Since 2006, the Luksic Scholars Foundation has supported 18 versions of Babson College’s Symposium for Entrepreneurship Educators (SEE) program in Chile: 13 editions of Babson SEE Chile held in various parts of the country and 5 editions of Babson SEE Antofagasta which has been carried out in collaboration with the Technology Licensing Office of the University of Antofagasta (OTL-UA). Throughout these years, these programs have had participants from all over Chile, and have ended up promoting the development of knowledge, as well as international collaboration and networking.
The importance of teaching by connecting theory with practice, the value of learning from failure, and the art of delivering a good pitch were part of the main themes taught throughout the 18 versions of the Babson SEE Chile & Antofagasta programs. Over the past decade, more than 800 academics from across the country were part of this international collaboration between the Luksic Scholars Foundation and Babson College, a renowned university in the US.
Via lectures given by expert entrepreneurship professors, Andrew Corbett and Matthew Allen, as well as through dynamic classroom activities and the opportunity to network, Babson SEE participants were able to learn innovative teaching methodologies to implement in their classrooms and promote entrepreneurship in Chile.
Isabella Luksic, Executive Director of the Luksic Scholars Foundation, noted that “at the Luksic Scholars Foundation, we want to create more and better opportunities that continue contributing to the development of knowledge in our country. That is why we are dedicated to connecting Chile with internationally renowned academic organizations such as Babson College, with whom we share the vision that entrepreneurs are the driving force of their countries and play a leading role in changing the world.”
One of Babson College’s goals in developing these Symposia in Chile and other countries around the world is to create an increasingly larger international network of innovative entrepreneurship educators who understand the importance of bridging theory and practice in teaching.
“The goal of the Symposium for Entrepreneurship Educators (SEE) has always been to support Chilean academics so they can empower and promote entrepreneurs throughout the country. We hope that over the years, thousands of people in Chile have been able to benefit from this collaboration with the Luksic Scholars Foundation,” emphasized Andrew Corbett, Paul T. Babson Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies, during the closing ceremony of the program held on Friday, June 16th in Santiago, Chile. Over 80 people participated in the event, both in person and virtually.
The latest version of the SEE Antofagasta program took place between May 15th and May 19th with over 40 participants from the northern region of Chile, and the most recent version of the SEE Chile program took place in Viña del Mar from June 12th to June 15th in which more than 40 academics from the Valparaíso, Metropolitan, O’Higgins, and Biobío regions participated.
Gustavo Callejas, partner and Founder of Mantahua OTEC, was one of the participants of the SEE Chile program in Viña del Mar. “I connected a lot with everything we did and learned this week. I take away concepts that are very powerful for me, for example: understanding entrepreneurship as a tool for social mobility, and also the value of integrating intergenerational aspects as a tool that allows us to showcase what we do better.”
Through the Babson SEE program, the Luksic Scholars Foundation has been able to contribute to the development of entrepreneurship in Chile from an educational point of view. This work has also been complemented by the various initiatives carried out by the Luksic Foundation which supports entrepreneurs throughout Chile with funding, mentorship, and training.
The Luksic Scholars Foundation’s vision is that through a Chile better connected with international academia, it will be possible to respond to the global challenges of the 21st century, and as such, the Foundation promotes networks and opportunities in collaboration with institutions from around the world to strengthen the development of people and knowledge.
By visiting www.luksicscholars.org, you can find more information about the Foundation’s current scholarship, institutional strengthening, and research programs.
In addition to the programs mentioned above, the Luksic Scholars Foundation and Babson College have also carried out the following opportunities:
- Babson Luksic Fellows (2011 -2024) – Each year, individuals who participate in the Babson Symposia in Chile can apply to the Babson Luksic Fellows program. This is an on-campus opportunity at Babson College in Massachusetts, USA. In its first iteration, from 2011 to 2015, a maximum of two participants spent a full semester immersed in life at Babson. From 2016 onwards, in order to allow more people to take part, 10 spaces have been offered for a week-long agenda. To date, there have been 12 versions (1 remaining for the year 2024), and 69 participants.
- Babson Case Writing Workshop (2009, 2010) – From April 2009 to March 2010, a year-long workshop was carried out to provide an opportunity for Chilean university professors to develop pedagogical skills and resources in Entrepreneurship and the Case Teaching methodology. 28 individuals took part during which time they worked in groups with Chilean entrepreneurs to develop a series of case studies that were later published as a teaching asset.