Journey of Impact
OUR HISTORY
Since 2009, Yunus Center at AIT has been fostering social business, innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development across the region and beyond.
Yunus Center AIT (YCA) is a collaboration between Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus and the Asian Institute of Technology. The first such center established with an academic institution, YCA’s vision is to harness the power of social business to create a poverty-free world. YCA adopts an action-learning approach that fosters the development and implementation of social business models informed by research, technology, and partnerships with a focus on gender equality. YCA draws upon the knowledge infrastructure and the global research network of the Asian Institute of Technology and taps into the expertise of individuals and organizations representing over the countries.
About Yunus Center AIT
Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus and the Asian Institute of Technology formally launched the Yunus Center at AIT, the first of its kind outside of Bangladesh on the 19th of August, 2009. Prof. Muhammad Yunus remarked that this would be a landmark development in South-East Asia. Between 2009 and 2012, YCA was led by interim directors Dr. Borje Wallberg and Dr. Christer Holstberg before Dr. Riaz Khan assumed leadership. During this formative period, the Center focused on promoting social business awareness. In 2012, YCA hosted a Social Business Symposium featuring Professor Yunus, bringing together leaders and youth to address social challenges.
YCA Reenergizing: 2012 – 2017
To re-energize the center under the institute’s new management, YCA’s operations were integrated with AIT Extension. Under Dr. Faiz Shah’s leadership, the Center underwent a major revamp in vision, strategy, and team composition. It became a knowledge hub for enterprise-led development addressing social challenges and emerged as a resource in social business, sustainable development, and mobile healthcare. YCA also partnered with government and private organizations and implemented capacity-building programs on social business, design thinking, case writing, and leadership.
YCA Growth: 2018 – 2021
YCA experienced significant growth in network and influence during this period. Guided by its 3Es framework—Engage, Educate, and Empower—the Center strengthened collaborations and partnerships with Professor Yunus, Grameen Bangladesh, and the global Yunus network. YCA also contributed to editorial boards, conference committees, and consortiums. Its international internship program welcomed talented students who became strong ambassadors of the YCA brand. In June 2019, YCA co-hosted Social Business Day 2019, marking the Center’s 10th anniversary.
YCA Growth: 2022 – 2026
The Yunus Center AIT has undertaken numerous activities from 2022 to the present. Key milestones include the WePower - SAR100 initiative in 2022, the SBAC 11-2024 Social Business Academia Conference and the 15th anniversary of Yunus Center AIT in 2024, and the launch of the WePOWER Global Secretariat at the Yunus Center AIT in 2026. These initiatives reflect the Center’s continued commitment to impactful contributions, dedicated service, and its long-term mission and vision. A list of YCA projects can be found here.
𝐖𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 our founder and Chair, Professor Muhammad Yunus on being sworn in as interim Head of Government in Bangladesh.
This is in honor of our YCA's 15th anniversary.
