Campus Partners

Cross-disciplinary problem solving is foundational to the ideals of social value creation. Learn about the unique ways in which the center works with partners at Smith and across campus to help create a better world through business.

The center works with Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech) to infuse social entrepreneurship into the scope of the next generation of technology entrepreneurs. By contributing thought leadership and knowledge sharing to MTech workshops, technology ‘boot camps’, and business plan competition series, we help aspiring entrepreneurs envision the impact of their ideas from a potential social and environmental perspective. Take a look at Assistant Director Guillermo Olivos presenting “Entrepreneurship and the Triple Bottom Line” as part of the University of Maryland $75K Business Plan Competition seminar series, and “Social Entrepreneurship in Technology and Innovation” at the 2011 technology boot camp.

Together with the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship our center offers advice, resources and support to student entrepreneurs interested in social impact and social enterprise. Social entrepreneurship is a fast-growing field that is transforming traditional MBA programs around the country. Starting in fall 2012, the Dingman Center and the Center for Social Value Creation will co-host Social Enterprise Pitch sessions where students can pitch socially-minded business ideas to entrepreneurs in residence.

The center works with the University of Maryland’s Office of Sustainability to explore the integration of sustainability into existing courses through the Chesapeake Project, and on special undertakings such as the creation of the ‘Sustainable Campus Tour’ and the energy monitoring and reduction program for campus buildings.

We partner with the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) on international student engagement opportunities and on special events like their hallmark Emerging Markets Forum. Our latest collaboration includes a six week volunteer consulting project in Sri Lanka that enables students to apply their technical, managerial, and business skills to assist local Sri Lankan firms. This program is made possible by a partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

To create the greatest impact policy and business must work in concert. Our center partners with the School of Public Policy to offer students hands-on learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. The center also partners on the Philanthropy Fellows program, open to students in social value creation courses as well as students in the Philanthropy and Nonprofit Management Program. In 2012, the Center was a supporting partner on the first-ever Do Good Challenge - a unique effort by the UMD School of Public Policy and Bacon to stimulate "social entrepreneurship" and student philanthropy on campus.