DLSU, ADMU Ink Partnership for Social Entrepreneurship

In a symbolic event, the De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University formalized a three-year partnership in the fields of social entrepreneurship and sustainable development through a Ceremonial Signing of Memorandum of Understanding on September 5,  held at De La Salle University campus in Manila.

Through the Lasallian Social Enterprise for Economic Development (LSEED) Center and Ateneo Center for Social Entrepreneurship (ACSEnt), both academic institutions have agreed to explore joint efforts in the promotion of social entrepreneurship and sustainability among higher education institutions, mobilization of internal and external stakeholders, and sharing of good practices. 

LSEED Center is a pioneer of community-student partnership in formation and social enterprise development in the country with over 70 social enterprises and 350 social entrepreneurs as part of its portfolio under 11 programs local and international. 

LSEED Center, which has received a number of awards for its initiatives, is currently chair of the National Association of Social Enterprise Educators and Administrators and a member of ASEAN Learning Network and Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization.

ACSEnt is the Ateneo de Manila University’s center committed to foster social transformation and contribute to nation-building by cultivating a vibrant social entrepreneurship sector in the Philippines. The first university social entrepreneurship center in the Philippines,  ACSEnt is currently co-chair of the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA)–a regional center undertaking research, education and platform building on social entrepreneurship.

Both universities are members of the PRESENT Coalition which is an alliance of social enterprise stakeholders lobbying for the passage of the Poverty Reduction through Social Entrepreneurship (PRESENT) Bill.

The event was attended by key officials of both universities. DLSU attendees included Br. Bernard Oca FSC (President), Dr. Robert Roleda (Provost), Dr. Laurene Chua-Garcia (VP for External relations and Internationalization), Fritzie Ian De Vera (VP for Lasallian Mission), Johannes Leo Badillo (Executive Director of Strategic Communications Office), and Dr. Norby Salonga (Founding Director of LSEED Center). Ateneo officials who participated in the event were Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ (President), Dr. Maria Luz Vilches (VP for Higher Education), Dr. Roberto Martin N. Galang (Dean of JGSoM), Maria Teresa D. Villanueva (Director of UMCO), and Ana Marina A. Tan (Director of ACSEnt).