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Building the next generation of entrepreneurs |
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Building the next generation of entrepreneurs |
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The Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR) is a quarterly journal that focuses on strategies, tools, and ideas for nonprofits, foundations, and socially responsible businesses. Founded in 2003 and regarded as a thought leader in the field, it is written with professionals in mind and balances theory and case studies with practical applications and innovative solutions. The SSIR maintains an active blog, offers Social Innovation Conversations podcasts, and hosts a variety of events.
Based in the Stanford Graduate School of Business, the Center for Social Innovation (CSI) was founded in 2000 with the purpose of strengthening the capacity of individuals and organizations to develop innovative solutions to social problems. It pursues this through three main areas: thought leadership, student engagement, and community engagement. In addition to supporting the SSIR, the CSI leads the Stanford Project on the Evolution of Nonprofitsand has published more than 70 case studies on social organizations. The Center for Social Innovation has also started a new CSI Fellows program which supports new MBA graduates as they start new social ventures targeting marginalized populations.
Stanford University offers numerous ways to get involved with social entrepreneurship and international development, regardless whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student.
Hosted in the d.school, this intensive two-quarter graduate-level course charges students with developing comprehensive designs that address the problems faced by the world’s poor. Multidisciplinary teams learn about design thinking, need finding, and rapid prototyping. These are real-world projects that are field tested with local partners, and most students continue beyond the class to deploy their designs. Recent projects incude the award winning Embrace baby incubator, asthma treatment, water storage, irrigation pumps, and clay stoves.
Future Social Innovators Network (FUSION) was started at Stanford in 2000 by Greg Dees, a pioneering thought leader in the field and now Director of the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship at Duke University. It’s aim is the inform, inspire, and involve students by hosting workshops, conferences, and lecture series on social entrepreneurship. FUSION has an extensive network and has helped students connect and intern with nonprofits and social enterprises.
The Stanford Association for International Development (SAID) is helps student stay informed and active in the challenges facing international development. In addition to serving as a hub for networking and mentoring, SAID hosts an annual conference on a relevant topic with prominent speakers and engaging workshop sessions. Last year’s Water Conference featured Paul Polak, founder of International Development Enterprises, Donald Kennedy, then Editor-in-Chief of Science, and Vanessa Tobin, the UNICEF Chief of Water, Sanitation, and the Environment.
The Business Association for Stanford Entrepreneurial Students (BASES), one of the largest student groups at Stanford, has a long history of promoting entrepreneurship. It hosts the Stanford Social Entrepreneurship Challenge, a business plan competition for social ventures with $50,000 in awards, as well as workshops and speakers addressing vital aspects of entrepreneurship.
Courses related to social entrepreneurship are appearing throughout the Stanford University. The Graduate School of Business teaches a social entrepreneurship course in addition to Executive Programs in Corporate Social Responsibility and Nonprofit Management. Undergraduates flock to a popular seminar course that features distinguished social entrepreneurs. The Stanford Law School offers a law perspective to social entrepreneurship and international development, while the economics department teaches students about evaluating health improvements, regulation, and competition in less developed countries. The mechanical engineering department and design school guides students through need finding, product development, and manufacturing, while biodesign courses work to create innovative solutions to healthcare problems.