BPI Foundation, the social development arm of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), names the top five winners of its very first BPI Sinag Social Entrepreneurship and Management Program for Educators, a competition that challenges academic institutions to be at the active forefront of social entrepreneurship.
With this year’s theme: BPI Sinag Evolution, the program, in partnership with Bayan Academy, aims to elevate its impact and achieve inclusive and sustainable growth by implementing, for the first time, a multi-stakeholder approach, highlighting three vital pillars: social entrepreneurs, educators, and intervenors or sub-sectors.
For its pioneer implementation, 25 promising academic institutions were shortlisted out of the 93 applicants representing 77 high schools, colleges, and universities nationwide. These finalists underwent a five-day training on Social Entrepreneurship and Management focusing on effective methodologies in teaching social entrepreneurship management.
The top 25 finalists presented a proposal that includes academic subject design and learning methodologies, technologies, and delivery systems, to propagate social entrepreneurship in their respective institutions through integration in existing programs or as a new program.
The winners of the BPI Sinag Social Entrepreneurship and Management Program for Educators are as follows, in no particular order:
- Palawan State University
- Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges
- Southville International School
- International School for Better Beginnings
- Catanduanes State University
Each of the top five winners will receive a cash grant of P100,000 to implement their proposal.
BPI President and CEO and BPI Foundation President and Vice-Chairman, Jose Teodoro K. Limcaoco recognized the educators and other members of the academe as strong partners in creating change. “We applaud your commitment to teach social entrepreneurship to young learners and prepare them to be good business leaders and influence them to be responsible citizens by giving back to their communities,” he said.
“We believe in the critical role of the teachers and educators in helping shape the mindsets of the youth to go towards the social enterprise path,” said BPI Foundation Executive Director Owen Cammayo. “The more SEs we have, the more positive social impact we generate and contribute, to build back a sustainable and better Philippines.”
Other Sinag Educators were also acknowledged and received special awards. Five educators, namely, North Luzon Philippines State College, Cavite State University, St. Paul University Quezon City, Taguig City University, Science and Technology School of Los Baños earned the Sinag Active Participation Award; and Agoncillo National High School won the Sinag Perseverance Award. These awardees received a certificate of recognition and the two BPI Sinag Books titled “How to Manage a Business that does good,” and “Technology, Social and Market Innovations in Social Enterprises.”