Organizational and Clinical Psychology in Moscow (IOCP). The core of the partnership was hands-on training. Every week, university students were practicing, guided by a neuropsychologist and an expert in ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy — a renowned method for addressing autism symptoms. When the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, the classes transitioned online, and as the quarantine was lifted, a blend of online and offline sessions emerged.

“I remember us stumbling over some very basic things. Allocating dedicated hours for these student sessions meant reshuffling our expert’s commitments and, by extension, the schedules of his young patients. Plus, providing our largest room for these budding professionals meant room assignment changes for other specialists as well,” says Anna.

The early days also posed challenges in gathering children for practical sessions, primarily since these were conducted by the students, albeit under expert supervision. To deal with this issue, the center staff would bring their own children to these practical classes at first. “These obstacles seem like a distant memory today. Four years of practice have fine-tuned our processes, but it’s a testament to the fact that initiating any venture always comes with its unique set of challenges,” Anna concludes.

You Social also boasts its own internship program. Every year, the company kicks off an open application process for an 8-week summer internship, spanning various domains of sustainability and ESG. Students have the option to direct their applications to departments such as Communications, Strategy, Accounting, or Consulting. In 2023, You Social received a staggering 1,415 applications, ultimately selecting 12 talented interns. Notably, two of these came from the Open Yourself initiative, a partner program focusing on individuals with disabilities, managed by the Time of the Future non-profit.

“To us, collaborating with universities is a part of fulfilling our mission. It provides us with a platform to introduce individuals to the topic of sustainability, allowing students to not only grasp its intricacies but also to explore career avenues within it. However, from a pragmatic standpoint, this partnership serves as a move for talent acquisition. One of the participants at a recent internship is a graduate of our dedicated module within the Master’s program in Innovation Management at Moscow State University’s Faculty of Economics. And almost every internship cycle sees our team expanding with fresh, enthusiastic employees,” shares Anastasia Lyamtseva, Community Manager at You Social.

The collaboration between universities and social enterprises is not limited of educational programs and courses. Universities, social enterprises, students, and the broader society all stand to gain, especially if the potential impact.

She makes a salient point: Companies are always on the hunt for top-tier talent. Maintaining a close contact with academic institutions allows businesses to shape and harness the prowess of the next generation of professionals.

PREPARING TOMORROW’S PROFESSIONALS

The Prostoe Delo company sees a promising future in organizing internships, aiming to shape tomorrow’s experts for their team. Although the company applies systemic eco-friendly solutions and a holistic strategy to mitigate environmental effects, scaling their operations necessitates a certain kind of expertise. Unfortunately, this is often absent from the curriculum of many universities specializing in environmental fields.

“Today’s educational institutions primarily train environmental engineers or natural resource management experts who have very general knowledge. However, the crafting and execution of systemic, data-driven and eco-friendly solutions for businesses requires being skilled not just around that data, but also in using specialized software. So, we’ve stepped in to fill this educational niche,” says Anastasia Varlygina, the company’s co-founder and CEO. Presently, Prostoe Delo has joined forces with ITMO and RUDN, providing the ability to work on real-world projects for three interns.

“The ability to interface with students on multiple levels provides a robust foundation for expansive initiatives, particularly those connected with large-scale transitions. A university is more than a renowned brand; it’s an institution shaping minds. It is imperative to aptly channel this intellect, equipping them with validated information and data-handling proficiencies. Only then can we expect a transforming Russian economy, rapid progression of innovative ventures, and an expanded entrepreneurial outreach,” Varlygina believes.

Educational institutions enhance their own value proposition from collaborations with social entrepreneurs, and social businesses receive a solution to their staffing challenges and a platform to further their cause.

Similarly, Impact Hub Moscow has tapped into academic collaboration, partnering with the Graduate School of Management at St. Petersburg State University. Here, interns delve deep into the intricacies of social impact measurement tools, conduct comparative analysis, and craft pivotal recommendations.

The Dobroe Delo Social Assistance Center also welcomes interns, with 273 individuals benefiting from this program since 2021. A notable inclusion features students from the Pavlov Ryazan State Medical University, specializing in clinical psychology. Further enriching the experience, the center collaborated with the Journalism Department of Ryazan State University, inciting creativity through a journalism contest.

“We welcomed a contestant onto our team, and she was with us for six months, producing a series of captivating interviews. It was both a valuable and somewhat unexpected experience. Together, we crafted a wealth of creative content, bolstering our brand’s visibility, all achieved with minimum investment. The entire endeavor proved to be distinctly unique,” shares Olga Postnikova, the leader of Dobroe Delo.

LEARNING BOTH FOR SELF AND FOR OTHERS

Beyond occasional appearances as guest experts at events, social entrepreneurs are increasingly embedding themselves within the fabric of formal education. Case in point: staff from You Social now teach a dedicated module on sustainable business growth within the Master’s program in Innovation Management at Moscow State University’s Faculty of Economics. “This year, we explored this teaching format and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both students and faculty, so we are looking to expand and offer this module as a standalone discipline for multiple student cohorts next year,” Anastasia Lyamtseva explains.

Meanwhile, Nikita Litvinov and Anastasia Varlygina, the founders of Prostoe Delo, have already ventured into designing and launching an English-language educational module. In 2021, they rolled out a three-day Sustainable Business Solutions module tailored for Master’s students