WOU Magazine Spring 2012: Feature stories
Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus challenges teams of Oregon university students to an unusual social business competition this fall
Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, creator of the microcredit concept, will visit Portland on Oct. 1, 2012 for a special event in conjunction with the Oregon University System. Yunus will deliver a speech at the Portland Convention Center and will also judge an unusual competition, the Oregon Social Business Challenge.
This challenge will convene a broad conversation about higher education meeting the economic, social, and environmental needs of our state. University student teams from across Oregon have been challenged to develop business solutions to pressing local and state issues. As part of the Oregon University System’s statewide economic development and partnership efforts, this event is an exciting opportunity to showcase the outstanding talent and innovation of Oregon students. The challenge will bring together economic development interests from all regions of the state to hear Yunus’ social business concept of combining business know-how with the desire to improve quality of life. The students application of these ideas will be judged, and winners will be announced at the end of the day-long conference.
Interested Western students can get more information regarding the competition at wou.edu/student/sla/social_business_challenge.php, or by contacting Jon Tucker at 503-838- 8063 or tuckerj@wou.edu. More information on the entire day's events can also be found at http://secure.ous.edu/socialbusiness.
