Education is one of the biggest investments a person can make. It is also one of the most valuable commodities on our planet.
In industrialized countries, education is part of how a person is brought up. where as, in contrast, education in developing countries such a commodity is scarce and something reserved for the elite or fortunate few.
The United States is full of fantastic institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Columbia. One thing all of these institutions have in common, besides being Ivy League, is their educational offerings in social enterprise.
Harvard’s mission for this program is to be a catalyst for creating social value. According to Harvard’s website they define the program’s mission as follows:
‘The Social Enterprise Initiative at HBS applies innovative business practices and managerial disciplines to drive sustained, high-impact social change. It’s grounded in the mission of Harvard Business School and aims to inspire, educate, and support leaders who make a difference in the world:’
The Social Enterprise Initiative engages with the nonprofit, for-profit, and public sectors to generate and share resources, tools, and knowledge.
Courses that focus on social enterprise are embedded into the MBA curriculum and Executive Education program offerings.
Beyond the classroom, HBS offers career development programs designed to support students and alumni who are engaged professionally in the social sector.
How does this impacts the world and the developing countries throughout?
Through the Social Enterprise Initiative program, Harvard has launched 4 social-enterprise focused projects located in Haiti, India, New Orleans, and Rwanda. Another highlight is that 1/3 of all Harvard alumni sit on the board of non-profits.
Fortune released a list of the best places in the United States offering social enterprise programs, some are listed below. A good education can also be used for good.
Babson College Babson Park, MA
Columbia University The Social Enterprise Program New York, NY
Cornell University The Center for Sustainable Global EnterpriseIthaca, NY
Duke University The Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) Durham, NC
Harvard University The Social Enterprise Initiative Boston, MA
New York University The Stewart Satter Program in Social Entrepreneurship New York, NY
Stanford University The Center for Social Innovation Stanford, CA
University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
University of California, Berkeley The Center for Responsible Business Berkeley, CA
University of Colorado at Boulder The Deming Center for Entrepreneurship Sustainable Venturing Initiative Boulder, CO
Yale University The Program on Social Enterprise New Haven, CT
By: Steve Gonzalez
steve@stevegonzalez.me
