Abstract
The project ‘Business for Social Good Education Program’ focuses on three interrelated areas: social innovation, social enterprise, and business with social good strategies. Specifically, the project aims to 1) raise students’ awareness on various social needs and challenges, including welfare of various underprivileged and disadvantaged groups; 2) Deepen students’ understanding on social innovation, social enterprise and business with social good strategies, and how they address social needs and be a force for good; and 3) Encourage students to participate in activities with positive social impacts.
Students will develop a structural and holistic understanding of the issue via a series of training workshops, learn directly from social change-makers in talks and firm / social enterprise visits, and finally conduct a research case study under the supervision of a business faculty member or a practitioner in the field.
The project contributes to the University’s theme of Global Citizenship and Social Enterprisingness, Contribution to the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals, Internationalization at Home, and Engagement of Students as Partners in Curriculum and Teaching and Learning Development.
Brief write-up
Project objectives
This Project focuses on three interrelated areas: social innovation, social enterprise, and business. (“
Focus Areas”). Specifically, the project aims to (1) Raise student’s awareness on various social needs and challenges; (2) Deepen student’s understanding on Focus Areas, and how they address social needs and be a force for good; (3) Encourage students to participate in activities with positive social impacts; and (4) Serve as a platform to connect local and international partners to work together on the Focus Areas.
Activities, process and outcomes
The platform
Business Edcuation for Social Good (BESGO) has been established. Project Activities include collaboration on the development of T&L materials, experiential learning activities and class meetings, plus complementary experiential learning activities co-led by faculty members from CUHK and practitioners.
Deliverables and evaluation
The deliverables include (1) 5 sets of T&L materials on social/business issues; (2) 6 seminars and workshops; (3) 4 visits to 3 communities and 6 social enterprises; (4) 10 studies on social enterprises and/or social impact projects; (5) 2 teaching cases; (6) 14 feature articles; (7) a project website; and (8) 4 presentations in workshops/talks/international conference. Student evaluation of the learning experience and outcomes has been excellent, suggesting that the project objectives have successfully been achieved.
Dissemination, diffusion, impact and sharing of good practices
The project experience and deliverables have been shared in various workshops, talks and international conference. There is a project website (
https://besgo.asia/) and the story was featured in CUHK Business School News: Driving Social Purpose through Innovative Business Education.
(
https://www.bschool.cuhk.edu.hk/featured-stories/driving-social-purpose-through-innovative-business-education/). Social media platforms, including LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram, have been used to promote the Project, too.
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/besgo/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/besgo.asia
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/besgo_asia/
A project booklet is to be published to share the project experience with wider audiences.
Impact on teaching and learning
The T&L materials and activities of the project have been very well-received by students as they gain a deep understanding about the social issues in Hong Kong and the associated business solutions and market development through our activities and their interaction with practitioners.
The project also successfully demonstrates how close collaboration with external partners can enhance experiential learning experience of students. This successful experience enhanced the confidence and capacity of Business School to conduct further projects and programs in Focus Areas.
