Millikin University Center for Entrepreneurship
ET 360-02: Social Entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka
March 13-22, 2026
*Satisfies Global Studies Requirement
Millikin Student Cost: $2,995 (includes $800 airfare allocation)
Community/Visiting Faculty Member Cost: $3,495 (includes $800 airfare allocation)
Deadline to register with $500 deposit: December 15, 2025
Preparation coursework is hybrid and meets Thursdays from 3:30-4:45 PM and will conclude with a presentation at Millikin's Celebration of Scholarship.
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Program Focus
This program is an exploration of entrepreneurship with a social purpose in Sri Lanka. Participants will work on sustainable community projects and collaborate with local entrepreneurs in the sustainable products that are used in the tourism industry. The program partners with Sarvodaya, Sri Lanka's 68-year-old grassroots community development organization, and local entrepreneurs to address rural and social challenges.
Insights gained will contribute to social good and well-being of rural entrepreneurs. Utilizing entrepreneurship and innovation by students and community members in the U.S. and abroad to identify markets and channels that will benefit Sri Lankan entrepreneurs.
This program is open to all students, alumni, and community members interested in social impact and social entrepreneurship through experiential learning.
Practical Application
Collaborate with Sarvodaya and local women entrepreneurs to implement community development initiatives.
Cultural Learning
Engage with Sri Lanka's culture and history while developing sustainable business models.
Skill Development
Gain insights into social entrepreneurship applicable to various career paths.
About the Instructor
Millikin Facilitator: Julienne Shields
This immersion course and experience is taught by Millikin University's Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Clinical Instructor of Entrepreneurship, Julienne Shields, who has traveled to over 30 countries on 5 continents. Her experience as an entrepreneurship instructor focuses on intensive experiential education and has ranged from technology innovation to arts entrepreneurship. Julienne's teaching style can be characterized as joyful learning that bridges theoretical knowledge with practical application. The course content draws from multiple methodologies developed to support the creation of social ventures that address community challenges.
For more information, contact Julienne Shields ([email protected])
Guest Facilitator: Dr. Ramani Gallellalage
We are so privileged to have a local expert and facilitator joining us. Dr. Ramani Priyadarshani Gallellalage is a Senior Fellow in Higher Education Association (SFHEA) in the Department of Management at Nottingham Business School. She leads the "Developing Professional Impacts (Entrepreneurship)" and "Business Development in a Digital World", and she led the "International Strategic Management" and the "Strategic Management" modules, where she developed comprehensive module materials and established a learning environment aligned with her interests in the Participatory Action Learning Approach.
She began her career at the age of 18 as a volunteer with Sarvodaya and went on to work for seven years as a Programme Coordinator in the Poverty Eradication and Empowerment Division. She then spent 12 years at the Ministry of Industries Development in Sri Lanka, where she supported Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and foreign direct investors, and collaborated with Parliament and other statutory boards to develop and amend rules, regulations, and policies.
Dr. Ramani will be joining us and facilitating engagement with entrepreneurs and organizations in Sri Lanka. She is a committed educator and change-maker who can connect faculty with many research projects in a variety of areas throughout the country.
Sri Lanka and Sarvodaya
About Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is an island nation known for its cultural heritage and natural beauty. The country's economy, heavily influenced by tourism, creates opportunities for women entrepreneurs. It serves as a context for studying sustainable development and social innovation.
In recent years, Sri Lanka has transitioned toward greater political and economic stability following periods of conflict and financial uncertainty. However, challenges such as income inequality, limited access to capital, and regional disparities continue to affect local communities. These conditions have spurred growing attention to entrepreneurship as a means of revitalizing rural economies, promoting inclusive growth, and empowering marginalized groups—particularly women and youth. With a renewed focus on innovation, education, and small business development, Sri Lanka is increasingly positioning entrepreneurship as a pathway toward resilience and sustainable prosperity.
The Sarvodaya Movement
Founded in 1958 by A. T. Ariyaratne, the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement is Sri Lanka’s most broadly embedded grassroots development network, rooted in Gandhian “welfare of all” (sarvodaya) and the practice of shramadana—shared labor and service.
Operating through participatory village councils and volunteer mobilization, Sarvodaya has implemented community-driven initiatives in areas such as education, health, livelihoods, and local infrastructure, and has been active in roughly 15,000 of Sri Lanka’s 38,000 villages. The organization has also played major roles in crisis response and recovery, including the 2004 tsunami and subsequent national emergencies.
For more information about the organization, you can visit their website: https://www.sarvodaya.org/
Program Itinerary: March 13-22, 2026
Embark on a transformative journey through Sri Lanka, blending social entrepreneurship with rich cultural immersion. This itinerary outlines key activities, subject to minor adjustments for optimal experiential learning.
1
Days 1-2: Arrival & Orientation
(March 13-14)
Depart US, and arrive in Colombo, transfer to Sarvodaya headquarters. Welcome dinner and program introduction, setting the stage for social impact in Sri Lanka. Overview of local context and cultural norms.
2
Days 3: Sarvodaya Immersion
(March 15)
Deep dive into Sarvodaya's philosophy and community development models. Depart for Kandy and Elephant Orphanage. Dinner at Samma-vasa.
3
Days 4-5: Entrepreneurial Collaboration in Mathale (March 16-17)
Travel to village of Mathale. Begin hands-on work with local women entrepreneurs, focusing on sustainable product development for the tourism industry and exploring market opportunities. Dinner with Entrepreneurs
4
Days 6-7: Cultural Insight & Projects in Thalawa (March 18-19)
Depart for Thalawa - Anuradhapura. Meet next entrepreneurs and sightseeing in Anuradhapura. Engage on entrepreneurial projects, including strategy development and feedback sessions with entrepreneurs.
5
Days 8-9: Reflection in Negombo & Colombo (March 20-21)
Leave for Negombo and Beach hotel (Beach day!) Lunch, shopping, free-time and
touring in Colombo.
6
Day 10: Departure
Breakfast at hotel and Depart for U.S.
This itinerary offers a dynamic blend of learning, collaboration, and cultural exploration, designed to foster a deep understanding of social entrepreneurship in a global context.
Program Details and Registration
01
Registration Deadline
Deadline: December 15
Students are required to provide a $500 deposit and sign a contract through the Center for International Education
Community members and visiting faculty members need to provide a $500 refundable deposit if the immersion is cancelled.
02
Program Cost
Millikin Student Fee: $2,995
Includes $800 airfare allowance, lodging, meals, and all program activities.
Community members and visiting faculty: $3,495
Includes $800 airfare allowance, $500 community fee, lodging, meals, and all program activities.
03
Contact Information
For more information, contact Julienne Shields at [email protected] or call (217) 899-6556.