Bertha Centre
Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship University of Cape Town, Graduate School of Business
Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a catalyst for social impact and for dialogue that promotes and emboldens social and environmental change agents finding new solutions for emerging markets in Africa.
The Centre invests in the next generation of social innovators through scholarships; practical, rigorous teaching, exposure and debate; and a focus on applying leading research to responding to challenges that are immediate and critical to the fabric of Africa’s social and economic future – many of which sit on its geographic doorstep.
Bertha Centre was established in late 2011 with generous support from the Bertha Foundation
About
Social Innovation Lab
Bertha Centre has created a Social Innovation Lab for MBA students interested in focusing their mind of the role of purpose in organisations, particularly as social and environmental challenges are key to the equitable and sustainable development of emerging economies. Leading business school education is increasingly challenging students to take on modes of thinking that consider context, systems and complexity in new ways. The Social Innovation Lab has creatively shaped an arc of learning by blending comprehensive theory and content in relevant and interacting disciplines, as well as reflective tutoring, expert sessions with practitioners and targeted field time for students to learn by doing.
The Social Innovation Lab is open to any student enrolled in the MBA programme of UCT GSB. More information on the specific components of the Social Innovation Lab can be found in the MBA curriculum.
Events
Events
Bertha Centre runs a Social Innovation Speaker Series of debates and discussions in areas critical to emerging fields and important ideas in the areas of social innovation and entrepreneurships. The most recent speaker was Professor Henry Mintzberg, Cleghorn Professor of Management Studies, McGill University, Montreal promoting the need to "rebalance" society.
Applications
Bertha Centre MBA scholarship
The Bertha MBA Scholarships were created in 2011 to nurture a new generation of social innovators, and to explore entrepreneurial solutions to help solve some of the urgent social and environmental problems of our time. The combination of scholarship, geographic location and leading MBA content in emerging markets provides a unique opportunity for the most talented and innovative students.
Bertha Scholars are Africa based social entrepreneurs with a commitment and track record to creating positive change. The MBA provides the strong business skills and networks that will accelerate their impact.
Candidates interested in the 2012 Bertha MBA Scholarships should review the eligibility criteria and selection process in How to Apply.
Bertha Centre PhD scholarship
The Bertha Centre is developing a consortium of local and internationally recognised researchers to focus on the areas of social entrepreneurship and informal sector entrepreneurship. The Centre is currently inviting applications for PhD scholarships (worth ZAR 150,000) to enable promising researchers to participate in this consortium.
Applications are sought from students with a broad range of interests related to social entrepreneurship and informal sector entrepreneurship. Successful applicants will become part of the research consortium and will be jointly supervised by GSB faculty and partner faculty from the United States. Promising applicants will be invited to a discussion with study leaders on 22 May 2012, followed by a proposal development workshop from 23 to 26 May 2012.
Stories from the front line
Stories from the front line is a blog of the Bertha Centre that draws on examples of home grown and regional social innovations.
Stories from the front line reflects the interest of the Bertha Centre beyond a pure focus on social or entrepreneurship to the many different expressions of social innovation created by those trying to create positive social change. Organisations, like mothers2mothers, RLabs, Nexii, Open Africa and Streetwise, prove that disruptive social innovations in South Africa, as well as in other parts of the world, do not fit neatly within boundaries and sectors – they often combine an impactful and unexpected blend of entrepreneurial, big business and philanthropic ventures.
Bertha Centre in the press
Bertha Alumni and Scholars
Bertha Scholars
In 2012 the inaugural six Bertha Scholars started their journey and are part of the current MBA community. Once selected these students are known as Bertha Scholars.
Bertha Social Innovator Network
Once the Bertha Scholars have completed their MBA, they join a network of alumni that retain a strong connection to the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship and this network will be a launch pad that will to continue to develop and encourage these future leaders and their ventures.
People
Bertha Centre
Dr Francois Bonnici, Director
Francois started his journey as a doctor in the South African health care system, seeking creative solutions for systemic problems and effective approaches to improving care and management. Social innovation and entrepreneurship are not merely theories for him.
Working in paediatric medicine, Francois ran public health and development programs, built and worked on global and national public-private partnerships with UN institutions, country governments, for-profit social businesses, and non-profit social ventures. He has published in social innovation, health and development and was the contributing editor to the MIT journal’s special edition on "Social Innovation in a Post Crisis World", launched in Davos.
Leading on from these experiences, Francois co-founded the African Social Entrepreneurs Network and with colleagues established an award-winning social enterprise building low-cost medical devices for tough conditions in low-resource settings, now being used by Doctors without Borders and supported by Save the Children.
Francois read for a Masters degree in Public Health (London) and a MBA (Oxford) as a Rhodes Scholar. He is also a Global Leadership Fellow of the World Economic Forum.
Office Telephone: +27 (0) 21 406 1470
Office Fax: +27 (0) 21 406 1456
Email: berthacentre@gsb.uct.ac.za
Eliada Nwosu, Senior Lecturer
Dr Eliada Nwosu, Senior Lecturer in Social Entrepreneurship joined the GSB in November 2010 and has led the initial research and teaching on social entrepreneurship at the GSB. Her research particularly looks at the social embeddedness of entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs and how they use their social networks and social capital in the creation, growth and social impact of their ventures.
E-mail: eliada.nwosu@gsb.uct.ac.za
Tel: +27 (0) 21 406 1526
Fax: +27 (0) 21 406 1126
Nicolette Laubscher, Bertha Centre and Scholarship Manager
Please contact Nicolette for general queries and those regarding the Bertha Scholarship, Bertha Scholars and Bertha Alumni.
Office Telephone: +27 21 406 1470
Office Fax: +27 21 406 1456
Email: nicolette.laubscher@gsb.uct.ac.za
Social Innovation Lab Faculty:
Professor Walter Baets, Director of GSB (systems thinking, complexity)
Professor Ralph Hamann, Director of Research (sustainability, cross sector collaborations)
Dr Stephanie Giamporcaro, Senior Lecturer (applied sustainable responsible investment)
Dr Warren Nilsson, Senior Lecturer (social innovation)
Adjunct Professors
Professor Michael Norton
Professor Norton is the Founder and Director of the Centre for Innovation in Voluntary Action in the UK and has been recently been appointed as visiting professor at the GSB. His career and commitment to social change globally, in the UK, and in the last few years, in South Africa spans over five decades. Professor Norton work at the GSB will explore the opportunities for social franchising, applying commercial franchising principles to social enterprises and non-profits.
