The Indian School of Business has teamed up with cloud technology giant SAP to nurture social entrepreneurs — the latest example of elite schools promoting social enterprise.The ISB-SAP Social Enterprise Jumpstart will identify five social enterprises and provide four months of training, mentorship and access to networks to accelerate their growth. The upstarts will also to pitch their business plans to venture capitalists and take part in a SAP boot camp.
It’s the most recent in a long line of similar announcements by top schools globally. They are increasingly throwing their weight behind social entrepreneurs.
“Entrepreneurship is core to ISB’s DNA and...We are now extending this spirit of enterprise beyond our students to help start-ups in the social enterprise space,” said Rajendra Srivastava, ISB’s dean.
And many schools are teaming up with corporations to tap into their expertise, networks, and funding.
In February, Stanford University received a $400 million donation from the founder of Nike, Philip Knight, to develop global leaders who can tackle society’s most pressing social challenges.
That followed an announcement from Oxford University’s business school, which received £3.7 million from hedge fund boss Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Foundation to develop social entrepreneurs, while INSEAD set up a similar scholarship for emerging market women in December 2015.
And Chicago’s Booth School, meanwhile, launched a scholarship for non-profit leaders funded with $4 million from the Neubauer Family Foundation.
“Our objective is to create investible and growth-oriented social enterprises that would address unmet social needs and create significant employment opportunities,” said Dilipkumar Khandelwal, MD of SAP Labs India. “We will provide mentorship and connects to technology experts to speed up the growth of the social enterprises.”
Business schools say they are seeing a surge in interest in social entrepreneurship among MBA students. “Students think they can have a big contribution to society by setting up their own social companies,” said Ignasi Carreras, director of the Institute for Social Innovation at ESADE Business School.
Ben Mangan, executive director of the Center for Social Sector Leadership UC Berkeley’s Haas School, added: “The shift is part of a much broader desire to achieve social impact through whatever you spend your time on.”
This reflects the changing attitudes of the millennial generation, which occupies most MBA programs. “We’ve seen a rise in applications from people looking for a purpose and for the business knowledge that our MBA program provides to make the changes needed to address real social problems,” said Bruno Lea, associate director of MBA Admissions at IESE Business School.
As a result, businesses from McKinsey & Company to even Goldman Sachs are offering students careers that have a feel-good factor, say schools.
“There has been an enormous increase in social impact-driven for-profit companies that are growing and looking to hire,” said Erin Worsham, director of social entrepreneurship at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business.
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Duke University Fuqua School of Business
Supportive atmosphere
The professors at Duke university exhibit exceptional commitment to the success and well-being of their students by ensuring their academic growth and fostering a supportive social atmosphere. Moreover, the entire community is recognized for its amicability and inclusiveness.
Diversity
The people or the students are without a doubt Duke's greatest asset. While all students are driven to succeed, they are also enthusiastic about a variety of hobbies. You run across a huge lot of diversity. It is the ideal example of a school with well-rounded students and the ideal balance of campus life in a metropolis.
Happy to school
All I could ever hope for is Duke University. That really epitomizes the "work hard, play hard" philosophy that elite colleges frequently pursue. Even though you'll have a lot of schooling to complete over the week, it's simple to keep focused because all of your friends are putting in similar amounts of effort. Many events taking place on and around campus on the weekends provide a great way to unwind. The combination of demanding academics and traditional college fun strikes the perfect balance.
Good schooling
Living, eating, learning, and developing who you want to be as an adult are all fantastic at Duke. I participated in student athletics, and I couldn't have asked for a better interaction with the faculty and other students. I appreciate all of the help I get from the Duke community more than anything. Furthermore, the teachers take the time to get to know you, and the lectures are diverse and demanding (if you do the same). I'd give it a 10 out of 10.
Beautiful School, Nice Classes
DU remains one the greatest and best universities that I have ever stepped in. The school is beautiful and neat. The classes are spacious and also very nice. I enjoyed attending my Lectures in those lecture halls. I also loved the Lecturers because of the good work they did. The university also has very good dorms that are given to students on first come first serve basis and they are affordable
Amazing experience
I received my B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Global Health with a minor in Chemistry from Duke University. I was able to grow as a student, scientist, and global health advocate with the help of my friends, professors, and other mentors I met along the way. A lot to learn if you look and ask, a great place to learn for those who want to learn.
whirlwind of growth and change
An amazing 2 years, with covid and everything else happening Duke has been a place of growth for me. The courses , classes were one of a kind, online and on campus. But the valuable lessons learned in the classes are irreplicable. The students are amazing here, so much diversity , I had no problem fitting in. The teachers are down right brilliant and so helpful. Don't be afraid to ask them anything. Graduated with my MBA with Duke and now my future awaits.
One of the best for Business students
Graduated with an MBA. The classes were very insightful and engaging. The staff are very easy to deal with. The teachers and students, are truly amazing people. Grateful to all the people I've met along the way at Duke. I've learnt a great deal that will help me in my future endeavors. The campus itself is a marvel, it is beautiful.
The university campus is awesome
I graduated with a masters degree in Religious Studies from Duke University. One thing I really liked about the university is its huge campus. It is spread in a large area with a lot of greenery and also have the facilities of reading rooms for single person also. My department building was very well taken care of. The library is immensely populated with books for all your needs. The faculty is very nice to students. The classes are equipped with latest technology to cater the needs of students. The University also provides room rentals for international students. They are very well maintained and priority is given to the International students for a comfortable stay there. There are weekly events conducted by the University as well as Student clubs for the entertainment of students. Anybody can take part in them and show their talents. I enjoyed my degree and I graduated in 2021 and was very happy that I had graduated from a reputed University.
Program Flexibility and Vibrant Campus Life
Duke University is renowned for its rigorous academic programs and vibrant campus life. The university offers a diverse range of majors and research opportunities, supported by world-class faculty.
What I particularly liked about Duke was its strong sense of community and the wealth of extracurricular activities available to students. The campus is beautiful, with top-notch facilities and a supportive atmosphere that fosters both personal and academic growth.
Overall, I would highly recommend Duke University for its excellent educational offerings and strong alumni network. If you're looking for a place that challenges you academically while offering numerous opportunities for personal development, Duke is an excellent choice.
