The program is especially designed for future social entrepreneurs and cannot be compared with any postgraduate study. Previous formal education is not necessarily required. Participants who apply for this program have to be committed to a personal dream-project. The result of such project is positive social change or awareness. The participant has to be highly motivated, driven and creative in order to let his/her project become reality.
The program is designed in a way that participants:
- Who are 22 years of age or older from various countries, cultures, religions, socioeconomic and educational backgrounds can work, live and learn together
- Learn methods, techniques and theories that are relevant to their own project implementations
- Learn about social entrepreneurship through various case studies, practical projects and internships
- Will have gained the necessary basic skills to be able to start their own projects once they leave the IISE.
A Typical Year at IISE
The 11 month lasting course is mainly based on the experiences of the founders of Braille Without Borders and professors from international universities, voluntary McKinsey consultants and other experts in the fields of social entrepreneurship, development work, business and arts.
The curriculum is divided into 3 major parts:
- Prologue (3 weeks)
- A Journey in Five Acts (10 months and one week)
- Alumni program (after graduation onwards)
Prologue
The prologue is substantial, not only as an introduction to the program but also as a phase in which participants and catalysts (facilitators) have a chance to get to know each other.
The focus of these first three weeks is on prevention of conflicts, which could arise due to differences in cultural and religious backgrounds.
The general topics are:
- Cultural diversity with the objective of tolerating and appreciating cultural differences
- Introduction to receiving and giving feedback and listening and asserting with the objectives to create an IISE communicational code of conduct
- Assessments of useful skills such as Math, Finance, English (colloquial and written), and computer with the objective to bring everyone to an equal level.
- Introducing one’s own dream project in a first dream speech, with the objective to start with the preparation for this particular social project