Experiential Learning

The Experiential Learning Initiative

Experiential Learning (EL) intends to bridge the gap between IIM Kashipur and the social sector to engage institutional stakeholders in issues pertaining to societal development and sustainability. Comprising of the key stakeholders (Faculties and Students), the key emphasis of EL is twofold: (1) To address developmental agenda within the region by partnering with relevant external organizations under an innovative outreach programme, (2) To create a mutual benefit for students and associated external organizations who are working on developmental issues pertaining sustainable development, rural development, and development of young firms. Via EL, while organizations can derive helping hands on their intellectual, research, and field requirements, students, on the other hand, source-in the invaluable ‘Experiential Learning’. While this transforms Business Management education by bridging the gap between academic knowledge and industrial practicality, EL innovates to enhance the involvement of IIM Kashipur in the developmental issues primarily pertaining to the region of Uttarakhand.

Experiential Learning’s Outcomes on Social Engagement and Societal Impact is channelled via its three verticals

  • Environment and Sustainable Business Practices
  • Unlocking Rural Potential
  • MSME Development.

Environment and Sustainable Business Practices (ESBP)

Sustainable Development is a critical agenda faced by modern day businesses. It intends to balance the coexistence of people, planet, and profits. While at a broader scale, sustainable development has become a catchphrase for green business practices to reshape corporate strategies, at a micro view, sustainability unlocks several hard to address issues pertaining to environmental and societal management. The EL vertical of Environment and Sustainable Business Practices (ESBP) aligns with this concern, and engages students with organizations addressing micro issues on sustainable development for example impact of climate change on crops, strategic planning and implementation of SDG frameworks, fostering carbon negative practices in firms, bio-diversity conservation, developing seed banks and distribution systems to conserve region-specific seeds, eco-friendly textile production, water/irrigation management, promoting self-help groups working on regional products and artworks, new education policy and its societal impact, and so on.

Unlocking Rural Potential (URP)

Rural Management is an important agenda to develop capabilities within the resourceful yet hard to tap rural landscape. A rural landscape may have access to rich resources and unique products, however streamlining supply capabilities can be difficult due to uncoordinated stakeholders, disjointed value chains, rural stigma, and lack of awareness. The EL vertical of Unlocking Rural Potential (URP) addresses this concern and engages students with organizations addressing rural management issues such as uplifting rural livelihood by developing employment opportunities, promoting smokeless stove in rural regions to improve women health, Gram Swaraj, Eco- and agro-tourism, strategic planning for Jal Jeevan mission, diagnosing farmer issues for organic products to improve farmer income, Van Panchayat and forest management, developing homestays in the hills of Uttarakhand, and so on.

MSME Development

MSME stands for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. In accordance with the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act of 2006 in India, the enterprises are classified into three divisions: Micro enterprise (Turnover less than or equal to INR 2.5 Million), Small enterprise (INR 2.5 Million to INR 50 Million), and Medium enterprise (INR 50 Million to INR 100 Million). Irrespective of the governmental classification, MSMEs are young firms with tremendous growth potential and risk. In this framing, the EL vertical of MSME Development engages students with young firms such as cooperatives, new businesses, start-ups, and small-scale production units. Exemplar issues covered include branding of organic products of women-oriented cooperatives in the mountains, brand development for young firms, funding and growth levers for rural cooperatives in the region, value chain integration for young firms, B2B marketing strategies for young firms, marketing, sales, and social media promotion for young firms, market development and raising consumer awareness, and so on.

Initiative Structure

This initiative presently focuses on its flagship MBA programme, with the plans to involve its Doctoral Student base soon in the near future. For the MBA programme, Experiential Learning has been introduced as a mandatory course that spans for the entire two years. Most significant engagement emerges in the second year of the curriculum, where MBA students spend the entire year working with organizations on developmental agenda along with fieldwork. These agenda have been thematized across the described verticals. Entire MBA batch gets fragmented into finite student groups to address diverse yearlong projects. For example, in the present academic year (2021-2022), EL is catering 55 unique projects by engaging 270 MBA students and numerous partner organizations.

Stakeholders involved

  • EL Faculty Supervisory Team
  • Partner Organisations
  • EL Cell – Student coordinator team and managers

Deliverables

  • Work with the organization and fulfil the outlined project goals.
  • Embark on fieldwork.
  • Drafting Report to the Partner Organization and EL IIM Kashipur.
  • Final presentation, open discourse, and best project award.

List of current partner organizations

  1. Central Himalayan Institute for Nature & Applied Research (CHINAR)
  2. Mount Valley Development Association (MVDA)
  3. Pradhanmantri Van Dhan Yojna, Mentha Oil (US Nagar Chapter, GOI)
  4. Bhoomi Sanstha
  5. Appropriate Technology India (ATI) Sustainability
  6. Hasten Ventures (US)
  7. Green Hills Trust
  8. CHIRAG
  9. Mulya Creation: Eco-friendly textile products
  10. Swachh Bharat Mission, Solid Liquid Waste Management (Gramin, GOI)
  11. Srishti Jan Kalyan Samiti
  12. Aarohi (Herbal products)
  13. Tiny Farms
  14. Tirambhapur Askote Raj Ecosystems
  15. ICICI Foundation
  16. ALAKNANDA GHATI SHILPI FEDERATION (AAGAAS FEDERATION)
  17. Room to Read
  18. Gandhi Fellowship
  19. Piramal Foundation
  20. Pashupati Group
  21. Himadri Hans Handlooms
  22. Parivartan - The change
  23. Shavya's Farm
  24. Balajee Sewa Sansthan
  25. MSME DFO (GOI)
  26. Dharohar Sanstha
  27. Center for Business and Entrepreneurial Development (CBED)
  28. Samvedna Trust
  29. Khwahish
  30. Aadhaar Association
  31. Foundation for Organic Agriculture & Rural Development (FORD)
  32. Villotale
  33. National Rural Livelihood Mission, Toy Growth Centre (GOI)
  34. CAFAL Advisors
  35. Room to Read
  36. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Scheme (GOI)
  37. Himshakti Global Foods LLP
  38. Devnirmit Agro Solution India
  39. KB Systems
  40. Parivartan - Be the change
  41. Fermentech Labs
  42. KLA India: Manufacturer of food products
  43. Valley Culture India Pvt. Ltd.
  44. Circuit Media LLP
  45. Mountstribe
  46. Neoli (Hemp based products)
  47. Banjosh Enterprises
  48. Haldivita
  49. Devarpan Foods
  50. Dhara's Thet Pahari
  51. National Rural Livelihood Mission, Bakery Growth Centre (GOI)
  52. Agri Joy LLP
  53. Lohaar Engineering Works: Manufacturer of construction equipment
  54. Rohira Overseas
  55. Chef n Kitchen