Centre for Social Enterprise

BUSI 8501: Rise of Sustainable Capitalism is being offered by the Faculty of Business Administration in Fall 2026.

This course examines how global trends, including the rise of complex social and environmental issues, have propelled a rise in social enterprises and entrepreneurship.

Explore how businesses, governments, non-profits, and social enterprises are responding to today's social and environmental challenges through Canadian and international examples.

🎓 Open to MBA students
🗓️ Registration is now open! (Note: If there are seats still available, registration will open to non-business graduate students)

Faculty of Business Administration at Memorial University of Newfoundland

Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming a group of high school students from the Shad program (Shad Canada) into our space to learn about social enterprise and systems mapping.

They participated in our interactive "Better Communities" workshop where they created their own characters and imagined life through different perspectives. They identified challenges, opportunities, and ideas for building stronger communities.

It was inspiring to see the depth of thought, empathy, and creativity they brought to the challenge. The future is bright with young leaders like these helping to imagine and design better communities for all.

Thanks to Enactus Memorial for helping us facilitate the workshop! 🙌

Faculty of Business Administration at Memorial University of Newfoundland Marine Institute, Memorial University

📣We're hiring!

The Centre for Social Enterprise at Memorial University is looking for a Strategic Initiatives Coordinator to join our team.

The CSE works alongside students and community partners to advance social innovation, support social enterprise, and create opportunities for positive change across Newfoundland and Labrador.

If you're passionate about building partnerships, leading meaningful projects, and strengthening communities we'd love to hear from you!

📅 Application deadline: July 31, 2026, 5:00 p.m. NST
🔗 Learn more about the position and apply here: https://www.mun.ca/hr/careers/

Please note that the Social Changemaker Space (BN-4015) is closed today for a SHAD event.

Sorry for any inconvenience. Please email [email protected] if you need to reach a CSE team

🌍 Student Experience Highlight – High North Dialogues🌍

This April, in collaboration with Nord University Nord universitet , the Centre for Social Enterprise proudly recommended two students to participate in the High North Dialogues in Bodø, Norway.

Through the High North Dialogue Academy, students joined researchers, business leaders, and policymakers from around the world to explore key developments shaping the High North. The immersive experience included participation in the High North Dialogue Conference, engaging lectures on Arctic societal development, company visits, and meaningful social activities in Bodø.

💬 Hear from participating student Chelsie Cake:
“I really enjoyed the conversations in the conference around sustainability, including renewable energy, as well as the discussions on community resilience. It was especially interesting to hear from leaders about the importance of community engagement and development that puts resources in the hands of the people who live and work in Arctic regions. I filled an entire notebook with notes throughout the trip!

It was a great experience, and I truly valued the opportunity to connect with so many passionate participants, learn from their experiences, and work together to explore what the Arctic could look like in 2050.”

✨ Experiences like these empower our students to engage globally, think critically, and contribute to conversations that shape the future.

📸 Photos shared by: Chelsie Cake

📣The first national portrait of Canada’s social enterprise sector in a decade, Built for Impact, Ready for Market, is now available!

The Centre for Social Enterprise is proud to support and amplify the launch of Buy Social Canada’s new report. The report highlighted that over 400 social enterprises generated $6.5 billion in revenue and supported 5,600+ individuals facing barriers to employment in 2025. Social enterprise innovation builds a strong economy for all.✨

In addition, the report identified three primary systemic constraints: access to markets (procurement), access to capacity building, and access to finance. Funding opportunities such as the Fairlead Social Impact Fund play a key role in enabling the success of social enterprises.

Read the report: https://socialenterprisesurvey.ca/survey-findings

🚨Applications due this Sunday, May 24🚨

Are you a graduate student in the Faculty of Business Administration at Memorial University of Newfoundland interested in social enterprise business development?

Check out this Mitacs Business Strategy Internship (BSI) opportunity with Cathedral Basilica Foundation NL!

📆When: Spring/Summer 2026
🕛Length: 4 months
⏱APPLY BY: Sunday, May 24, 11:59p.m.

For more details and application instructions, visit: https://www.mun.ca/social-enterprise/student-programs/mitacs-internships/

Please send applications to [email protected]

⏰ Reminder! Our info session for the Fairlead Social Impact Fund is coming up on May 26.

The Fairlead Fund is the first student‑managed social impact fund housed at a Canadian university, giving students hands‑on experience making real investment decisions that drive social, cultural, and environmental impact.

If your organization is considering applying — or you’re simply curious about the process — join us for a quick virtual session where our team will walk you through the Fairlead Social Impact Fund, the application steps, and what to expect.

📆 May 26
⏰ 11:30am–12pm NDT
💻 Virtual
Register here ➡ https://luma.com/schy0b9y

Did you know...the Fairlead Social Impact Fund is the first student‑managed social impact fund housed at a Canadian university?

It’s a key part of the Centre’s Impact Investing Fellowship, giving students hands‑on experience making real investment decisions that create positive social, cultural, and environmental impact.

📝Are you interested in applying for the Fairlead Social Impact Fund for your organization? Want to learn more about the application process?

Join our virtual info session! The Centre for Social Enterprise will walk you through the Fund’s offerings, the application steps, and what to expect.

📆May 26
⏰11:30am-12pm NDT
💻virtual
Register now!➡ https://luma.com/schy0b9y

On Friday, we gathered at The Lantern as we proudly recognized the achievements of our graduating ventures and welcomed a new cohort of changemakers to our Social Ventures Incubator!

👏 Congratulations to our 2025–26 graduating ventures:
• Neha Kumari with AssuredHubs
• Sandra Hewitt-Parsons with DanDEIlion Artists' Collective
• Mike Taylor with Frontline Peer
• Pablo Baldiviezo and Yasaman Alidadi with FutureSprout
• Hasan Ahunov and Begim Akhunova
• Oluwatoyin Awosanya, Lydia, Lina and Rosemary Makaga with MKS Productions
• Faith Kinyua and Erum Angbeen with True Taste Venture

We can’t wait to see how they continue to grow and create meaningful social impact in our communities.

🌱 Please join us in welcoming our new 2026–27 cohort:
• Fadeelatu Yussif with Afrotide
• Nora Lakhani with Labrador Arts
• Raunak Sarmacharya, Phil Rendell, Jawwad Ahmed with Local Cooks
• Sara Langer with Our Common Threads
• Yiyin Liu with ReLab Art
• Julia Silverman with Symphonic Service Dogs

We’re excited to support this new group of social entrepreneurs over the next year!

A big thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate and to those who continue to support our students and their ventures. 👏🎉

📸Rich Blenkinsopp