Program Overview
Innovation at the Base of the Pyramid: Social Entrepreneurs & Changemakers in a Rising India
Roughly half of the world's 7.5 billion people live in developing countries and earn less than $2.50 per day. Collectively, these under-resourced individuals represent a significant economic force and an untapped market for business. This two-semester program examines the opportunities and challenges facing entrepreneurs and companies operating in "base of the pyramid" markets, witch particular emphasis on India, the world' most populous nation and fourth largest economy.
In IDH 4007, you will pay special attention to the role of social entrepreneurs in catalzying positive change. These are innovative change agents who apply business expertise, risk-taking, and creativity to develop sustainable, scalable solutions for pressing social, cultural, or environmental problems. In addition to identifiying the key factors contributing to the commerical success and failure of base of the pyramid initiatives, the course will explore the potenial role disruptive technologies and innovative business models can play in promoting health, social empowerment, and environmental sustainability.
In IDH 4008, you will meet in-person with social entrepreneurs, business executives, directors of non-profit organizations, and faculty and students from an Indian university. The program will include a rich array of cultural experiences including visits to national heritage sites, shrines, and nature preserves. By the end of the program, students will have a deep understanding of the economic challenges and opportunities confronting a rising India and an appreciation for the Indian people and their unique history, culture, and heritage.
Program Start: Saturday, May 15, 2027
Program End: Monday, June 5, 2027
Application opens soon
The 2027 Honors Study Abroad application window opens September 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. EDT.
Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until January 8, 2027, or until all spaces are filled.
PROGRAM DETAILS
What you'll be doing
- Visiting the incomparable Taj Mahal at sunrise
- Visiting a center that rehabilitates captive elephants in distress
- Attending business meetings with various business owners that are changemakers
- Touring Kumbalangi village with visits to coconut farm, fish farm, Chinese net fishing, clam meat processing, and agriculture farm
This is a living document, meaning that scheduled Free Time may be utilized for in-person quizzes, class meetings, and/or class days. Students should always consult with their Faculty Director prior to scheduling plans during Free Time.
Cost & Aid
- 21 nights in handpicked shared accommodations with breakfast included
- Airport pick up and drop off at start and end of program in Air-conditioned Deluxe Coach
- 20 breakfasts, 16 lunches, and 3 dinners plus meal gratuities included
- Domestic airfare within program
- English speaking local guides for city tours
- Monument entrances
- Cycle rickshaw ride in Old Delhi
- Shared boat ride in Periyar Natioinal Park
- Packaged drinking water in the coach bus throughout the program
- Tips to the guides, driver, and vehicle assistant
- Local Tour Director assistance at all times
- International travel medical insurance
- 24/7 support from Faculty Director
Your Faculty Director
Dr. David Wernick, Ph.D., is a teaching professor in FIU’s Department of International Business and an award-winning case writer. His research focuses on global business strategy, innovation, and sustainable enterprise. He is the author of numerous academic and policy-oriented studies on global business and politics, including the book chapters “Innovation in Africa: The View from the Hilltops of a Spiky Continent,” (2016), and “Stakeholders and the Learning Organization,” with William D. Schneper and Mary Ann Von Glinow (2019).
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