Why India Needs a Research-Based Social Entrepreneurship Course in Academia
To become an “impact nation,” India must weave social entrepreneurship into its educational fabric, policy, and everyday practice
By Mr. Nagaraja Prakasam, Professor of Practice at Alliance University
India is making remarkable strides in digital innovation and financial growth, yet continues to grapple with challenges like unemployment, inequality, and the rural-urban divide. Against this backdrop, social entrepreneurship is emerging as a powerful way to bridge business with social impact. To truly unlock its potential, universities need to integrate a research-based social entrepreneurship course into their curricula.
From Job Seekers to Social Ventures: The Student Shift
Recent data from the GUESSS India 2023 Survey highlights a notable shift in career aspirations among Indian university students.
Around 33% are in the early stages of starting their own social ventures, while 4.8% are already running revenue-generating start-ups. At the same time, 70% still aim to pursue jobs after graduation, though this figure drops to about 52% over five years.
Indian students also display the highest entrepreneurial intent globally, scoring 4.6 on a scale of 7, compared to the global average of 3.7. Nearly 63% receive initial investment or support from their universities. This shows a growing desire among youth to seek independence, drive impact through social innovation, and build ventures that go beyond profit to address pressing national challenges.
Why Social Entrepreneurship Matters
Social entrepreneurship is increasingly recognized as an effective way to bridge the gap between social justice and economic development. Unlike traditional business models that prioritize market returns, social enterprises focus on underserved and neglected communities, delivering scalable and sustainable solutions.
At its core, social entrepreneurship aims to address root causes of inequality—such as access to clean water, healthcare, education, and decent livelihoods. The Stanford Social Innovation Review emphasizes that businesses focusing on underserved markets can achieve genuine social impact while remaining financially viable. India’s development challenges—rural sanitation, clean energy, climate resilience, and women’s empowerment—create fertile ground for such projects.
Stories That Inspire
Across the country, inspiring examples of sustainable development in India are emerging.
At IIM Bangalore, Saahas Zero Waste has transformed the campus into a model of the circular economy through waste segregation, composting, and recycling.
In Tamil Nadu, Gramalaya NGO has advanced sanitation, hygiene, and clean water access while also creating self-sustaining financing models for toilet construction.
These stories highlight people and communities proving the potential of social ventures to drive real change.
Research-Led Innovation
Private universities bring together scholars from diverse fields, creating opportunities for impactful collaboration. Imagine a public policy scholar studying poverty teaming up with an engineering researcher to design a solution, and a business scholar stepping in to scale it. This type of collaboration can turn academic research into real-world impact.
Universities must play a proactive role in encouraging cross-disciplinary teamwork and supporting research that addresses social issues. Research should move beyond the confines of theory to become a driver of practical change.
While India’s start-up ecosystem is thriving, disruptive innovation remains rare. Research scholars can change that, channeling their expertise into socially driven innovation that benefits the nation.
Conclusion
To truly become an “impact nation,” India needs inclusive, non-urban-centered innovation anchored in education, policy, and practice. Integrating social entrepreneurship into academia is not just desirable—it is essential.