Admissions

The Changemakers Program: How Leysin American School Partners with Babson College and SCAD

September 15, 2026 3 min read

Real-World Entrepreneurial Education, Years Before College.

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In This Guide

Most high school entrepreneurship electives amount to a business-plan project and a final presentation. Leysin American School’s Changemakers program goes considerably further, built in direct partnership with Babson College, widely regarded as a leading name in entrepreneurship education, and the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

Quick Answer for Busy Parents

The Changemakers program is Leysin American School’s entrepreneurial extracurricular and academic track, developed in partnership with Babson College and SCAD, using the Harvard-developed case study method to give students real-world creative and entrepreneurial experience starting from the earliest stages of their education.

What the Changemakers Program Is

Changemakers integrates entrepreneurial and creative skill-building directly into the LAS curriculum, rather than treating it as a standalone elective. Students engage with real-world business and creative challenges using established case-study methodology, developing practical skills tied to LAS’s broader results that most students wouldn’t otherwise encounter until college.

The Babson and SCAD Partnerships

Partner Institution What It Brings
Babson College Widely regarded as a top institution for entrepreneurship education
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Leading institution for art, design, and creative fields

The Harvard Case Study Method

Changemakers uses the Harvard-developed case study method, a teaching approach built around analyzing real business scenarios rather than lecture-based instruction, a technique most students wouldn’t encounter until an MBA program. Applying it at the high school level gives LAS students an unusually early introduction to how real business and creative decisions actually get made.

Why This Matters for Families Evaluating LAS

For families comparing LAS against other international boarding schools, the Changemakers program is a concrete way to evaluate how seriously a school invests in practical, real-world skill-building beyond a standard academic track, part of what schools look for in applicants more broadly. Named partnerships with recognized institutions like Babson and SCAD carry more weight than a generic “entrepreneurship elective,” since they connect students to established methodology and expertise.

Apply to Leysin American School with Top Admissions Consultants

The Changemakers program reflects a broader pattern at LAS: building genuine partnerships with respected institutions rather than assembling in-house approximations. Cardinal Education’s private school admissions consulting helps families evaluate whether that kind of entrepreneurship-forward program fits their child’s interests.

Curious How Changemakers Fits Your Child?

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Families specifically interested in how these same fundamentals apply to Asian American applicants can also see our dedicated guide to LAS for Asian American families.

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Related Articles:
How to Get Into Leysin American School: Best Admissions Guide for International Families
The Alpine Institute: How Leysin American School Replaces Team Sports with Mountain Life

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Changemakers program?
Leysin American School’s entrepreneurial education track, developed in partnership with Babson College and SCAD, using the Harvard-developed case study method.
Is Changemakers a standalone elective or integrated into the curriculum?
It’s integrated directly into the LAS curriculum rather than treated as a standalone elective.
What is the Harvard case study method?
A teaching approach built around analyzing real business scenarios rather than lecture-based instruction, most commonly associated with MBA-level education.

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