Setting up a social enterprise?
Q. After completing my MSc (Agri) I am currently working in a consulting firm. However, I am very keen to start my own venture — on the lines of social entrepreneurship. Preferably, something related to the environment. What are the steps towards starting up? If I design a product or idea that I am currently working on, how can I ensure it reaches a wide audience and gets proper recognition?
— Kartar S Duggal
A. Social entrepreneurs are individuals like you who look at using innovative solutions to tackle society’s most pressing social problems. Ambitious, passionate and persistent, they tackle major social issues and offer new ideas to bring about wide-scale change.
Rather than leaving societal needs to the government or business sectors, social entrepreneurs find what’s not working and try to solve the problem by changing it
If you can view the unmet needs and problems around you as opportunities, you have a major role to play in reshaping society through your realistic, innovative, and effective problem solving strategies. What India needs is an army of social entrepreneurs and change makers, trying to solve the issues across our villages and cities, and resolving to build a vibrant and shining India.
Even if you don’t pursue a formal programme in social entrepreneurship from any of the institutes listed below, I suggest you get some help (albeit informal) from profs at any of the institutes that have special Departments/courses in social entrepreneurship e.g.
IITM, Chennai (www.iitm.ac.in)
Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, Hyderabad, Tuljapur, Guwahati (www.tiss.edu);
M.A in Social Innovations & Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDI), Ahmedabad (www.ediindia.org)
Centre for Social Entrepreneurship & CSR.
(Also offers Open Learning Programme in the subj);
NMIMS, Mumbai, Bangalore, Shirpur, Hyderabad etc (www.nmims.edu)
MBA (Social Entrepreneurship) etc
Ashoka Foundation (www.ashoka.org). If you get selected as a “Fellow” of the foundation, they will give you all the necessary guidance and assistance.
Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA), Anand (Guj), (www.irma.ac.in)
Postgraduate Prog in Rural Mgt, Fellow Prog in Rural Mgt
This is merely an indicative listing. There are several others. Social entrepreneurship is an integral part of all Development Studies programmes as well such as those taught at The Azim Premjee Foundation, Ambedkar University, TISS, XISS etc
Can I join PG course in biotech?
Q. A graduate in pharmaceutical sciences, I have been working in the marketing department of a pharmaceutical firm. However, I feel that I have a much greater interest and inclination for research – particularly in biotechnology. Am I eligible for pursuing postgraduate courses in biotechnology with my qualifications? What options do I have?
— Govind Bhushan
A. You have plenty of options. An interdisciplinary field, Biotechnology offers opportunities for structured study and training at the masters as well as doctoral level.
And being multidisciplinary in nature, students with a background in a spectrum of biosciences subjects, including BPharma can opt for specialisation in biotechnology at the postgraduate level.
NTA conducts the JNU Combined Entrance Exam for Biotechnology (JNU CEEB) on behalf of several universities including JNU for admission to MTech Biotech, MSc Biotech, MSc (Agri) Biotech & MVSc programs in the last week of-May across the country.
In addition to the postgraduate courses supported by DBT, a large number of other universities and private colleges also offer Master’s degree programs in Biotechnology.
Eligibility: BSc degree with a min 50 per cent aggregate (may vary from state to state) with chemistry or biochemistry as a compulsory subject and any one optional subject e.g. botany, applied botany, zoology, environmental science, sericulture, biotechnology or genetics etc.
Admission to most of these institutions is generally based on an entrance exam and/or scores at the bachelor’s level.
