Aims: The doctoral programme recognises the importance of the social and economic area of the Social Economy sector, and its training and technological particularities, in a context of great economic and social change. It aims to provide prospective professionals and researchers in Social Economy with the knowledge and skills that may place them in a favourable position in a scientific, professional, educative and interactive context. On the other hand, social researchers must deeply understand the scientific tools and their analytical power, acquiring an attitude for making questions to specialists and the ability to understand the answers provided by them. Besides, a better and higher degree of knowledge on business reality in the Valencian Social Economy is expected.

Description: Social Economy as social and economical sector, composed of cooperatives, worker-owned companies, NGOs, foundations and other volunteer organisations and social companies, has experienced a strong growth in the world, especially in Europe, where during 2009 employed more than 14,5 million people, according to CIRIEC the European Social and Economic Committee (2012). Its economic and labour dynamism in Spain and in the Valencian Community also is strong: the number of entities of Spanish Social Economy are 51.762, with a turnover of 101,555 millions of euros and 11.372.488 members in 2007. At least the 15% of these organisations (those of a significant size) form a considerable business universe that need management professionals. This social sector is carrying out important regulating functions of the social and economic system; creating social cohesion; maintaining and generating incomes, employment and integration of excluded people; promoting territorial development and social innovation (CIRIEC, 2007), which is why public administrations considered it a key partner in their public policies.