employees that are creative and innovative. These skills and knowledge are the corner stone of enterprise growth as they remove dependence on the owners to all in the organisation. Through the module organisational rejuvenation and sustainable competitiveness hence growth is guaranteed. |
| BSCID380 | Industrial Attachment | Industrial Attachment provides learners with supervised, hands-on practical experience in a real-world organizational or community development setting. The module bridges theory and practice by allowing students to apply knowledge and skills acquired during their studies to professional environments. It focuses on experiential learning, workplace ethics, problem-solving, and professional development, while exposing learners to institutional operations, project implementation, and stakeholder engagement. The module also emphasizes reflective practice, reporting, and supervision to enhance learning outcomes and career readiness. |
| BSCID401 | Engagement Strategies for Community Development | Engagement Strategies for Community Development focuses on approaches and tools for effectively engaging communities and stakeholders in development processes. The module examines participatory, inclusive, and context-sensitive strategies that promote trust, collaboration, and shared ownership of development initiatives. It covers methods for stakeholder analysis, community mobilization, communication, and partnership building, while addressing power relations, diversity, and ethical engagement. The module equips learners with practical skills to design and implement engagement strategies that enhance participation, responsiveness, and sustainable community development outcomes. |
| BSCID402 | Local & International Development | Local and International Aid for Development examines the role of aid in supporting development initiatives at both local and global levels. The module explores different forms of aid, including humanitarian assistance, development cooperation, grants, and technical support, as well as the institutions, policies, and actors involved. It critically analyses aid effectiveness, coordination, accountability, and sustainability, with attention to power dynamics, donor–recipient relationships, and local ownership. The module enables learners to understand how aid can be aligned with community priorities and national development goals to promote inclusive and sustainable development outcomes |
| BSCID405 | Community Profiling & Needs Assessment | The module is aimed at equipping students with the necessary skills necessary for participatory development. Community profiling is a relevant tool for generation of community knowledge. It entails building up a picture of the nature of needs and resources through the active participation of the community in question. By the end of the module students should have a clear understanding of Asset Based Community Development and its relevance in the sustainability of development initiatives. |
| BSCID406 | Community Based Social Impact Assessment | At the end of the course students who are expert advisers and managers in an array of fields such as disaster risk reduction; infrastructure development. Key products will include manuals on the following key thematic areas: Hazard Assessment; Risk Assessment; Cultural Impact; Environmental Impact Assessments and Policy Evaluations. The Community Based Social Impact Assessment will take students participatory theories, critical steps in joint assessments involving researchers and affected communities. Also built into the course will be introducing students to important Standards Operational Procedures (SOPs) for organisations such as Zimbabwe’s Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and the World Bank. At the end of the course, students should be able to develop Hazard Identification Indices and Severity Indexes. This will also include the development of Severity of Needs Indexes for different settings including workplaces and simulated hazards. The course will also introduce students to community damage assessments for different hazards e.g., people; infrastructure, crops, wildlife and livestock. |
| BSCID407 | Indigenous Technical Knowledge Systems for Social Innovations | The module will produce students who can advise government, business and civil society managers on how to include and respect local people’s development visions and aspirations. The role of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (ITKS) is a critical element in building community innovation against emerging social challenges such as climate change and management of common property resources has long been recognised in development literature. ITKS is also largely documented in both academic and community development literature to be important in bolstering collective action and forms the basis of civil science. The ITKS module enables the students to define and conceptualise both ITKS and emerging and identified challenges. At the end of the course, students will work with local communities to incorporate ITKS in problem-solving; writing Policy Briefs and development manuals |
| BSCID409 | Applications for Innovations for Effective | The Application of Community Innovations for Effective Early Warning Systems Resilience Building module teaches students to create synergies between community innovations and Early Warning Systems. At the end of the course, students must acquire knowledge to develop frameworks and guidelines for community resilience building in key areas such as Assessment; Institutional capacity building; Investment and Preparedness. Key will be developing plans and policy briefs on community-based Early Warning Systems in key sectors such as agriculture and food security, nutrition, health, education, environment, infrastructures, WASH, human mobility and other social services. |
| SDLSSB401 |
Student Development and Life Skills (University Wide Module) |
This module equips learners with essential personal, social, and professional skills to thrive in academic and everyday life. It focuses on self-awareness, emotional intelligence, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and responsible decision-making. Students will also develop practical competencies such as time management, teamwork, leadership, and adaptability, preparing them to navigate challenges and opportunities in both personal growth and future careers. |
| BSCID470 | Research Project | The module seeks to create skills of knowledge creation through giving students an opportunity to innovatively choose research problems and address them with the aid of the supervisor. The ultimate aim of this module is to enhance the student’s social research skills through informed and accumulated academic theory for subsequent practice and also consolidate the anthropological knowledge. At the end of the module students should be able to do independent research and produce quality honours research reports |