Social Enterprise Gaining Ground

The Bridgespan study shows that top schools now offer twice as many courses on non-profit management than they did in 2003 (see chart below). One caveat: the study was limited. Bridgespan Group contacted 15 graduate business schools known for their academic coursework and attention to social concerns to understand the dynamics impelling its growth. Some 10 schools responded.

Follow-up conversations by Bridgespan researchers revealed five trends affecting the overall growth of social benefit related content in MBA programs:

1. Student demand: students actively seek opportunities to combine social benefit with MBA skills
2. Faculty interest: faculty researchers are influenced by practitioners, both in traditional business and the social sector, who are increasingly attentive to social benefit in their work; curriculum changes as a result
3. Employer demand: organizations that hire MBAs look for experience working across sectors
4. Competition among MBA programs: recognizing that applicants demand cross-sector experience, programs in competition for top students drive each other further into this field
5. The changing world: the boundaries between sectors are increasingly blurred in an interdependent global economy

DON’T MISS: THE BEST SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS IN SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP or HOW FUQUA TEACHES SOCIAL ENTERPRISE TO MBAS