Description of the specialization in non-profit organizations

Introduction
In recent years civil society organizations have become a growing force in the field of social development and in the search for innovative responses to Argentina’s challenges. Social entities play a key role in consolidating the democratic regime and guaranteeing a pluralistic voice, the defense of rights, and the participation of citizens in the public realm. In turn, social entities have a essential place in satisfying basic needs and the construction of the social structure, as well as providing services linked with education, health care, social advocacy, employment and vocational training, housing, culture, the promotion of human and social rights, and the attention to and social promotion of vulnerable groups. In tune with this process, the Centro de Estudios de Estado y Sociedad, Universidad de San Andrés and Universidad Torcuato Di Tella have joined together to implement Social Development and Civil Society Program through an agreement that was established in November 1996. The objective of this Program is to strengthen the performance of Third Sector organizations by training specialized human resources to lead these entities, to promote studies and research that help to understand themselves, and to stimulate conceptual and methodological developments that contribute to their functioning.
Within this framework, since 1997 the Social Development and Civil Society Program has offered a Postgraduate Degree in Non-Profit Organizations targeting those persons who seek to improve the institutional ability of the Third Sector and to achieve greater efficacy and efficiency in their organizations. The Program takes a critical lens and a strategic vision of the particularities and challenges of Argentine civil society. With the objective of deepening this formation, the Program launched, in 2000, the Master’s Degree in Non-Profit Organizations. The Program also organizes conferences, training seminars, and activities to update professionals and promote the reflection and training of the professionals in the sector.
In 2001 the Social Development and Civil Society Program, together with Harvard Business School (U.S.A), Instituto Centroamericano de Administración de Empresas –INCAE– (Costa Rica), Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey –EGADE– (Mexico), Pontificia Universidad Católica (Chile), Universidad de los Andes (Colombia), and Universidad de Sao Paulo (Brazil) developed the Social Enterprise Knowledge Network (Red de Conocimiento sobre Emprendimientos Sociales), with the support of AVINA Foundation to conduct research in the field of social enterprise responsibility and, in particular, to advance successful alliances between businesses and NGOs. Training seminars have been organized targeting middle and upper management that work in institutional relations, community relations and business foundations.
The Program has developed fluent links with several international academic centers dedicated to training and research in non-profit organizations, social accountability, and civil society. In Argentina, the Program works closely with the main social organizations, donors, and companies involved in community-related initiatives. The network allows graduates of the course to maintain permanent contact with the main concerns and challenges of the sector.
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Profile of the applicants and the students
The Postgraduate Degree in Non-Profit Organizations targets middle and upper management, leaders, technical personnel, and advisors to non-profit organizations, such as civil associations, foundations, charities, co-operatives, business chambers, professional associations, and community organizations. The Postgraduate also offers the opportunity to obtain specialized training for those who work in public organizations, associations of international cooperation, or business foundations and in projects that promote the development of social organizations or that actively contribute to these groups.
In general terms, applicants to the Postgraduate have working experience with these organizations, and have held positions of responsibility in them. In some cases, the application of recent graduates is considered by virtue of their previous participation with non-profit organizations and their potential to effect a significant contribution to the development of social organizations.
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Curricula
The Degree in Non-Profit Organizations is organized in three terms. Each term consists of three courses. Each course lasts three and a quarter hours. Classes are held on Mondays and Wednesdays in the evening and on Saturday mornings.
The curricula include:
> Introduction to Civil Society
> Organization and Structure of Social Entities
> Accounting for Managers and Budget Control
> Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of Social Programs
> Analysis of the Third Sector and Philanthropy in Argentina
> Management of Human Resources and the Development of Volunteerism
> Development of Financial Resources and Fundraising
> Marketing for Social Organizations
> Governance and Strategic Management of Non-Profit Organizations
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Terms of Admission
Applicants must fulfill the following requirements:
> Hold a university degree
> Fluency in written English
> Experience in non-profit organizations as a volunteer or employee
In some cases, applicants with a tertiary degree and at least five years experience working in non-profit organizations may be accepted as non-regular students.

Thanks to the generous support of a group of donors and businesses, the Program can offer a small number of part-scholarships. These are granted on the basis of financial need, professional and academic background, and potential for contributing to Third Sector development.
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Information and registration
For information or application forms, call 4783-3410 between 14 and 19 o’clock, or e-mail: info@pdssc.edu.ar. Openings are limited. Registration will close when 45 students have been accepted.
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Authorities
Executive Council
> Silvina Ramos, Director of Centro de Estudios de Estado y Sociedad
> Juan Pablo Nicolini, Rector of Universidad Torcuato Di Tella
> Dr. Carlos F. Rosenkrantz, Rector Universidad de San Andrés
Director
> Gabriel Berger
Académic Committee
> Gabriel Berger, Universidad de San Andrés
> Inés González Bombal, Centro de Estudios de Estado y Sociedad
> Enrique Peruzzotti, Universidad Torcuato Di Tella
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Faculty
> Berger, Gabriel (Ph. D. in Social Policy, Master in Management of Human Services, Brandeis University, USA; Professor of Universidad de San Andrés)
> Wirth, Cristina (Ph. D. in Economics, UBA; Professor of Universidad de San Andrés)
> Dvoskin, Roberto (Master of Sciences in Business Economics, Instituto Technion de Israel; Professor of Universidad de San Andrés)
> Frydman, Fernando (Master in Management of Human Services, Brandeis University, USA)
> Gervasoni, Carlos (M.A. in Political Science, Stanford University; M.A. in Latin American Studies, Stanford University; Professor of Universidad Torcuato Di Tella)
> González Bombal, Inés (Master in Social Sciences, FLACSO; Researcher at CEDES)
> Hofman, Enrique (Industrial Engineer, UBA, Professor of University de San Andrés)
> Peruzzotti, Enrique (Ph. D. in Sociology, New School for Social Research, USA; Professor of Universidad Torcuato Di Tella)
> Roitter, Mario (Master en Administration, IESA, Venezuela; Researcher at CEDES)
> Kievsky, Ariel (M. A. in Education, Boston University, USA)
> Walter, Jorge (Ph. D. In Sociology, Universidad de Paris III, Sorbonne Nouvelle; Profesor of Universidad de San Andrés)
> Yoffe, Daniel (Licentiate in Psychology and Sociology, UBA; Director The Fundraising School/CEDES)
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