Center for Social Innovation

Service Learning exposes students to social and environmental innovations around the world. MBA students travel to meet globally recognized social entrepreneurs and see, through engaged service, firsthand experience, and on-site consulting projects, how their management education can contribute to effective and sustainable solutions.

Enhancing Business Education for Rural Entrepreneurs When MBA students Scott Raymond and Katherine Boas returned from a service learning trip to Thailand and Cambodia, they were inspired to do more. They worked with the Population and Community Development Association to create a basic curriculum that is now being adapted for use at other microlending organizations around the world.

Can my organization get involved?

We repeat our trip destinations every year or so to foster relationships, build upon previous learning, and establish trust and continuity with our partner organizations. Consequently, we do not regularly introduce new destinations to our trip portfolio nor frequently enter new partnerships.

However, there are two ways for you to get involved:

• If you are a Bay Area organization with relevant regional or issue area expertise, consider coming to campus to speak with students as they prepare for their trip.
• If you are an international organization, located in a country we plan to visit, and have relevant issue area expertise, consider hosting our students during their trip in either December or March.

Our partners get involved to:

• Share innovative solutions to social and environmental problems
• Connect with Stanford resources and talent
• Build a network of global support and awareness
• Benefit from on-site volunteer service and follow-up MBA consulting projects

Engagement opportunities

Service Learning Trips
Approximately 20 students and a faculty advisor explore a global issue in depth during an eight to ten day winter trip December/January or spring (March) break. Trips in the United States and abroad include meetings and service activities with our partner organizations.

Post-Trip Projects for Academic Credit
Students contribute to the work of our partner organizations in the form of a research paper, case study, or consulting project.

Longer-Term Project Support
Stanford MBA students may return after a trip to work on-site with one of our partners in a consulting capacity to address a specific organizational need. Stanford University assists students with expenses such as airfare and living stipends.

Current destinations