Centre for Social Innovation and Global Public Service at St Mary’s Signs Major Partnership with Georgetown University McDonough School of Business

The Centre for Social Innovation and Global Public Service at St Mary’s University, Twickenham and Washington DC’s Georgetown University McDonough School of Business are delighted to announce a new trans-Atlantic partnership.

The news of this significant partnership comes just weeks after the Centre’s Harvard backed launch and news of its ground breaking new MScs in Social Innovation and Global Enterprise Policy and Social Innovation and Global Public Service.

Speaking at the event, Penny Mordaunt MP, the new Secretary of State for International Development, said, “I’m really excited, this education programme enables people to the meet the challenges they’re going to face when working in this space.”  To her support, voices of civil society and other government leaders were added following the signing of the MOU.

Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Business and Industrial Strategy said, “The UK has a world-leading reputation for academic excellence and through our Industrial Strategy the UK is committed to building on this excellence and fostering collaboration on crucial issues. The international partnership announced between St Mary’s and Georgetown is a brilliant example of this, with UK academics working with their US counterparts to complete mutually-beneficial education and research.”

Chief Executive of the Chartered Association of Business Schools Anne Kiem added, “I think this is fantastic news as it is increasingly important for universities to build international links. Hopefully this is the start of a very productive partnership between St Mary’s and Georgetown that will benefit all students involved.”

Internationally recognised NGO leader and Director of CAFOD Chris Bain, remarked, “CAFOD and Caritas are passionate about building the skills and talents of the next generation. This collaboration and these programmes have so much to offer.”

The partnership will have St Mary’s postgraduate students following the Centre’s courses and benefitting from teaching and learning opportunities on Georgetown’s US and Doha campuses. Meanwhile, the two partners will jointly develop new leadership executive programmes for those in senior positions across the UK and wider EU public, private and civic sectors.

Centre Director, Prof Francis Davis said, “This is a beginning. Georgetown is ranked highly in America for finance and the step change learning in both directions will support the Centre’s plans to establish itself as a niche initiative of international excellence in its field."

The MOU was signed by St Mary’s Pro Vice Chancellor John Brewer, and Paul Lambert on behalf of the Dean of the McDonough School of Business Paul Almedia, during a visit to the St Mary’s campus.

St Mary’s Vice Chancellor Prof Francis Campbell said of the partnership, “The new Centre for Social Innovation and Global Public Service has launched with great promise. Having already agreed partnerships and met with leaders around the world, this new partnership with Georgetown University will take the Centre to the next level and bring great benefits for students.”

The MOU also opens up further opportunities which are currently under discussion. Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement Prof John Brewer said, “We are excited to be partnering with Georgetown, there are many areas of potential shared collaboration in the future and I look forward to exploring these in future discussions with them.