The Involvement of Universities in Social Enterprise: The Fu Jen Experience

Yaonan Lin, Associate Professor College of Management Fu Jen Catholic University [email protected]

Content

• Background of social enterprise context in Fu Jen Catholic University • Introducing the Taiwan Social Enterprise Innovation and Entrepreneurship Society (SEIE) and the Social Enterprise Research Center (SERC) • Selected SEIE and SERC Activities and Events • Recent developments and future plans • Concluding remarks 2

The Background

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Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan

•A comprehensive catholic university.

•Current student enrollment is more than 26,000.

•11 colleges, 48 departments, offering 47 master's programs, 22 in-service master's programs, 11 Ph.D. programs •More than 120 sister schools worldwide. •Provide students a diversified, holistic, and international learning environment .

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The Aftermath of 2008 Financial Crisis in Taiwan…

• Increasing social polarization toward an “M shaped society” • Stagnant income level • High unemployment rate • High living cost • Shrinking donations to NPOs 5

What We should Do Next Step?

Social Enterprise to Rescue!

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What is Social Enterprise?

•

Social enterprise

–A business driven by social and/or environmental purpose.

–Their main income streams are revenues for goods and services provided, not grants or donations. –Reinvest their profits back into the business or the local community to achieve their social mission, rather than to maximize profit for shareholders or owners . ( Source: Social Enterprise UK) 7

Why We Need Social Enterprise ?

–Frustration with traditional charitable approaches.

–Limitation of the government –Self-sustainable –Accountable –For-profit businesses and non-profit organizations can also tap into the strengths of the social enterprise approach.

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Introducing SEIE and SERC

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The Founding of SEIE in FJU

•

The Taiwan Social Enterprise Innovation and Entrepreneurship Society (SEIE)

台灣社會企業創新創業學會 – Jointly founded in Dec. 2009 by the

academia

(faculty members at the College of Management, Fu Jen Catholic University and from other universities),

businesses

, and the

social sector

. – Aiming to bridge the gap between business and the social sector, so as to create significant social influence.

10 •.

The Founding of SERC in FJU

•

The Social Enterprise Research Center (SERC)

– Founded in Nov, 2010 by the College of Management in Fu Jen University.

– A research and educational center.

– Making the connections between theory and practice , so as to facilitate social entrepreneurship research and learning 11

Selected SEIE Activities and Events

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Selected SEIE Activities and Events

•

Taiwan Social Entrepreneurship Forum

( 社會企業國際論壇 ) – An annual international conference since 2010.

– Inviting delegates from the academia, the business, and the social sector. – A 4-day conference incorporating 13

Selected SEIE Activities and Events

• )

Social Justice Forum

( 社會企業公義論壇 – A quarterly forum to discuss social justice issues – 8 discussants and 200 participants on average 14

Selected SEIE Activities and Events

•

Social Enterprise Speech Series

( 社會企業演講列車 ) – A monthly speech in Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung respectively.

– Work with Wenzao Ursuline College of Languages and Providence University.

– 36 speeches in total annually.

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Selected SEIE Activities and Events

•

Social Enterprise Coaching and Incubation

( 社會企業輔導 ) – Provides coaching and consulting to social enterprises.

– 10 social enterprises received the coaching in 2011. – 3 social enterprises were founded in the Innovation and Incubation Center in FJU.

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Selected SERC Activities and Events

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Selected SERC Activities and Events

• )

Social Enterprise Workshops

( 社會企業工作坊 – A bi-weekly workshop for practical experience sharing 18

Selected SERC Activities and Events

•

Social Justice Seminars

( 社會公義講堂 ) – A bi-weekly academic seminar on social justice issues • Field trips – 2 to 3 trips per year to visit social enterprises 19

Selected SERC Activities and Events

•

Research projects and publications

( 社會企業計畫補助與期刊發表 ) – An integrated research project and several individual research projects granted by the National Science Council (NSC) – Publishing in conferences and journals 2011 NSC Project 2,803,000 NT Dollar 2012-2015 NSC Project 9,441,000 NT Dollar 20

Selected SERC Activities and Events

• )

Social Venture Competitions

( 社會企業創業競賽 – Hosting venture competitions on campus to inspire students to access the practical social enterprise 21

Recent Developments

• An increasing number of participants of the SEIE and SERC.

• Integration with service learning activities.

• Offering new courses on social enterprise and social innovations.

22

Recent Developments

• Establishing a new master program of social enterprise management (admission and enrollment will start from fall, 2013. The first program directly related to social enterprise in Taiwan ).

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Recent Developments

• Working with more social enterprises to expand service learning sites – Domestic : Taiwan Farmers ( 台灣農夫 ), Rejoice Bread Workshop ( 喜願麵包 ), indigene communities in Hualien ( 花蓮原住民社區 ), O Power( 光原 ), Mana Organic Farm ( 瑪納有機 ) 24

Recent Developments

• Overseas : the mountain villages near Kunming City (Yunnan Province, China), Gawad Kalinga (Philippines), and service-learning center, Sanata Dharma University (Indonesia).

Fu Jen student reported by local newspaper in Indonesia

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Future Plans (2013-2015)

• HR training and development for social enterprise.

• A philanthropic store on campus. ( 公益商店 ) • Systemic coaching and consulting for social enterprise. • More collaborations with the government, other universities, businesses, and NPOs to build the social enterprise network in Taiwan. 26

Future Plans (2016-2019)

•To promote the social participation of businesses.

•To plan for a small financing system for social enterprise. •To establish a corporate social performance and evaluation system.

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Concluding Remarks

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How Can Universities Facilitate Social Enterprise?

•

Researching

– Creating knowledge on social enterprise.

•

Teaching

– Spreading knowledge of social enterprise.

– Cultivating social entrepreneurs or talents to work with social enterprise.

•

Coaching

– Providing professional advices to social enterprise.

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How Can Universities Facilitate Social Enterprise?

•

Incubating

– Supporting the successful development of new social ventures.

•

Environment shaping

– Making the awareness of government and related stakeholders to maintain a favorable environment for social enterprises.

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University is not only university.

University could be the enabler of social enterprises!

And we believe that we can do more social engagements…

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The Websites

•

The Taiwan Social Enterprise Innovation and Entrepreneurship Society (SEIE)

台灣社會企業創新創業學會 • http://www.management.fju.edu.tw/subweb/seietw/ subindex.php

•

The Social Enterprise Research Center (SERC)

社會企業研究中心 • http://seietw.blogspot.tw/ 32

Thanks for Your Listening!!! Any Questions?

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