The Importance of Social Innovation in Business Education at Clark University

Whether you are a student, staff, or faculty member, I hope the current semester is going well for you, especially after the challenges we all faced in 2020.

I wanted to share my thoughts on a topic that I suspect is generating conversations among faculty and students at business schools around the country, as it is among mine: social innovation business education.

At Clark, we consider social innovation to be the application of innovative and sustainable business practices that achieve positive change. Put another way, it is an expression of corporate responsibility.

You have likely observed how social innovation has gone from a “nice-to-have” to a “must-have” at companies and organizations globally. Analysts look for it, shareholders value it, and perhaps most important, customers are demanding it. Forbes Magazine observes that “results at any cost are being replaced by results the right way.”

I believe it is our responsibility as business educators to prepare our students for a changing world. Toward that end, the School of Business at Clark University recently adopted a mission statement that calls for us to “prepare leaders for a lifetime of success founded on the principles of social responsibility, sustainability, and ethical business practice.” Our vision for our school is to be a leader in social innovation business education, with a focus on project-based learning and community engagement.

This is an evolution, not a revolution, for us. The School of Business has a legacy of challenging “business as usual” that dates back to our founding in 1982. Our faculty and students have long collaborated with business and community organizations at the local, national, and global levels to challenge the status quo and effect positive change.

I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on social innovation business education and its impact on you or your school’s programs. I would also be happy to tell you about my recent experiences sharing our school’s new mission and vision with Clark’s leadership team and board of trustees. I suspect some of the questions I fielded were not unique to Clark, and hearing about our discussions may be helpful to you. Please do not hesitate to contact me at  aeisner@clarku.edu.

I wish you the very best for the rest of your fall semester and hope we have an opportunity to connect soon.

Regards,

Alan B. Eisner, Ph.D.
Dean, School of Business, Clark University