Ateneo does not lack in initiatives that cater to social entrepreneurship. The GUIDON lists a few of these efforts that are present in the university today.
Illustrations by Karlo C. Amparo
Social entrepreneurship courses
Presently, the Development Studies Program offers four courses that focus on aspects of social entrepreneurship: DS 135.2 (Social Entrepreneurship), DS 135.21 and DS 135.22 (Social Innovations I and II), and DS 135.5 (Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development).
LS 152 and 153 (Strategic Management for Development I and II) are Specialized Strategic Management courses offered by the Leadership and Strategy Department in a joint effort with Gawad Kalinga (GK) and McKinsey. The goal of these courses is to develop livelihood opportunities that are scalable and sustainable, which will also serve as development models for GK communities.
Students are also exposed to a social enterprise through a field trip in LS 10 (Philippine Business and Economic Environment), which features a trip to GK’s Enchanted Farm.
Sections for social enterprises have also been put in place for LS 126 (Strategy Formulation) and LS 127 (Strategy Implementation). A major deliverable of LS 126 is a business plan that would be implemented and evaluated in LS 127. Classes that do social entrepreneurship projects are evaluated not only on the business management aspect, but also on the community impact that must be delivered.
“Negosyo Para Sa Iba, Negosyong Kakaiba, Negosyo Ka Nga Ba?”
In 2009, a two-day conference on social entrepreneurship was held at the Leong Hall Auditorium. The event, which was co-hosted by the Development Studies Program and the Philippine Social Enterprise Network, became an avenue for discussion of the definition of social entrepreneurship, its different practices and its impact on poverty.
More than 200 participants from various sectors including the government, NGOs, the academe, media, and corporate foundations were present at the conference.
The Ateneo–NUS–GK project
The Ateneo, the National University of Singapore and Gawad Kalinga have worked together to develop modules on entrepreneurship for sustainable development. Funded by the Temasek Foundation, collaborative efforts also include a “Train the Trainers” program, which provides workshops for GK Program Heads.
Trainers’ training workshop
Last August 24 to 26, a trainers’ training workshop on social entrepreneurship was conducted at the Ateneo de Davao University by Leland Dela Cruz, director of the Development Studies Program.
Gawad Kalinga volunteers, the director and staff of the Ateneo de Davao University’s Social Involvement Coordinating Office and faculty from the Information Systems Department and the School of Business and Governance participated in the workshop.
The participants were asked to customize the modules on Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development developed as part of the Ateneo–NUS–GK collaboration.
Ateneo–Philsen Social Entrepreneurship Conference
The 2011 Conference on Issues and Challenges in Social Entrepreneurship was co-presented by the Development Studies Program, the Philippine Social Enterprise Network (Philsen) and the Ateneo Center for Social Entrepreneurship (Acsent) to discuss four main challenges that confront social enterprises in the country: community and social entrepreneurship dynamics, scaling up, measuring social impact and policy environment.
Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Program
In partnership with local government units, the private sector and other academic institutions, the YLSE Program of the Ateneo School of Government promotes social entrepreneurship among young leaders and their organizations.
Projects include skills training and exposure to the conditions of social enterprises in the country through lectures and presentations. One of their programs is the Social Entrepreneurship Training for Young Professionals. It trains and assists the participants in developing their own social enterprise business plans.
