Tendering for a social cause: universities and social enterprise

[Introduction]: The core argument of this article is that universities are part of the social enterprise sector and, therefore, that discerning and fulfilling the university mission means contributing to that sector. The paper examines the concept of social enterprise, and looks at ways in which universities already support the social enterprise sector through the core activities of research and teaching, and in more comprehensive ways. The article critically examines current practices, including an examination of the cooperative sector, and Muhammad Yunus’s concept of social business, to identify some prescriptions and proscriptions that will help discern and fulfill the university mission. Importantly, social enterprise means a complete break from the for-profit attitude, but with a willingness to use the tools of the for-profit sector. This combination can enable universities to contribute to healthy local economies and thriving local communities on which the health of the university sector itself depends