THE Ateneo de Manila University joined forces with the De La Salle University in a bid to advance social entrepreneurship and sustainability in the country.

A memorandum of agreement was recently signed by key officials of the two universities.

“Social enterprises have been recognized as a vehicle that help towards the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals,” Ateneo said in a statement.

“The United Nations report on Youth Social Entrepreneurship and the 2030 agenda indicates how youth social entrepreneurship has the potential to make young people agents of change especially when nurtured in an enabling environment,” it added.

The three-year partnership will be facilitated by the Ateneo Center for Social Entrepreneurship and the Lasallian Social Enterprise for Economic Development.

It aims to focus on the promotion and advocacy of social entrepreneurship and sustainability; mobilization of internal and external stakeholders for cooperation-building, resource generation, and capacity-building endeavors and sharing of good practices in the fields of social entrepreneurship and sustainability.

“The collaboration of Ateneo and DLSU not only strengthens both schools’ mission towards poverty alleviation and social justice but also supports in the achievement of the SDGs,” Ateneo said.