In a novel initiative for development of Northeastern region, the newly established IIM Shillong has taken upon itself the task of empowering the local people by giving training and skill on entrepreneurship and marketing.
Within two years of its establishment, the B-School has offered ten different short-term courses on marketing techniques, starting new enterprise, media management and running NGOs.
"Basic purpose is to win over the heart of local people that we are are not only an elitist institution, but are also involved in the local development," its director Prof Ashok Dutta said.
Unlike other B-Schools, the IIM Shillong has ventured into these areas in view of the economic backwardness of the people in the region. There is hardly any investment in the area and people have a wrong perception about the region, which needs to be changed, he said.
The institute has set up a centre for development of Northeastern region. This centre offers six-month certificate courses for local people.
"IIMs require high cut-off for admission. The local people will face difficulty to come through that system. To help them get the training, we devised these courses," Dutta said.
There is no entry criterion for the local people who want to join these courses. Experts in the subject impart training and skill to the people, helping them become self-empowered, the director said.
Courses are being offered on areas of sports management and health-care management. More such programmes would be started soon, Dutta said.
As a standalone institution, IIM-Shillong could be established without mentoring.
It has started a fundamental course on Sustainable Development for its regular students. The course deals with greenhouse gas emissions and the issue of depleting resources.
