Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship-JE Gateway

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

"The Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship course will engage Bethlehem University (BU) and Notre Dame students and will explore the theories and practices associated with the dynamic discipline of social innovation and entrepreneurship, a landscape that includes paradigm-shifting solutions such as micro-credit/finance, micro-small-medium enterprise development, fair/direct trade, responsible/inclusive business, etc. The program will expose students to several of these "solutions", focusing on their opportunity for social impact and as a vehicle for wealth creation in vulnerable and disenfranchised communities. Inherent in this course is the belief that BU and Notre Dame students can be agents of social change, whether through a social enterprise, non-profit or for-profit organization, or a community action group, as an example. At the core of the course, students will be assigned to Palestinian organizations for a semester-long internship. The course instructor(s) will develop placement criteria, including how organizations will be selected as well as partner expectations, but it is anticipated that BU and ND students will be paired at a placement site to increase the cultural emergence between students along with the partner. Potential internship placements include Palestinian social enterprises, NGOs, and responsible businesses with corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.