Edu-leaders

Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI), Jamshedpur and Santa Clara University (SCU), California, USA, have signed an MOU to promote social entrepreneurship in India. XLRI will manage and support Global Social Benefit Incubator (GSBI), the signature programme of the Centre for Science, Technology, and Society of Santa Clara University.

Every year, GSBI screens and selects about 15 to 20 social ventures from across the globe, and incubates them with technical inputs and mentoring, and grants to make them investor-ready.

There are about 30 GSBI alumni social ventures in India, which include some of the globally well-known organizations such as Gram Vikas, Jaipur Rugs, Drishtee, Mother Earth, Husk Power Systems, Video Volunteers, Naandi Foundation, among others.

As GSBI's Indian partner, XLRI Jamshedpur will identify and recommend Indian social entrepreneurs to GSBI for incubation and access to seasoned Silicon Valley mentors. In addition, XLRI will also partner with SCU to conduct due-diligence on the applicant Indian ventures to ensure appropriate potential and quality.

According to Professor Madhukar Shukla of XLRI, coordinator of the partnership, "With about 30 GSBI social ventures in India, which range from the well-established ones to very young start-ups, there is an enormous potential to facilitate mentoring relationship among the GSBI alumni themselves."

XLRI and SCU also plan to collaborate to develop case studies of the GSBI's Indian alumni ventures. "These case-studies will be a valuable academic resource to promote learning about sustainable models of socio-economic development, and will help dissemination of practices and lessons learned in the social entrepreneurial space," added Shukla.

Source: igovernment