The concept of social capital is widely acknowledged as important, yet has been slow to gain traction in practice. This session introduces social accounting as a strategy to make social capital more visible, appreciated, and actionable to leaders, policymakers, ESG investors, and managers.

This presentation will propose a synthesis of social capital in three perspectives (individualistic, communitarian and macrosocial). The objective is to clearly expose what social capital is and what it is capable of doing through its different functionalities.

The seminar will look at the role of social capital in education access and success - K12 and higher education using a Bordieuan understanding of the role of the education system in reproducing social inequality. The seminar will explore how the concept of social capital as a non-financial factor can help us to understand higher education access for people from ‘marginalised’ or ‘disadvantaged groups’ and what policy implications arise from these understandings. The presentation will look at previous research, as well as a case study in a developing country context in the Caribbean. In addition, the possibilities and limitations to extend the concept of social capital in a plural, postcolonial society will be discussed.

A growing body of research now points to the pivotal role social capital plays in long-term labor market success and economic mobility. Unfortunately, social capital building is a skill that’s not taught in schools nor in America’s workforce programs.