Representatives of Russian universities, charitable foundations and research centers formulated proposals and recommendations to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation on the sharing of successful social entrepreneurship practices in the country's universities as part of the round table "Social Entrepreneurship at the University: From Popularization to Startup". At the event, organized by the All-Russian public organization of small and medium-sized enterprises "OPORA RUSSIA", the Graduate School of Management of St. Petersburg State University (GSOM SPbU) was represented by Yulia Aray, Associate Professor of Strategic and International Management, Researcher of the PricewaterhouseCoopers Center for CSR.

 

“Since 2012, GSOM SPbU has educated more than 350 current and potential social entrepreneurs from all over Russia in programs offering further education, including Heads and Specialists of government bodies, foundations and large companies. Our methods of work have shown their effectiveness in Bachelor and Master programs: in addition to the “hard skills” that GSOM SPbU students acquire as a result of project activities, we help them develop the “soft skills” associated with the development of conscious thinking aimed at understanding the acute problems of humanity, the development of sensitivity and responsibility in relation to nature and society. We are ready to share our experience in creating high-quality programs for social entrepreneurship throughout the country,” said Yulia Aray.

 

During the round table, the experts proposed the creation of a scientific and methodological commission under the "OPORA RUSSIA" to support the development of social entrepreneurship in universities.

 

Since 2012, GSOM SPbU, together with the JTI Foundation, has implemented the Project Management for Social Entrepreneurs program. In 2018, the School of Social Entrepreneurship was launched. It includes a series of scientific and practical seminars for students of Russian universities.