Student Engagement: When Entrepreneurship and Solidarity Meet in the Classroom

How can we encourage engagement and entrepreneurial spirit among Bachelor’s students? A new course at HEC Lausanne blends learning, impact, and collaboration with NGOs.

Launched in September 2024, the pilot course "Intervention Project in an NGO" offers 3rd-year students the opportunity to design concrete humanitarian projects in partnership with local and international NGOs. Inspired by a model developed at the University of Geneva, the course combines theoretical content with hands-on learning, guiding students through the process of creating a mini-NGO that tackles real-world issues such as education, sustainable development, or inclusion.

Supervised by Dr. Samad Laaroussi, students have carried out diverse initiatives, including improving access to reading in Morocco and supporting deaf children in Burkina Faso. Supported by the Observatory of Values in Society and Management (OVSM) and co-financed by HEC Lausanne, this course demonstrates how student entrepreneurship can generate real social impact while building essential skills for the professional world.

Learn more: Student Engagement: When Entrepreneurship and Solidarity Meet in the Classroom