ASoG-ISEA Intro to SE Course Launched
The Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) and the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA) piloted the Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship Course last March 15-18, 2011 at the Institute of Philippine Culture (IPC) Building, Ateneo de Manila University Loyola Campus in Quezon City. It was the first social entrepreneurship course to be launched under the Master in Public Management Program.
Enrolled in the pilot offering were 20 students from social enterprises such as Human Heart Nature and KMBI; non-government organizations (NGOs) such as the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, the Philippine Business for Social Progress, the Philippine Foundation for Environmental Concerns, and the ALAGA Lahat; local government units (LGUs) from the Province of Tarlac and the Municipality of Samal, Bataan; and national government agencies such as the Office of the President, the Commission on Elections, the Supreme Court, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health.
Of the 20 students, there were 9 who took the course as an elective under the Master in Public Management Program, while 11 took it as an executive course. Some of the students who took it as an executive course plan to have the course validated when they enroll under the Master in Public Management (Social Entrepreneurship track).
The course introduced participants to the evolving theory and practice of social entrepreneurship in the Philippines and Asia. It featured lectures, class and case discussions, film showings, exercises and workshops. The topics included Models of Social Enterprise Development, The Social Entrepreneur, Measuring Social Enterprise Outcomes, Stakeholder Engagement Strategies and Reimagining Markets and the Economy. Serving as faculty were Marie Lisa Dacanay, ISEA President and ISEA Consultant Rosalinda Roy. A highlight of the sessions was an interesting interaction with Rags 2 Riches Chief Executive Officer and multi awarded Social Entrepreneur, Ms. Reese Fernandez.
During the awarding of certificates, Ms. Chinchin Gutierrez, environmentalist and Founding President of Alaga L.A.H.A.T, and Atty Dulce Punzalan, an officer of Human Heart Nature rendered inspirational song numbers.
