Babson College and Wellesley Centers for Women Partner to Launch U.S.-Saudi Women's...

Babson College and Wellesley Centers for Women Partner to Launch U.S.-Saudi
Women's Forum on Social Entrepreneurship

WELLESLEY, Mass., July 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Center for Women's
Leadership at Babson and The Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley College
have partnered with two renowned global organizations -- Dar Al Hekma College,
Saudi Arabia, and ICF International -- to deliver The U.S.-Saudi Women's Forum
on Social Entrepreneurship July 13-24, 2009 at Babson College.

Leaders from all four institutions will present the second of three modules to
30 undergraduate women from Saudi Arabia. Module I launched earlier this year
in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Faculty from the partnering institutions will work with students to refine the
skills they need to create real plans for entrepreneurial ventures, including
how to navigate the challenges of designing and delivering social
entrepreneurship programs, enhancing leadership skills, and cultivating the
creative processes necessary for success.

In addition, several successful female entrepreneurs with ventures in
corporate social responsibility, traditional not-for-profits, and social
entrepreneurship, will share their experiences during the program's speaker
series component. Module III will be held at Dar Al Hekma College, Jeddah,
Saudi Arabia in December 2009/January 2010.

This program is funded through the Middle East Partnership Initiative. The
Center for Women's Leadership at Babson College creates, supports and
disseminates best practices for women's entrepreneurial leadership through
educational excellence, innovative professional development and outreach and
research that translates data into knowledge and knowledge into action. We are
focused on women at all stages of their careers, as well as on organizations
that are committed to leveraging the talent and market power of women. The
Center's programs, outreach activities and research all promote the use of
creative and innovative approaches that enable women and organizations to
develop and act on opportunities that create value for stakeholders and
society.

The Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley College is the largest social
science organization in the U.S. dedicated to gender research. Primarily
self-funded, the Wellesley Centers for Women received a net two percent of its
FY2008 revenues, plus essential facility infrastructure and governance
support, from Wellesley College.

Dar Al-Hekma College as a learning community is committed to the furtherance
and enhancement of creativity, excellence, intellect and independent thinking
among its students. The graduates of Dar Al-Hekma will be capable of bringing
about positive change for the betterment of self, family, society and humanity
with the aim of serving and pleasing the Creator. The College awards
bachelor's degrees to students who successfully complete a four-year,
college-level curriculum. The degrees are awarded to those who successfully
complete two years of a bachelor's degree program. The College is managed and
operated by highly qualified Saudi and expatriate faculty and staff to provide
the highest standards of academic services.

ICF International partners with government and commercial clients to deliver
professional services and technology solutions in the energy, climate change,
environment, transportation, social programs, health, defense, and homeland
security markets. Since 1969, ICF has sought to provide lasting solutions to
society's most challenging management, technology, and policy issues that
protect and improve the quality of life. More than 3,000 employees work
worldwide in service areas that include strategic communication, human capital
management, and management consulting.

The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), located within the Bureau of
Near Eastern Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, assists efforts to
expand political participation, strengthen civil society and the rule of law,
empower women and youth, create educational opportunities, and foster economic
reform throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., is recognized internationally as a leader
in entrepreneurial management education. Babson grants BS degrees through its
innovative undergraduate program, and grants MBA and custom MS and MBA degrees
through the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College. Babson
Executive Education offers executive development programs to experienced
managers worldwide. For information, visit www.babson.edu.

This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise(TM). For more information,
visit http://www.newswise.com.

SOURCE Babson College

Michael Chmura, Babson PR, +1-781-239-4549, mchmura@babson.edu