Позитивные изменения. Том 3, № 3 (2023). Positive changes. Volume 3, Issue 3 (2023)

A PARTNERSHIP FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT

Every expert interviewed underscores the idea that collaborations between social entrepreneurs and higher education institutions are inherently symbiotic. First, by integrating social businesses into their curricula and sending their students for internships at social enterprises, educational institutions enhance their own value proposition. This strategic move gives them a distinct competitive edge. Prospective students are more inclined towards forward-thinking institutions that not only remain attuned to current trends but also draw in a diverse pool of experts and actively engage in societal issues. Second, these collaborations afford educational institutions the luxury of real-world case studies, lending practicality to their academic programs. And finally, an institution functioning as a market player may also turn to social enterprises as providers of certain services, and prior associations with social entrepreneurs simplify the selection.

Social entrepreneurs, in turn, receive dual benefits: a solution to their staffing challenges and a platform to further their cause, namely engaging the young people in addressing societal challenges through business. “To me, knowledge without practical application holds lesser value. It’s heartening to see knowledge transmuted into action. The goal is to ensure every student walks away with something new, holding seeds of knowledge and ideas that will eventually find tangible manifestations,” Anastasia Varlygina concludes.