Inspired by the importance of CSR and to better understand principles of management, they will be taking to the streets of Mumbai on the August 1, loaded with toys to sell. Named MANDI, it will be a unique venture by student body in Mumbai, with sales being targeted as Rs. 250,000 in one day.
NITIE is expecting Mr. Shivkumar, MD of Nokia India and Ms. Yukta Mookhey, former Miss World to flag off this event.
The toys are manufactured by an NGO called Navnirmiti. It believes that there are high yield methods and systems in education which can universalize the learning of science and mathematics. Many of these methods are low cost, and even no cost. The toys offer an visual approach to mathematics and are perfect tools for sharpening IQ. The event MANDI, accounts for nearly 25% of the annual sales of these toys.
Says NITIE, “With Mandi, NITIE is set to make a statement about its pedagogy - the first business school in India to adopt the experiential method of teaching. It integrates the theoretical principles of managerial economics, marketing and basic market research with practical application, for a socially responsible cause.”
NITIE informs that the goal of MANDI is two fold. This exercise in strategizing, identifying key areas in the Mumbai market, devising strategies for demographics and products and implementing them would provide an invaluable lesson to the students in Consumer Behavior and the finer nuances of personal selling. On the other hand, it would also teach right at the beginning of their curriculum the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility, so that they can become efficient, effective and responsible towards the community.
The buyers are requested to fill up a specially designed feedback form and the collected data is used by Dr. T. Prasad, NITIE Faculty and Mandi Mentor for preparing a market report for the gift industry. He feels that the power of Mandi could be further leveraged towards creating a positive impact on the management areas of Entrepreneurship, Self development etc. With a vision that is implemented annually, it comes as no surprise that the US based Association for Business Simulation and Experiential Learning (ABSEL) has accepted the research paper written on this theme.
