4 days ago
Why we need a research-based social entrepreneurship course in Indian academia
India is making strides in digital innovation and financial growth, but still faces challenges such as unemployment, inequality, and the rural-urban gap. As a result, social entrepreneurship is becoming popular as a strong way to connect businesses with social impact. To fully realise its potential, universities need to include research-based, practical social entrepreneurship in their curricula.
Recent data from the GUESSS India 2023 Survey shows a notable change in career goals among Indian university students: 33% are in the early stages of starting their businesses, while 4.8% are already running revenue-generating start-ups. However, 70% still intend to find jobs after graduation, although this figure drops to around 52% over five years.
Despite this, Indian students exhibit the highest global entrepreneurial intent, scoring 4.6 on a scale of 7, compared to the global average of 3.7. Nearly 63% get initial investments or support from their universities. This reflects a rising interest among today's youth in having independence, social impact, and the chance to build something that not only creates profit but also tackles important national issues, going beyond traditional career paths.
Transformative approach
Social entrepreneurship is an increasingly recognised effective model to bridge the gap between social justice and economic development. Unlike traditional business models that prioritise market returns, social enterprises focus on serving underserved and neglected communities, offering scalable and sustainable solutions.
Addressing the root causes of inequality — like access to clean water, quality healthcare, education, and decent livelihoods — drives social entrepreneurs. The Stanford Social Innovation Review points out that businesses focused on underserved and untapped markets can make a real social impact while still being financially viable. India's development issues — such as rural sanitation, clean energy, climate resilience, and women's empowerment — create a strong environment for social entrepreneurship projects.
India has many innovative ventures that highlight successful social entrepreneurship. At IIM BAngalore, Saahas Zero Waste has turned the campus into a model of a circular economy by focusing on waste segregation, composting, and recycling. Tamil Nadu's Gramalaya NGO has enhanced sanitation, hygiene, and clean water access while building self-sustaining financing models for toilet construction. These stories go beyond programs and numbers; they focus on people.
Research-led innovation
Private universities bring together scholars from many fields. When they join forces to tackle real-world issues and turn their research into practical solutions, they can unlock the untapped potential of India's Ph.D.s. For instance, a public policy scholar studying poverty might collaborate with an engineering scholar to create a solution. A business scholar could then help expand this solution, leading to both academic success and positive social change. Universities should take an important role in encouraging such teamwork across disciplines to support social entrepreneurship. They should promote research that tackles social issues, moving from a purely theoretical activity into something that drives real change.
Despite a growing start-up ecosystem, disruptive innovation is rare. Research scholars can improve socially driven innovation by applying their expertise to real-world problems. To become an 'impact nation,' India needs inclusive, non-urban-centred innovation. This means integrating social entrepreneurship into education, policy, and practice.
The writer is Curator of Ph,D. VISTA Programme, Alliance University, Bengaluru.
