XISS to design new courses for NGOs

The Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi, has lined up a number of courses this year in an attempt to aid the professional development of managers, administrators, entrepreneurs, and social workers.

XISS is in the process of drawing up a range of topics to train non-government organisations (NGOs) in , keeping in mind the priorities of small- and middle-level NGOs.

"Every year we draw up a number of new courses. These courses are either suggested by XISS or designed on requests from corporates, NGOs, state government, funding agencies and other organisations," says R K Biswas, dean of XISS.

The courses will comprise a combination of both in-campus as well as field-training programmes.

The new programmes for NGOs are expected to create a communication channel between the national- and state-level NGOs. These will also provide training on how to network among various NGOs on issues related to tribal governance, forestry, co-operative, land development, watershed and health.

These programmes will also create a platform for interaction among the intellectuals, social scientists, social workers, activists, in order to reflect on the critical issues affecting the marginalised section of people.

According to XISS, the target groups for all the projects and programmes undertaken by XISS will be the tribes of rural areas particularly the Munda, Oraon, Kharia, Santhals and Ho tribes. Other beneficiaries will include tribals like Lohars, Baraiks, Turis and non-tribals like Sadan Sahus, Banias, Telis, Sundi, and Kumhars.

Meanwhile, under the executive education programme, XISS will introduce a one-year Post Graduate Diploma Programme in management this August. This will accommodate close to 60 students at a cost of approximately Rs 30,000.

XISS is also planning to offer a vigilance management programme this year for executives. The course is supposed to train executives on various technologies that could be utilised to make one's organisation secure physically as well as technically. All executive education programmes at XISS are sponsored by corporates.

"We also design capsule programmes for executives. These are tailor-made courses on request from corporates," said Biswas.

XISS is also in the process of designing a management programme on corporate social responsibility (CSR) that would train corporates in managing their CSR activities efficiently.

"We offer close to 10-12 executive education programmes a year. The cost structure varies and is decided in consultation with corporates depending on the demand and the number of executives attending them. For example, we offered a three-day human resource development programme for National Thermal Power Corporation, in June this year for professionals at the cost of Rs 12,000 per day," Biswas adds.