Delegation from University of Washington Foster School of Business visits IES MCRC

On August 30, 2013, a 21 member delegation from University of Washington Foster School of Business, visited Indian Education Society's Management College and Research Center (IES MCRC) to indulge in collaborative learning and understanding social entrepreneurship, women empowerment, growth and strategies for non-profit organization and explore opportunities for future collaborations and thus build the cross cultural barriers.

Globally competent students can communicate ideas, weigh perspectives, investigate the world, take action and apply Disciplinary and Interdisciplinary Expertise to articulate these significantly in the globally competitive world by identifying, collecting, and analyzing credible information from a variety of local, national and international sources. At IES MCRC we believe in value addition through education and strive to make students globally competent with the international exchange programs, industry guest lectures, international conferences, corporate seminars etc.

The FSB student delegation planned their visit to India for studying Women’s Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship.

The Michael G. Foster School of Business at the University of Washington accredited by AACSB International consistently ranks among the top business schools in the United States for both undergraduate and graduate degrees. As per Forbes Best Business School in the world for the year 2013, Foster’s rank 23rd, the Foster School serves more than 2,500 students. The delegation included Ms. Catherine Goethals- Faculty Director, Foster School of Business & Ms. Jessica Rush- Assistant Program Director Foster School of Business & most important the 19 students.
IESMCRC had arranged talks in the area of social entrepreneurship and invited guest speaker to attend which included:

1. Ms. Charvi Parikh, President at "me2green". She is an MS in computer science from Villanova University, USA and has sacrificed her lucrative carrier in IT industry and is now currently leading an environmental NGO, Me 2 Green. She has for 1 year been engaged with some of our students in social projects in Mumbai along with the Government of Maharashtra.

2. Ms. Venil Ali, City Director Mumbai at "Teach for India". She has done her graduation in life sciences and masters in bio chemistry. She has joined Teach for India as a fellow in cohert in 2009.She has grown in Teach for India across different levels and is currently the Mumbai City Director.

3. Dr. Rahul Mirchandani, Executive Director at “Aries Agro Limited” He is the founder of Common Asia Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs, the former National Chairman of Confederation Indian Industries of Young Indians and the current force behind Transformation India. He is a MBA from University of Canberra and PHD from reputed NMIMS in India. He is a pioneer for creating the BUZZ and supporting entrepreneurs across the globe.

The FSB delegates were given a very warm traditional welcome with garlands and a welcome drink. Then a "tikka" (vermillion) was applied on the forehead and a small "aarti" was performed. The student delegates from FSB were accompanied by our students for a campus tour. The evening was set bright, and the event was inaugurated with lighting a lamp by Ms. Catherine Goethals Faculty Director, Foster School of Business, Mr.Satish Lotlikar, Chairman, IES , Dr. Dinesh D. Harsolekar, Director, IES MCRC and Prof. Mohan B. Rao- Associate Dean.

The welcome address was delivered by Dr. Dinesh D. Harsolekar, Director, IES MCRC. In his speech he shared with the delegates and guest speakers the steps taken by IES to shape leaders with the idealism, belief, skills and commitment for a better future by providing them an infrastructure for education with holistic development & support India’s brightest, most promising leaders.

Ms. Charvi Parikh, President at "me2green" shared her business model and how she is contributing to a change in the Indian society by providing job opportunities to Women rag pickers, which would fetch them monthly income and a dignified life.

A presentation by Ms. Venil Ali, City Director Mumbai at "Teach for India" was an eye opener. In India today, 4% of our children never start school. 58% don’t complete primary schools. And 90% don’t complete school. At Teach for India, the fact that only 10% of our children go on to college both saddens and angers us. Teach for India exists because of a deep belief that every child can and must attain an excellent education. Teach for India exists to prove that no child’s demographics should determine their destiny. The end of educational inequity is the freedom for all children to have the opportunity to reach their potential. And the day that all children reach their potential is the day that India reaches her potential.

Dr. Rahul Mirchandani, Former President CAAYE, discussed some of the social challenges that Young Entrepreneurs have to tackle. These can involve areas of education, environment, health care, etc. He believes that the youth of the present era can build profitable business models which actually benefit the society at large; all they need to do is analyze a problem and work towards how it can be solved and make a difference.

Later Prof Mohan B Rao, Associate Dean for External Collaborations opened the session for students of both the universities to discuss social entrepreneurship, women empowerment etc over high tea and how collaboratively we could make a difference by exploring the opportunities prevailing in their home countries and globally by building long term sustainable models. The student groups of both FSB & IESMCRC discussed various models existing in India like:

• Veerni Project: Super 30,

• Sulabh Shauchalaya: Low cost Sanitation,

• Priyadarshani Taxi Services: employment for women,

• Mirakle Courier Services: Employment for the deaf,

• Dr. Sunitha Krishnan who is founder of NGO- Prajwala that works for trafficked women,

• Venture Capitalist- Aashis Dhawan’s Social Entrepreneurship in Education model.

Since the FSB delegates were visiting different States in India, IESMCRC students helped them with their valuable insights on different states and what they must do in each of them to have a true experience in India.

Some of the groups shared with all faculty and fellow students their projects and how they plan to work on it collectively.

Cultural diversity was witnessed as all the students danced together and the event was ended with vote of thanks given by Prof. Mohan B. Rao and memento was given to all delegates by Dr. Minu Mehta to have some good memories.

Related Links:

IES MCRC Presents International Case Study Conference

Colleges in Mumbai

MBA institutes in Mumbai

Colleges affiliated to Mumbai University