START-UP PRINCIPLES
Student engagement with social action is a mixed bag - many university rag weeks are more about hellraising than fundraising. Some very fine projects kicked off by students in their college years evaporate once careers begin.
Ashoka U has built up a global network of higher level institutions with a culture of social innovation on campus that goes beyond one-off projects.
The “Changemaker Campus’ designation recognises colleges that support and sustain social entrepreneurship in much the same way that high tech start-ups are hothoused and progressed in many universities. There are 22 Changemaker Campuses across the world, and Dublin City University has become the first in Europe.
Dr Emer Ní Bhrádaigh is a lecturer in entrepreneurship at DCU’s Fiontar (Irish for “venture”), an interdisciplinary school in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. She is leading the development of the Changemaker Campus at DCU.
“We start by looking at social entrepreneurship in the broadest sense – any activity that is focused on creating a better society rather than making money. We are looking at what’s going on around the campus and building on that.”
Two projects in particular are flourishing. Student Liam Redmond was involved with Special Olympics and felt that there should be something similar for people who are interested in the arts. He put together a team from across campus to deliver arts workshops for people with intellectual disabilities.
Demand for the programme, called HeadstART, has rocketed and Liam has been awarded a place on the inaugural U-Start Student Accelerator Programme at DCU – a support mechanism for high potential students in business or social entrepreneurship.
Liam will spend his summer in DCU accommodation with two other volunteers and a €10,000 grant to get further HeadstART clubs running in Dublin and Wicklow.
DCU student Daithí de Buitléir is the man behind Rag Ireland – a network of student societies creating “an engaged, able and empowered student body that is active in shaping the future of Ireland.” He has received a grant from Arthur Guinness Social Entrepreneur Fund to develop Rag Ireland further and took Rag Ireland to Washington for this year’s international Enactus World Cup. These are just two of many social innovation initiatives underway in DCU, supported and progressed as part of the Changemaker Campus.
“I’m amazed by the huge social consciousness among students,” says DCU president Professor Brian MacCraith. “When I took up the role of president I was convinced that DCU was ripe for a social entrepreneurship initiative. I knew it would be hugely beneficial to students in terms of their personal development as well as leading to significant social impact.
“What excited us about Ashoka U was access to a social entrepreneurship framework for universities and the opportunity to join a network including leading US universities.”
LOUISE HOLDEN
