Social entrepreneurs from across the globe who are passionate about social justice and transforming the lives of those less fortunate can now enrol in Curtin University’s latest Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).
The seven-week MOOC titled, ‘Disciplined approach to social entrepreneurship’ and delivered through the edX online learning platform, will prepare aspiring social entrepreneurs with the relevant knowledge and skills to build a strong sustainable business entity committed to social innovation.
Course Coordinator Associate Professor Subra Ananthram, from the School of Management at Curtin University, said the new MOOC would help innovators turn their ideas into a viable business that would benefit the wider population.
“From social entrepreneurs to those employed in not-for-profit organisations, this course will allow participants to gain the relevant knowledge, tools and skills needed to further the cause for social change and create an impact around the world,” Associate Professor Ananthram said.
“Throughout the course, participants will learn from four successful social entrepreneurs including Harish Hande, Chairman and Co-founder of Selco in India, Runa Khan, Founder and Executive Director of Friendship in Bangladesh, Chris Leow, General Manager of Edible Garden City in Singapore, and Darren Lomman, Founder of Greenbatch in Perth.
“The global entrepreneurs involved in this MOOC share insights, through recorded interviews, about how they balance social aspirations with financial liability and how they have achieved scalability whilst minimising operational costs.”
Curtin University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Professor Jill Downie said the new MOOC targeted an important cause that had potentially significant implications for many populations across the globe.
“Curtin is committed to making education accessible for people around the world and this new MOOC will offer an innovative online learning experience for the social entrepreneurs of tomorrow to make a lasting positive impact,” Professor Downie said.
The MOOC will be facilitated by Associate Professor Subra Ananthram, Associate Professor Chris Rawson, Dr Jo Li Tay, and Ms Danelle Cross from Curtin University.
Further information on the MOOC and how to enrol can be found online here. It will run in self-paced mode, so participants can complete the course until November 2019, or in 2020 when it will be re-run.
Curtin is the only university in Western Australia in the edX Consortium.
