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.

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SOURCE Babson College