Social Entrepreneurs Heading to Oxford on MBA Scholarships: MBA News

By Tim Dhoul Updated Sep 05, 2019

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Introduction
Developing a social venture’s potential at Saïd Business School

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Five of the best socially responsible companies

Four social entrepreneurs have been announced as the winners of full MBA scholarships at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School.

Covering full tuition costs, the MBA scholarships are awarded by Saïd Business School’s Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship. This batch of social entrepreneurs will be the 10th to receive the annual award.

“There are many aspiring social entrepreneurs, but few who actually measure up to the challenge of having led initiatives focused on coming up with innovative, pragmatic solutions to some of the world’s toughest problems,” said Pamela Hartigan, director of the Skoll Centre, in a press release for Saïd Business School.

Developing a social venture’s potential at Saïd Business School

The Skoll MBA scholarships are designed to help social entrepreneurs build their business knowledge and expose them to key thought leaders and investors, boosting the potential and effectiveness of their ventures.

So, what are the backgrounds and projects behind the recipients of the school’s latest round of MBA scholarships?

Two students are from the US – one of whom has been working on improving access to life-saving malaria treatments in sub-Saharan Africa. The other, a chemical engineer with experience in medical diagnostics, is looking at ways to address health and development needs through technology.

A winner from India, meanwhile, has focused his career on delivering sustainable energy solutions through solar power to emerging markets. Last but not least, a winner from Costa Rica is the owner of a small firm providing legal services specifically to social enterprises engaged in areas such as fair trade, conservation and microfinance.

In the 10 years since the scholarship’s inception, 48 alumni have benefitted from its access to financial aid. In recognition of this anniversary, Saïd Business School is planning a series of celebrations in the coming academic year.

Written by

Tim Dhoul

Tim is a writer with a background in consumer journalism and charity communications. He trained as a journalist in the UK and holds degrees in history (BA) and Latin American studies (MA).