Dóri Pap and Susan Davis - Ideas to Serve: the Evolution of Social Innovation Education at GeorgiaTech

Abstract

This letter delves into the transformation of social innovation education at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) by exploring the evolution of its Ideas to Serve competition. Against the backdrop of Georgia Tech's vision for the next decade as an inclusive innovation hub, this narrative captures a conversation between Dori Pap, Managing Director, and Susan Davis, Practitioner in Residence at the Institute for Leadership and Social Impact. They discuss how the competition has evolved from fostering "heropreneurs" to empowering students to critically engage with systemic social issues. They present a compelling recap of how Georgia Tech has reimagined social innovation education by elevating community-based organizations as co-educators, inspiring students to become effective and empathetic social entrepreneurs.