Aimed at fostering the spirit of social responsibility and contribution to society they signed a MoU to this effect on April 12.
Established in 1970, IFMR is private B-school that is supported by ICICI and other Indian corporates. It has a strong focus on finance, and offers a 2-year full-time program (Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management), a 1-year full-time program (Postgraduate Program in Advanced Finance) and a 3-year part-time program (Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management). IFMR also conducts Management Development Programs for executives.
Banyan is a Chennai-based voluntary organization that helps homeless women and those suffering from mental illnesses. Over the past 12 years, it has reached out to more than 1,500 women and reunited around 850 of them with their families.
Vandana Gopikumar, founder of Banyan, and Nachiket Mor, member, board of governors, IFMR, signed the documents that will set in motion a process to hone management capabilities of young leaders, who have a measure of sensitivity to social issues.
The MBA course at IFMR will offer inputs in mental health, social development and research, organization and management, and entrepreneurship and leadership. A strong emphasis will be on leveraging Banyan's experience of working with marginalized sections.
While all management students at the institute will have an introductory component on development in the first year, those interested in specializing can pursue a specially designed course during the second year. Other short-term courses and workshops will also be offered.
Mr Mor said the tie-up between BALM and IFMR would give social work a fresh, vibrant image and build a manager with a vision and capacity to put it to practice.
R Chandrasekar, Dean, Academic Affairs, IFMR, said, “The MBA program will train people to become effective managers in the non-profit sectors.”
