Miami University’s Institute of Entrepreneurship has branched out into the growing field of social entrepreneurship, but this isn’t about making the next great plug in for Facebook or Twitter.
In building one of the nation’s first such programs that concentrate on undergraduates, Miami is looking to apply entrepreneurship principles and practices to social problems and challenges such as inner city poverty, increasing education levels and environmental issues.
The Institute for Social Entrepreneurship was started several years ago by Brett Smith as a branch of the school’s overall entrepreneurship. Smith, an associate professor of entrepreneurship, is also now the director of the overall program – which has been around since 1992.
Since it started, it has helped create flywheel
Smith says the social aspect is one of three areas of emphasis for the program. The other two concentrate on teaching startup entrepreneurship as well as corporate entrepreneurship. The program was recently ranked 15th nationally among undergraduate focused programs by the Princeton Review. And earlier this year, the program was named as an Ohio Center of Excellence by the Ohio Board of Regents – meaning it could be in line for more funding and programming from the state and its Third Frontier program.
The center is also available for consulting work for those looking for help starting up a business or even with a corporation.
“We have a lot of momentum right now,” Smith says. “We are trying to connect deeply with the entrepreneur ecosystem in the Cincinnati area, and we are doing work with The Brandery and CincyTech.
“What we really are trying to do is both contribute to and benefit from that ecosystem. And we feel that we are doing a good job – more than half our students come from beyond the business school.”
For more information:
Institute of Entrepreneurship
Institute of Social Entrepreneurship:
Contact:
Sue Rude, 513-529-1221
By James Pilcher
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