Enactus

Enactus
CountryUnited States Edit this on Wikidata
Formerly calledStudents in Free Enterprise or SIFE World Cup
MottoTo engage the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders to use innovation and business principles to improve the world.
Established1975
Last awarded2022
WinnerAin Shams University
Websitehttp://enactus.org/ Edit this on Wikidata

The Enactus World Cup, or the Enactus, is an international social entrepreneurship project presentation competition for university students organized by Enactus, an international non-profit organisation based in Springfield, Missouri. The championship formerly known as Students in Free Enterprise or SIFE was held annually between 1975 and 2022. As of 2021, 33 countries participated in the competition.

History

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The organization was founded in 1975 in the United States as a project of the National Leadership Institute under the name Students In Free Enterprise or SIFE. It was an international social entrepreneurship project presentation competition for university students organized by Enactus, an international non-profit organisation based in Springfield, Missouri.[1][2][3] The championship was held annually between 1975 and 2022 after being established by Texas attorney Robert T. Davis, initially named Students in Free Enterprise or SIFE.[4][5] In 2021, there were 1,730 Enactus teams at colleges and universities in 35 countries with around 500,000 students.[6]

The aim of the project was to get students excited about the free market economy and to immerse them to the role of entrepreneurs and companies within the market economy. The initiative was initially only active in the US, where the number of participating teams and students grew steadily. In 1995, exchange students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln laid the foundation for global expansion when they returned from the US to their home countries. In October 2012, the organization was renamed Enactus after a member survey by the board.[5]

On July 13th, 2023, President and CEO of Enactus, Robyn Fehrman announced that Enactus United States and Enactus Global would be shutting down its day-to-day operations by the end of August 2023 citing financial challenges.[7] Fehrman stated that Enactus events and chapters may continue to operate independently.

Competition

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The championship is held annually since 1975 after being established by Texas attorney Robert T. Davis, initially named Students in Free Enterprise or SIFE.[4][5] As of 2021, 33 countries participated in the competition.[8] Al-Azhar University from Egypt won 2020's contest.[9] Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 edition of the competition was held virtually, with the winner being October 6 University of Egypt.[10] The 2022 Enactus World Cup was held October 30 – November 2, 2022 in Puerto Rico, with the winner being Ain Shams University of Egypt.[11][12] The 2023 event was scheduled for October 17 – 20, 2023 in Utrecht, the Netherlands.[13]

Management

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Alvin Rohrs was CEO for 30 years until 2016, when he was succeeded by Rachael Jarosh who was CEO until June 2021.[6] Robyn Schryer Fehrman, previously a director at Duke University, became the President and CEO as of September 2021.[14]

In 2014, a former Sam M. Walton SIFE Fellow (as SIFE faculty advisers were then known) authored a memoir about his experience with SIFE. The book, How High Is Up, was critical of SIFE's management and ethical practices. As a result, the SIFE board commissioned an independent investigation that resulted in several changes to the company's internal controls.[15]

References

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  1. ^ "Student start-up culture has hit new heights in pandemic". Times Higher Education (THE). 2021-08-20. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  2. ^ "Enactus creates community projects". Virden Empire-Advance. Archived from the original on 2020-04-04. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  3. ^ "The Global non-profit organisation, Enactus, inspires students to focus on sustainable living". The New Indian Express. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  4. ^ a b Flynn, Kerry. "Students Don't Have To Drop Out To Thrive As Social Entrepreneurs". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  5. ^ a b c "Enactus | SIFE Changes Name to Highlight a Deep Commitment to Entrepreneurial Action". Enactus. Archived from the original on 2021-08-31. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  6. ^ a b Cole, Emily (1 March 2021). "Enactus begins search for new CEO". Springfield Business Journal. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Important Announcement Re: Enactus". marketing.enactus.org. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  8. ^ "Enactus | Where We Work". Enactus. Archived from the original on 2021-08-31. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  9. ^ "Egypt's Azhar University wins Enactus World Cup 2020". Csr Egypt. 2020-09-12. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  10. ^ Qawi, Ahmed Abdel (31 October 2021). "Egypt's October 6 University named Enactus World Cup 2021 champion". Csr Egypt. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Hosting 1st Enactus World Cup event will generate $3M for Puerto Rico". NimB. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  12. ^ "World Cup". Enactus. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  13. ^ "THE ENACTUS WORLD CUP 2023 IS COMING TO UTRECHT". Enactus. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Enactus hires Duke director as CEO". Springfield Business Journal. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Cult-like, corrupt and Christian conservative: Inside the campus group creating Wal-Mart managers". 26 February 2014.
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