Dell works for students who cannot go to school and arranges classes for them. Pooja Warrier, Co-Founder of Unltd India Bombay Connect is passionately working for social change. Liela Janah, Founder & CEO of Samasource works for the poor to get them to a dignified employment in the digital economy by breaking down small computer-based tasks form larger projects. Arunachalam Muruganantham manufactures low cost sanitary napkins for rural women.
These are just few significant examples of what youth are doing to better the society. These people are contributing to the society but wait, they are not working for some Non-Profit Organisation (NGO) but are making profit out of their social initiatives. They are not social workers but yes contributing to the society in a big way. With their socially viable ventures these Social Entrepreneurs are here to stay.
Social Entrepreneurship is quite popular in the West where government also funds projects which benefits the society. The last decade saw the emergence of social entrepreneurship on a big level. Not only new startups but big established organisations also launched many projects for the benefits of the society some of which included construction of low cost homes in tsunami/earthquake hit areas. The desire to contribute to the society is spreading like a wave among youngsters many freshers who are getting graduated from a B school are starting their own venture with a social agenda to it.
This wave has resulted in a demand of social entrepreneurship training to be started in B schools as well. Reputed institutes in west like Harvard University, University of Oxford and many others train students with a course in social entrepreneurship. The management arena which was about profits and numbers got into social entrepreneurship. The students who wanted to contribute to the society could now do so by earning profits as well along with learning the skills of management and leadership.
Though it’s a new concept but there are many students who are walking out of highly lucrative job offers only to start their own project only for the good of the society. UK alone saw rise of 68,000 social enterprises in the year 2013. However it was a meagre figure when compared to 5 lacs new businesses which got registered the same year but the good thing about it was that youth which is well trained from a world class B schools are now coming up for making a social change.
India is also witnessing a sea change in the way youth is standing up for social causes. After their education instead of looking for a job with an MNC, the youth have started to work for the society. The society which needed the change for the better is being supported by the passion of graduates, engineers and MBA professionals as well. Many B schools like TISS, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management, in India have now added the Social Entrepreneurship skills in their curriculum.
There are many inspiring examples of social entrepreneurs who also encourage the youth like Harish Hande, Founder of Selco India, a solar electric light company which has lit up over 120, 000 households to emerge as India’s leading solar technology firm; Dr Verghese Kurien is popular for setting up the AMUL Dairy farm and improving the lives of many villagers; Bunker Roy founded Barefoot College which promotes rural development through innovative education programmes; Yashveer Singh is supporting the youth-driven social entrepreneurship through National Social Entrepreneurship Forum and Muhammad Yunus who founded the microcredit and the Garmeen Bank is supporting various farmers in the rural belt of India. These are just a handful of names among the others who are serving India through there innovative ventures.
Why should I take up this course?
Having an idea is not enough you have to be fully equipped to turn it into a reality. If you have the passion to work for the society then you can give this course a look. Social Entrepreneurship will not only teach about the basic of entrepreneurship but will also make you market ready to contribute to the society through your venture or to support a venture which aims at changing the society for the better. Not only will it make you earn for your living but will also let you work for your nation and society.
Career opportunities of Social Entrepreneurship
Social Entrepreneurship is an upcoming wave in the world. The social entrepreneurs are contributing in the development of the society through their innovative business ideas. The sector which saw a rapid growth is now being boost up by the education sector which is training more and more youth who are all set to change the world. If you have an idea then all you need is a little polishing. Opportunities are ample and don’t worry about the returns, your passion to work for the society will give you great returns as well after your venture is set up. These B schools which are training students in the Social Entrepreneurship are acting as an incubator of change for the world. Not only they are contributing to the society but are also underwriting a progressive future for the generations to come…
If you are the one with the zeal to change the world then you can also explore the idea of being a social entrepreneur yourself. Give it a thought!