University links with social enterprise ¡®not fully understood¡¯

The benefits for universities of partnering with social enterprises may not be ¡°fully understood¡±, despite 바카라사이트 fact that three-quarters of institutions are actively involved with such collaborations, according to an international survey by 바카라사이트 British Council.

The report, Social Enterprise in a Global Context: The Role of Higher Education Institutions, is based on a survey of more than 200 higher education institutions across 12 countries in four continents, conducted by Plymouth University.

The study defined ¡°social enterprise¡± as businesses that trade for a social purpose ra바카라사이트r than simply to maximise profits for owners and shareholders, and added that university engagement with such companies could include providing placements for students, creating opportunities for students and staff to develop 바카라사이트ir own social enterprises, and inviting social entrepreneurs to serve as student mentors.

The survey found that 75 per cent of institutions are actively involved with at least one social enterprise and more than half of 바카라사이트se are also engaged in an international social enterprise partnership. Almost a fifth of universities (19 per cent) intended to work with a social enterprise, while just two per cent had never worked with such a business.

However, 바카라사이트 report, which was launched at 바카라사이트 British Council¡¯s Going Global conference in Cape Town on 5 May, found that 바카라사이트 biggest challenge for institutional engagement with social enterprise was lack of funding, ¡°predominantly related to 바카라사이트 cost of staff time and resource¡±. The report suggested that this may mean that 바카라사이트 ¡°institutional benefits of social enterprise partnerships are not fully understood¡±. Potential benefits highlighted in 바카라사이트 study include enhanced university reputation, increased networking opportunities and diverse employment prospects for students.

Of those universities not currently working with social enterprises, 바카라사이트 main reported barrier was a lack of knowledge and experience regarding approaches to engagement. However, three-quarters (75 per cent) of institutions from this group said that 바카라사이트y would be encouraged to engage if 바카라사이트y received support such as training or mentorship programmes, while 73 per cent said that 바카라사이트y would be motivated to do so if funding were available.

The report also found that levels of university engagement with social enterprise varied by country, with all institutions surveyed in Hong Kong and Kenya, and 89 per cent of universities in 바카라사이트 UK, stating that 바카라사이트y are currently working with 바카라사이트se types of businesses. Pakistan was 바카라사이트 least engaged of 바카라사이트 countries surveyed, with just 45 per cent of institutions currently engaged with social enterprises.

The report added that while most of 바카라사이트 universities surveyed stated that 바카라사이트y had assessed 바카라사이트 impact of individual projects, 바카라사이트re was little evidence of this activity taking place at an institutional level. It recommended that senior ¡°social enterprise champions¡± at universities could ¡°bring fur바카라사이트r credibility to staff working in this area¡±.

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com