Weaving a sense of responsibility

SOCIAL responsibility and business are no more mutually exclusive.
At least not for students of management in Pune. Going beyond their hectic schedules and working towards hefty salaries, institutes are ensuring that their students have some social work as part of their curriculum.
The Symbiosis Centre of Management and Human Resources Development (SCMHRD) cite compassion and character as the fruit of social interaction for their students.
Professor Sujata Deshpande says, “Our institute has adopted all the village schools in Hinjewadi. We have organised several meetings with companies at Hinjewadi and most of them are willing to contribute in whatever way they can. For instance, they will be providing computer facilities.�
The Indira Group of Institutes also take up social issues on different scales. Group director Chetan Wakalkar elaborates, “We take our social projects very seriously. There are about 2,000 students studying with us and even if 10 per cent take their social responsibility seriously, we have achieved our goal. We are a young team and can make a difference to the future.�
A first year student at the institute, Vaibhav Dua, says, “I am working on a project which involves Kashmiri refugees. It was such an eyeopener.
We spend so much on ourselves, why can’t we do something good to help others? I feel this is a crucial part of our education.�
Social marketing is now a new subject to be introduced in the next semester at the International School of Business and Media.
Professor Kumkum Dvivedi says, “First the students will study the theory of this subject, which is essentially about how to market social causes and issues. After this, they will take up projects.�
Students of the Event Management Development Institute (EMDI), while learning how to plan events, take up of events for social causes as well. The course curriculum also includes subjects like social marketing and corporate responsibility.
Student Mishaal Hussain says, “Our objective is to do something good, while we study and learn from that as well. Small things on our part can make a big difference in someone’s life.�
anuradha.kher@timesgroup.com