Two Australian Universities set up Yunus Social Business Centres

Adelaide, March 27 (NsNewsWire) — Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus has made his maiden visit to Adelaide on March 21, 2018. On March 22, 2018, Adelaide University launched a Yunus Social Business Centre. An MoU was signed between Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chairman of Yunus Centre and Paul Hutchinson, Executive Director of the University of Adelaide’s Faculty of the Professions. The ceremony was held at function room of the famous Adelaide Oval, where Martin Haese, Lord Mayor of Adelaide was present and delivered the opening address in welcoming Professor Yunus to Adelaide and emphasized the need for social business in tackling different problems that city of Adelaide and state of South Australia are facing today. This is the Oval which was the home ground for legendary cricketer Bradman.

Professor Yunus then spoke at the Australasian Social Business Forum 2018 organized by STEMSEL Foundation, Wyatt Trust and Grameen Australia at Pembroke School. The Governor of South Australia Hieu Van Le AC delivered the opening address and lauded Professor Yunus for his contributions through microfinance and social business and hoped that the models could be applied in his state of South Australia. Professor Yunus addressed an audience of over 200 which included students from primary and high school who have voluntarily mobilized themselves in groups called Dr Yunus Young Ambassadors and Dr Yunus Community Ambassadors to promote his message of A World of Three Zeroes. Professor Yunus put out a challenge to all attendees to find out new paths to solve old problem to change the status quo.

Professor Colin Stirling, Vice-Chancellor of Flinders University then received Professor Yunus at their campus in a private reception which was attended by deans, heads of schools and other senior executives. Following the reception Professor Yunus addressed an audience of over 400 where he made a call out to students and other attendees to create a new civilization by forging new paths and taking risks on things that have never been done before. He urged all to revert to becoming what we naturally are as human beings – entrepreneurs.

Professor Yunus was accorded in a reception in the evening by Tomasz Slusarz, Founder & CEO of SolarPV.TV and Initiator of Solar Future Today. The reception attended by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Adelaide Sandy Verschoor, Jing Shyuan Lee, Member of the South Australian Legislative Council, diplomats, community leaders and other dignitaries.

Another Yunus Social Business Centre was launched by The University of South Australia in partnership with Yunus Centre on March 23, 2018. A ceremony was held at the city’s Mayfair Hotel which was attended by senior academics and executive of the university. Professor Allan Evans, Acting Vice Chancellor of the university signed an MoU with Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chairman of Yunus Centre to commence the centre. Professor Stephen Boyle, Dean: Academic of the Business School, University of South Australia presided over the ceremony and lauded this collaboration with the Yunus Centre. He also said this allow the university to become a global partner and actively contribute to the mission of social business and entrepreneurship and the advancement of society through social innovation and sustainability. Prof Yunus congratulated the university officials on the partnership and urged them to integrate and work closely with 49 other centres in 31 countries to take the movement forward.

Professor Yunus ended his Adelaide visit by providing a keynote address at the Student Invention Summit 2018 at the Science Exchange of Adelaide with more than 100 attendees. Professor Yunus urged and encouraged the next generation of changemakers to help solve global challenges and work closely with the newly formed YSBCs in the city. Press Release