Babson College President Kerry Healey Speaks at UN with International Council for Small Business and Other Global Leaders
On Thursday, May 11, at United Nations headquarters, Babson College President Kerry Healey spoke on a panel about the importance of strong partnerships between higher education institutions and Micro-, Small-, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs).
The session was a part of a co-hosted event by the International Council for Small Business (ICSB) and the Mission of Argentina—MSMEs Day Knowledge Summit—a convening of leaders in academia, the private sector, and other global partners to discuss the importance of MSMEs, entrepreneurs, and startups to play as catalysts, creators, and supporters of the network in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
According to ICSB, MSMEs contribute significantly to product innovation in the marketplace as well as up to two-thirds of all net new jobs in the workforce. Partnerships with MSMEs allow them to capitalize on much needed state-of-the-art resources. Universities have been instrumental in providing human talent to MSMEs as well as enabling “knowledge transfer” in the commercialization of research conducted on academic campuses. MSMEs gain from more direct involvement with university incubators and student internships.
President Healey’s ‘Academic Leaders’ panel focused on how a commitment for MSME success is required by leaders in higher education to foster an innovative ecosystem.
The discussion was moderated by Winslow Sargeant, Senior Vice President of ICSB. President Healey was joined by: Dr. Leo Chalupa, Vice President for Research at The George Washington University; Dr. Patrick Leahy, President of Wilkes University; Dr. Nariman Farvardin, President of Stevens Institute of Technology; Dr. Joel Bloom, President of New Jersey Institute of Technology; Dr. Ruben Ascua, Rector Organizador Universidad Nacional de Rafaela; Ms. Julie Goonewardene, Associate Vice Chancellor of The University of Texas System; Dr. Caryn Beck-Dudley, Dean of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business; and Dr. Katia Passerini, Dean of St. John’s University.
About the MSMEs Day Knowledge Summit
On April 6, 2017, The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution recognizing the crucial role Micro-, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) play in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Resolution (A/71/L.60) designates June 27 as “Micro-, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Day.” With support from the ICSB, The Mission of Argentina to the UN authored the resolution that was presented to and negotiated with all UN member states. The resolution was co-sponsored by 45 member states, representing over 5 billion people. Since the adoption of the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals Agenda, all countries have been working for its implementation, which aims to ensure that every actor can contribute in the best possible way. At the 2017 Summit, we examine how MSMEs have the potential to make a long-lasting positive impact on global development needs, as the engine for economic growth and job creation, accounting for two out of three net new jobs created worldwide.
ICSB and its global membership will celebrate the MSMEs Day—International Day on June 27, 2017, followed by the 62nd ICSB World Conference in Buenos Aires June 28-July, 1, 2017.