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TODAYonline: "Non-profit, not unprofessional
SMU centre aims to align charity sector's financial needs and altruistic goals

Vinita Ramani
vinita@newstoday.com.sg

SINGAPORE'S non-profit sector, which has taken a beating following the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) fall-out, will be given a much-needed boost with a new centre at the Singapore Management University (SMU) dedicated to promoting the industry and making it more professional.
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The Lien Foundation Centre for Social Innovation will focus on three areas — research, teaching and community outreach — to encourage more participation and better management in the non-profit sector.
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The first of its kind in Asia, it may even potentially offer a course drawing lessons from the NKF saga. Speaking in his capacity as governor of the Lien Foundation and chairman of the centre's board, Mr Gerard Ee (picture), who is also chairman of the NKF, said the timing was entirely coincidental.
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'We started planning this about 10 months ago, so this was before the NKF saga. The religious-minded may even call it divine intervention that this has worked out,' he said.
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Electives in social entrepreneurship will be offered to SMU students, while the centre will also offer special modules and executive programmes for professionals in the sector.
.l take on the position of director at the new centre: 'Can business students major in social entrepreneurship and innovation so that they can eventually work in the non-profit sector? How do you bring together business needs as well as soci"