Center for Social Innovation

Published: December 15, 2010

In preparation for the 40th anniversary of its pioneering Public Management Program (PMP), the Stanford Graduate School of Business has retooled the PMP certificate requirements to better develop and support outstanding social mission-driven leaders. MBA and Sloan students seeking to earn the certificate will now participate in experiential learning opportunities and choose from a fresh line up of courses directly relevant to the complex social challenges faced by the next generation of organizational leaders.

"For 40 years, the Public Management Program has prepared leaders to address social and environmental issues, and we are constantly evolving with the changing world. Based on recent input from faculty, students, alumni, and staff, we changed the program to strengthen our students' capabilities and to broaden their insights," said Gina Klein Jorasch, Director of the Public Management Program. "These changes will provide our students with a strong foundation necessary for careers or volunteer leadership roles in social entrepreneurship, public policy, nonprofit management, and corporate responsibility and ethics."

The practicum requirement is a key element in the revamped program. The intent is to ensure real-world exposure for students earning the Certificate in Public Management and Social Innovation. Students can fulfill this requirement by participating in one of the PMP's many experiential learning opportunities. These include the Board Fellows program, which places students on nonprofit boards; the Stanford Management Internship Program for relevant summer internships; service learning trips; and leadership roles in one of the 11 Public Management Program student clubs, such as the Social Venture, International Development, and Energy clubs. Students applying for the certificate will also now be able to choose from a wide range of roughly 40 business school elective courses that cover a number of fields including international development, healthcare and government policy. Recognizing the need for both domain expertise and interdisciplinary approaches, relevant courses in other Stanford graduate disciplines are also eligible for credit. Finally, in order to facilitate a customized approach to earning the certificate, the PMP will provide "roadmaps" outlining coursework, activities, and resources in specific interest areas.

"The PMP is as profoundly relevant now as when it launched in 1971 to bridge industry, nonprofit, and government sectors," said Garth Saloner, Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean of the Stanford Graduate School of Business. "This program was among the first of its kind at an American business school, and has shaped many notable leaders intent on creating positive social change-including Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO and founder of Acumen Fund, and Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity. Aligning the program's requirements to better prepare students for evolving global needs in areas such as education, energy, and environment is an important step toward continuing that tradition of leadership."

Since its inception, more than 2,700 MBA alumni have participated in PMP academic and co-curricular offerings. In recent years, roughly 50% of all MBA students completed the PMP certificate and/or were involved in PMP programs.

Changes to the Public Management Program go into effect for the Stanford Graduate School of Business students who entered in fall 2010. Prior year students may take advantage of newly approved electives and the program practicum, although it is not a certificate requirement for them.

About the Public Management Program and the Center for Social Innovation
The Center for Social Innovation at the Stanford Graduate School of Business cultivates leaders to solve the world's toughest social and environmental problems. Graduates from the Center's Public Management Program help corporations improve their sustainable practices and launch social enterprises that bring life-changing solutions, such as loans to small businesses and safe lighting to the world's poorest communities. The Center provides research, education, and experiential programs that reach across the business, nonprofit, and government worlds. The Center promotes the development of innovative solutions to build a more just, sustainable, and prosperous world.