Social Entrepreneurship Program

Introduction　

The new graduate program for Social Entrepreneurship aims at providing students with opportunities to learn a multidisciplinary approach to social problems and to gain practical experience in the field. With the support of vast technological resources of Tokyo Institute of Technology, which is known to have one of the highest academic standards among technical universities in the world, the program will train future Social Entrepreneurs who will be able to solve various social problems by creating sustainable and innovative systems with new ideas, thus making the world a better place.

This program is supported by a grant under the Support Program for Improving the Graduate School Program of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo.

Introductory remarks by Professor Takashi Watanabe　

Technological innovation has brought about a rich society in the global economy. On the other hand, many problems such as poverty, long-term unemployment, the increased number of senior citizens and environmental problems, which have not been addressed in this progress, have been born. If we can not minimize the tragedy of these problems, we can not say we have realized true richness.

"Social innovation" is the introduction of new methods and structures to address these problems in society, and the leaders of these activities are called “Social Entrepreneurs”.

As a part of the Graduate School of the Department of Social Engineering of the University, the program will train future Social Entrepreneurs, providing theoretical knowledge, practical skills and ideas that strengthen the capacity of future leaders to champion social change.

Professor
Takashi Watanabe

An Example of a Social Entrepreneure:Muhammad Yunus

Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for their efforts to improve the lives of millions of poor in Bangladesh through micro-credit.

Loans to the poor appeared to be an important idea. Muhammad Yunus has managed to translate his vision into practical action by creating Grameen Bank, which has provided loans to more than 600 million people in the country, most of them are poor women. Grameen Bank has been a source of ideas and models for the many institutions in the field of micro-credit that have sprung up around the world.

Doctoral & Master’s Program

This program is a joint program with the Public Policy Design Program and the Nonprofit Management Course of the Department of Social Engineering. Therefore, students are required to be enrolled in one of the program/courses in order to pursue a Ph.D. A master’s degree is offered only by Public Policy Design Program; therefore, students who wish to pursue a master’s degree need to be enrolled in the Public Policy Design Program.

International Students

International students who are currently studying at Tokyo Institute of Technology and are interested in initiating social enterprises in their home countries after their studies are also eligible to participate in this program.

Distinctive Feature of the Program

Program for International Students

1.

This program is particularly meaningful for those students from developing countries who have their own idea about establishing a social enterprise or who have experience working with a social enterprise in the community.

2.

With the support of the faculty members and professional consultants, foreign students will prepare their own business plans for social enterprises in pairs with Japanese students. The feasibility studies will be conducted in the field for selected plans with financial assistance from the program. In order for students to initiate their own enterprise in their home countries, the faculty members will provide students with necessary guidance and support. Japanese students will also provide a support to the scheme in Japan after the foreign students return to their home countries to implement their plans.

3.

If there are technical matters to be resolved in order to implement the plans, university researchers will be asked to give technical advice to help solve theses problems. In addition, financial assistance can be sought from Japanese funding agencies or United Nations agencies.

Official Web Site 　

>>Social Entrepreneurship Program for International Students