I found this concept interesting when looking at it from a perspective of someone interested in applying to the program. Obviously, social entrepreneurs want to be efficient with their capital and want to find the most efficient ways to accurately place themselves and their business in the best position possible. Assuming that the program is marginally beneficial, it seems as if this model would undoubtedly become the best option for social entrepreneurs.
I guess my question is more directed at Professor Hollis: Do you think a free education like this is beneficial enough to deter social entrepreneurs from receiving their MBAs or will the stigma of a free, online education turn people away from the program? Additionally, is it unrealistic to think that a free online education in social entrepreneurship could be a viable replacement for receiving a traditional MBA?
Good question. I think the answer turns on a different, preliminary inquiry: how valuable is the ‘traditional’ MBA to a social entrepreneur? Given that a lot of MBA programs have struggled to incorporate principles of ‘traditional’ (which is to say ‘commercial’ or ‘for-profit’) entrepreneurship, I wonder how many of them have content that really meets the needs of social entrepreneurs? I’m certainly not saying that it can’t be done, or hasn’t been done. But academia in general is not a place that innovates quickly. And so it wouldn’t surprise me if alternative educational programs were widely viewed as more relevant and helpful than a ‘traditional’ MBA….
I agree with Professor Hollis with the fact that there could be ways to incorporate the values of social entrepreneurship however in the university settings, it is quite difficult and slow-changing. However, I feel like UC Berkeley’s integration of this education without costs could be a great step towards the goals of social entrepreneurship, although may not be the end goal. This could be very influential for other fields to look up to as a standard for interpreting and integrating social entrepreneurship in a more practical manner. Great job!
Traditional MBA programs often boost a candidate’s application from the perspective of the larger firm to which they are applying. An MBA candidate appreciates that their degree likely signals to potential employers that they are dedicated to the business world and have a greater understanding for its complexities than do non-MBA candidates.
Yet, entrepreneurs are typically self-employed, so it’s interesting to consider entrepreneurship programs from the perspective of larger companies looking to hire candidates. Would institutions worry that those with entrepreneurial degrees are not dedicated to progressing within a larger company? Are they concerned that the entrepreneurs may leave and start their own firm or product?
Moreover, if students enrolled in entrepreneurial programs do not want to work at bigger firms, and hope to be self-starters, it makes sense that they would not be interested in spending a great amount of money on a program.