The School for Social Entrepreneurs
“The School for Social Entrepreneurs exists to provide training and opportunities to enable people to use their creative and entrepreneurial abilities more fully for social benefit. The SSE runs practical learning programs aimed at helping develop the individual entrepreneur and their organization simultaneously: our approach, and belief, is that social change is people-powered, and that the most valuable assets and resources we have are human ones. ”

Academic Internship Opportunity
X St. Olaf students will have the opportunity to travel to London and work with Nick Temple, the SSE’s Network Director, during the month of January, 2013.  The primary role of the interns will be to complete administrative duties which aid SSE staff in their daily tasks. At the same time the students will observe the SSE’s philosophy in action by sitting in on classes and visiting various sites of program participants. 

The students will complete this internship for 1.0 academic credit and will receive guidance and support from a faculty supervisor here on campus. The faculty supervisor will enhance academic learning by assigning relevant academic activities. See details to register an international academic internship here.

The students will complete a brief preliminary analysis of social entrepreneurship (philosophies, models, cultural and geographic implications, etc.) prior to departure in January.  Work will begin at the SSE in East London around January 3rd, concluding around January 28th.  The Piper Center will offer guidance to the selected students to help them secure living arrangements while in London. 

Upon returning to the U.S., the selected students will be asked to share their experience with the St. Olaf community.  Details will be formulated upon selection.   

To hear stories from the interim 2010 interns, click here!

Prerequisites:

• Sophomore, Junior or Senior with strong academic record, any major
• Must have experience traveling/living abroad
• Must have taken entrepreneurial classes at St. Olaf (through the Management Studies Program in the Economics department) and/or have demonstrated involvement in the Entrepreneurial Studies Program (includes OASIS, Entrepreneurial Grants Program or Entrepreneurial Internships)

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated maturity
• Strong interest in and passion for addressing social problems, open-minded, deep interest in social entrepreneurship
• Strong research and analytical abilities, ability to extend knowledge and skills to the topic at hand and to conceptualize and frame relevant questions
• Evidence of effectiveness working independently, demonstrated self-starter
• Learns quickly
• Ability to interact well with all kinds of people
• Understanding of and respect for diversity

Compensation & Costs

This is an unpaid internship. Selected students will be responsible for travel/living arrangements as well as food and transportation on-site.  The School for Social Entrepreneurs will provide modest support for transportation/food while in London (TBD).  

Application Materials

1. Cover letter – in one page or less, tell us about your understanding of social entrepreneurship, your interest in this opportunity and how it may impact your future academic/career goals, and ideas you have for how you will connect the interim experience back to campus
2. Name of one faculty reference – included at the end of your Cover Letter
3. Resume – limit to one page

Application Deadline and Process

Applications submitted on-line via Ole Career Central by TBD
(Search by employer in OleRecruiting: “The School for Social Entrepreneurs”)

Interviews will take place the week of TBD

Applicants notified of status by TBD

NOTE: Selected students will be required to register this as an academic internship.  See details here.

Questions
Contact Kris Estenson, Assistant Director of Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship (estensok) or Sandy Malecha, Associate Director of Academic Internships (malechas)