Come January 2010, professionals working in non-profit organisations can return to school every Friday for 14 weeks to develop competencies in effective management and leadership. Launched by the Lien Centre for Social Innovation at SMU in September 2009, the new iLEAP Professional Course for Non-Profit Leaders (iLEAP) combines management and academic perspectives with thought-leadership and experiential learning from the social sector. It is the first professional development programme jointly designed and taught by academics and non-profit practitioners. Each of the 14 modules will be conducted in different Community Partner premises to provide more meaningful and enriching on-site learning experience of real-world issues. Registration closes 8 December 2009.

The Social Space Think-Fest on 7 October 2009 saw a discussion on the state of disequilibrium in society and economy, and solutions and future scenarios to drive social change. The second issue of Social Space 2009, the Lien Centre’s professional magazine for the non-profit sector, was launched. Contributors include Mr Ho Kwon Ping of Banyan Tree, former civil servant Mr Ngiam Tong Dow and Mr Kevin Teo of Volans Ventures. The world’s leading social entrepreneurs, successful businessmen, thought-leaders, captains of the social sector will gather at SMU for Social iCon on 23 October 2009. The inaugural conference on transformative social innovation and enterprise, sessions have been designed as social experiments for participants to better explore and experience issues, concepts and models in social enterprise.


Visit www.lcsi.smu.edu.sg for details on the above.