The Center for Social Impact and Innovation

The Center for Social Impact and Innovation at Glasgow Caledonian New York College is dedicated to empowering innovative minds to create a sustainable and equitable world.

Our Mission: Sustainable Innovation

Through research, community engagement and cross-sectoral collaboration, the Center for Social Impact and Innovation seeks to re-imagine business and consumption as innovative forces for a regenerative future. The mission of the Center is heavily interconnected with GCNYC’s broader Common Good mission. Leveraging GCNYC’s international legacy, the Center provides opportunities for broad-range cultural and intellectual exchange in service to global scholarship, social impact and a circular economy.

Social Impact Events

The Center hosts events, on campus and virtually, that bring together thought leaders in sustainability and social justice. Our students, alumni and the greater community have the unique opportunity to hear from industry leaders, entrepreneurs and applied researchers dedicated to sustainable innovation.

Our speakers have included:

Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Founder of the Grameen Bank
Caroline Boudreaux, Founder, the Miracle Foundation
Fred Swaniker, Founder and CEO, the African Leadership Academy
Michelle Bradley, Senior Data Analyst at B-Lab
Maxine Bedat, Founder, the New Standard Institute
Mariano Bernardez, Executive Director, Performance Improvement Institute
Venky Raghavendra, Senior VP Safe Water Network

You can view recordings of our past events here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCykI7ILpqgTKasEte6ec7Qw

Sustainability Thesis Partnerships

One effective way organizations and businesses can contribute to the Common Good is through social impact and sustainability partnerships. GCNYC’s Center for Social Impact and Innovation offers students the dynamic opportunity to align their master’s theses and collaborate with organizations, social enterprises and governmental agencies. Working closely with these partners, students apply their research to practical solutions for social improvement and the fulfillment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

In the 2020-2021 academic year, the Center is proud to host “Resilience and Reconstruction, A Virtual Speaker Series Exploring the Impact of COVID-19 on the Common Good.” This speaker series explores social impact innovation that has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic.

View more details about our speakers, and register for upcoming events.

For Students Interested in a Thesis Partnership

Pursuing a Thesis Partnership is an elective activity, and a successful thesis is not predicated on a thesis partnership. Students could have a sustainability partnership by way of an existing professional relationship or through a current partner of the Center.

For Organizations Interested in Participating

Establishing a thesis partnership with a student can begin with an existing relationship with a current GCNYC student or directly with the College who can pair you with a student whose thesis aligns to your organization’s objectives. In partnering with a student on their master’s thesis, your organization will be working closely with GCNYC’s Center for Social Impact and Innovation, giving your organization access to a community of businesses, non-profits, professionals and academia.

Past & Current Thesis Partnerships

Researching sustainable innovation across industries, GCNYC students are working with the following companies and organizations for their master’s thesis.

Forum for the Future is a leading international sustainability non-profit specializing in addressing critical global challenges by catalyzing change in key systems such as Food, Fashion and Energy. For over 20 years, Forum for the Future has been working in partnership with business, governments and civil society to accelerate the shift toward a sustainable future.

Hecho X Nosotros Moda Etica en Accion works to create a new paradigm in the fashion industry by promoting a systemic change based on the principles of sustainability, circularity and social inclusion. Their work is strongly linked to natural fibers, sustainable development and local development—initiatives that have a positive impact on the environment, local development, economy and social well-being.

Founded in 1986, Resource Recycling Systems (RRS) is a sustainability and recycling consulting firm that strives to create a world where resources are managed to maximize economic and social benefit while minimizing environmental harm. The firm has industry professionals, engineers, economists, technical analysts and communication specialists who share this vision and possess core strengths in materials and recovery, life cycle management, applied sustainable design and collaborative action development.

The Michael Cohen Group, LLC (MCG) is an applied research and evaluation firm headquartered in New York City. MCG has been privileged to conduct applied research and scientific evaluations on behalf of international and federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofits, foundations, businesses and schools to develop and assess effective products, initiatives, services and strategic communications.

MTI USA specializes in sustainable and traceable raw materials and garment manufacturing globally. MTI USA, Inc. is the original holding company started in 1995 by Francesco and Tommaso Rulli who immigrated to the United States in the early 1990’s. Over the last 20 years, MTI USA Inc. has developed and strengthened its expertise in the art of conversation and dialogue between brands and customers, including audience segmentation associated to customers’ interests and life experiences.

Giotex is the largest producer of cotton/polyester pre-dyed fibers and blends in the Americas. Producing about 500,000 kg monthly, we have managed to attract and maintain a large portfolio of customers based on our quality and after-sales service. We export to over 12 countries with a view to attracting new markets and expanding the use of sustainable products in order to support our positive ecological impact.

Comistra’s history starts in the Italian textile Prato district by the founder Rolando Tesi in 1951. Specialized in the marketing and transformation of raw materials, Comistra introduced high technology machineries to transform products in a shorter time with the goal of achieving better quality control. Comistra is proud to have one of the few complete carbonizing and water ragging plants in the world.