May 17-June 9, 2014
The world is faced with complex but solvable challenges. To make real change, students and professionals must be prepared to collaborate across academic disciplines, continents and cultures. They must also understand the role of entrepreneurs, non-profits and communities in implementing sustainable solutions.
May 17-June 9, 2014
The world is faced with complex but solvable challenges. To make real change, students and professionals must be prepared to collaborate across academic disciplines, continents and cultures. They must also understand the role of entrepreneurs, non-profits and communities in implementing sustainable solutions.
Seminar Description
This course will introduce students to sustainable development challenges and creation of social-environmental venture solutions in India. Through guest lectures, panel discussions and field visits, students will investigate the role of entrepreneurship in achieving financially viable solutions to improve quality of life and environment in Bangalore, India.
Core areas covered will include water, energy, distribution, waste, public health, and aspects of the built environment. In addition to working with instructors Julian Marshall and Fred Rose, the group will learn from and work with Indian faculty and students in Bangalore.
The course will also provide an intensive, hands-on experience in social entrepreneurship. Students will address a specific challenge by developing a sustainable revenue-generating business model to deliver a product or service. At the end of the class, students will pitch their ventures to a panel of business professionals in India.
Marshall has long been involved with the University of Minnesota student chapter of Engineers Without Borders and the Civil Engineering Peace Corps Masters International program. Since 2009, Marshall and Rose have been providing students opportunities to develop entrepreneurial solutions to global grand challenges in the U.S. and abroad through the Acara Challenge--a collaboration between the University of Minnesota and universities in India.
