Learning Social Entrepreneurship Through Design Thinking

This paper on “Learning Social Entrepreneurship Through Design Thinking” attempts to explore the application of design thinking in social entrepreneurship through Yule’ 24, a student- led fundraising initiative at a higher educational institution in Madurai. Social entrepreneurship combines innovation with social change, equipping individuals with the tools to address societal challenges while ensuring financial sustainability. Design thinking, a human- centered approach to problem solving, plays a critical role in developing impactful social enterprises. The initiative engaged the students in experiential learning, encompassing financial planning, stakeholder management and ethical commerce, while collaborating with marginalized communities including prisoners, autistics children, persons with disabilities, and orphanages. This initiative followed a trust-based model in which NGOs provided products without upfront investment allowing students to engage in ethical business practices without financial risk. A self-sustaining revenue system was established, where operational cost was covered by student’s contribution and profits were reinvested. The study highlights the sustainability and scalability of the model, emphasizing reinvestment strategies and financial viability. The findings underscore the necessity of entrepreneurial exposure into academic curriculum to cultivate innovative and socially responsible professionals.