Haas Announces Social Impact Partnership

And as Mangan points out, more organizations than early-stage or small nonprofits can make use of the courses offered through the partnership. “It’s important to note that ‘nonprofit’ includes the University of California system, a lot of public health systems, and a lot of government workers trying achieve social impact across the world who will benefit from these courses,” he says.

AN EXTENSION OF THE SOCIAL IMPACT TREND

The partnership is a result of a continuing interest in and passion for social impact in business, Mangan claims. “It says a lot about a trend I see where businesses and business leaders don’t see achieving social impact as a secondary or tertiary thing,” Mangan explains, “but instead, are seeking ways for social impact to be a part of the company’s business success.”

Mangan thinks human resources departments of larger companies might also show interest in the partnership offerings. “I actually believe that this will be a very attractive tool for talent development and HR development in departments at companies who have a lot of employees who are interested in gaining tools and where there is a strong cultural push to contribute to your community, but not a lot of great tools to position employees to do that well,” he says.

‘MBA-TYPE QUALITY’ WITH ZERO COST

Another piece to the new program is a social innovation platform for course participants to share social impact intellectual property. Mangan says this type of platform has “never been done at this level or scale.

“It’s going to be a way for those citizens around the world who are trying to gain tools to actually have some community around this and share information about what has worked, what has not worked,” Mangan says. “We have high hopes and a strong belief that that will really generate participation at the individual level outside of the vertical of being in the NGO world or government.”

Participants will receive a certificate upon completion of each individual course. No degree will be awarded for completion of all seven courses, but those finishing every class will receive a Certificate of Completion in Social Sector Leadership from Haas. Mangan says because of the content and expertise of instructors, the courses will have an “MBA-type quality.”

“I do think it speaks to a new type of credential that has the elements of an MBA and positions people to have greater impact,” he adds.

Al-Dabbagh and other unnamed funders have made a “multi-million dollar investment” to fund the project for the next five years. The program has reportedly already seen 11,000 people sign up and Haas would like to see hundreds of thousands enroll.

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