Field Study Program: South Africa

*(final date will not vary by more than approximately one week)

Group Leader: Professor Dennis Shaughnessy

Course Description

The Field Study Program in South Africa is built on the theme of social entrepreneurship in urban township communities, specific to Cape Town, South Africa. The academic portion of the program includes subject material such as social entrepreneurship, social enterprise development, micro-finance, business solutions to ending poverty and small business management. Classes are supplemented with site visits to social businesses in the surrounding Cape Town or Cape Flats area, as well as the Desmond Tutu Center, Robben Island, Parliament and other historical/cultural sites. Students also attend guest lectures by South African historians, politicians, journalists, venture capitalists, doctors and researchers in the areas of South Africa post-apartheid, modern business climate and the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on the South African economy.

In the afternoons, student gain field experience by working with entrepreneurs to help build small businesses in township communities such as Khayelitsha, Langa and Gugulethu. The consultation teams are made up of Northeastern students in addition to TSiBA (Tertiary School in Business Administration) students. At the end of the three week consultation/"field" experience, students present their business consultation deliverable to a panel of student peers and judges from the TSiBA Entrepreneurship Centre, whom later determine whether or not the business is eligible for an equity investment from the NU-TSiBA MicroVenture Fund, a privately funded micro-equity fund for small business owners or entrepreneurs from township communities. Eligible businesses can receive equity investments between $1,000-$10,000 USD. This portion of the program allows students to gain "consultation" experience and also illustrates the practice of real life venture capital for business development, particularly in post conflict, emerging market communities.

Course Credits

You must choose between two of the following courses in order to receive 8 semester hours of academic credit for this program:

ENTR3306: Global Development Entrepreneurship (4SH)

ENTR3308: Economic History of Modern South Africa (4SH)

INTL938: Global Corps Practicum

Cost of Program

$8,738 (or the same as Summer I/II tuition for two classes or 8 SH). Financial aid is applicable through your financial aid advisor. The Social Enterprise Institute awards private, need based scholarships for students with cases of financial hardship. Eligibility will be determined from the student’s financial aid counselor and through a separate application process with the Social Enterprise Institute.

Application Process

The program is open to students from any college or any major. You can find the application on this page.

Students will need to submit additional forms including the OISP enrollment form, and waiver form. Turn in two hardcopies of each completed form and two copies of your official transcript to the Social Enterprise Institute in 220 Hayden Hall to Esther Chou (e.chou@neu.edu)

Students whom have NOT completed ENTR2206: Social Entrepreneurship or ENTR2219: Business, Global Poverty & the Microfinance Revolution must complete an interview to be scheduled after the application process.

Eligibility

Please note this program is only open to sophomores or above with a minimum 2.8 GPA. Students who do not meet this requirement but still wish to apply must contact Dennis Shaughnessy (d.shaughnessy@neu.edu) to arrange for an interview.

Application Deadline

November 17, 2010

For more information about the Field Study Program, please contact sei@neu.edu or visit our office in 220 Hayden Hall.

Disclaimer

Some information posted here is tentative and subject to change based on costs and dates of available flights. The website is updated as current information becomes available.

Student-Made Trip Video

November 17th, 2010 (12AM EST)