The University of Oxford Saïd Business School announced its 14th cohort for the Skoll Scholarship presented by the Skoll Centre, a social impact center with the goal of accelerating the impact of social entrepreneurship. The scholarship is available only to incoming MBA students and requires candidates to go through a rigorous application and interview process. For the 2017-2018 academic year, four entrants from Portugal, India, and the United States were chosen.
To be considered for the Skoll Scholarship, MBA applicants must demonstrate pursuit of an entrepreneurial solution for an urgent economic, social, or environmental challenge. Typically, the scholarship is awarded to MBA candidates who demonstrate a financial burden while also showing a significant commitment to social impact through their entrepreneurship activities.
Skoll Scholars receive the full cost of tuition and college fees for their Saïd MBA program along with partial living expense coverage up to £8,000. In addition, the scholarship provides unique opportunities for these MBA students to interact with world-renowned entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and investors.
The 2017 – 2018 Skoll Scholars
Aaron Bartnick
Bartnick has lived and worked in 14 countries across four continents to improve political and economic agency. His experience includes several projects in U.S. politics as well as the development of a university-based start-up incubator in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.
Of the award, Bartnick said in a press release, “It is an incredible privilege to be selected as a Skoll Scholar. The Skoll Centre has been developing world-class social entrepreneurs for over a decade, and I am humbled by the opportunity to join and learn from this community.”
Nikhil Dugal
Dugal is a social entrepreneur with a focus on environmental sustainability. His experience includes co-founding Aadhan, a company that re-uses shipping containers as infrastructure. He also has experience working in public policy, microfinance, and impact evaluation.
For Dugal, the scholarship provides him an “opportunity to think about the impact I will generate with my MBA, instead of compromising on my passion due to a student loan,” he said.
Sandra Fisher-Martins
In 2007, Fisher-Martins founded Português Claro, a company that works with Portuguese businesses and government agencies to improve communication and decision-making. Of her scholarship, she said, “As a Skoll Scholar, I’ll have the opportunity to reflect on my practice as a social entrepreneur within a community of action-oriented, yet thoughtful, social impact leaders.”
Kevin Duco Warner
Warner is an entrepreneur focused on the social impact of food. In America, he has operated at the intersection of food, agriculture, and the environment to develop market-driven solutions to pressing problems such as climate change. Of his award, he said, “It offers me a unique opportunity to tackle the world’s problems through the use of creative, market-driven solutions.”
To learn more about all the Skoll Scholars as well as how to apply next year, visit the school website.
