| | | | | | TagOn Talks A monthly newsletter on student volunteering, community service and service learning Issue 06 | June 2024
| | | | Can't believe it's already the sixth issue of TagOn Talks! In this issue, Leadership Logs brings to you thoughts from Dr. Ramasastry Ambarish, Dean & Chairman of MYRA School of Business. Learning Bytes section talks about the benefits of service learning to faculty, and not just the students. We also focus on the education as a cause in this edition and also feature an NGO working in the space. We conclude with an exciting update from LetsTagOn.
Happy reading, Team LetsTagOn | | Leadership Logs Conversations with visionary education leaders shaping tomorrow's minds
| | From your perspective, what are the key values or skills that students gain through participating in community service? I believe community engagement projects are crucial for several reasons. Firstly, at the MYRA School of Business, our mission is to develop future corporate leaders who are socially conscious, rooted in Indian ethos. Leadership is vacuous unless it is firmly anchored in core values of ethics, integrity, humility and empathy. Participation in community service and social projects is a truly transformative experience. It enables students to imbibe these time honored virtues, develop a sense of social responsibility, and become empathetic, ethical, and compassionate leaders in their future careers. | | Dr. Ramasastry Ambarish
Dean and Chairman of MYRA School of Business, Mysore | | | |
These projects allow students to apply their classroom learning to real-world issues, fostering practical skills and enhancing their understanding of societal challenges. Additionally, they cultivate teamwork, communication, and problem-solving abilities in diverse settings, which are essential skills in today's globalized workforce. Encouraging students to engage in community projects not only benefits the communities they serve but also enriches their educational experience and personal development. As educators in today's world that is beset with umpteen environmental and social challenges, it is our responsibility to introduce students to the social sector and the multitude of challenges and opportunities it offers. ESG framework, SDGs, Social Immersion workshops, and regular field trips are integral parts of our post graduate programs.
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What plans do you have for the future to take these initiatives ahead? We have all benefited immensely from the communities we have lived and grown up in. It is our responsibility to give back to society. We endeavour to instill this sense of responsibility in all our students. At MYRA School of Business, we want to role model it. We are committed to selecting and championing a significant social cause. Whether it is in the realm of education, animal welfare, environment, elderly care or any other vital area, our goal is to make a substantial and meaningful contribution. We are dedicated to leveraging our resources, expertise, and the enthusiasm of our students and faculty to support this cause wholeheartedly. Through strategic partnerships, innovative programs, and dedicated initiatives, we aim to create a lasting impact that positively influences our community and society at large. | | Learning Bytes Insights on service learning, volunteering and community service
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Do you think that the benefits of Community Engagement initiatives are only meant for students? Think again. Faculty members also reap significant rewards from these initiatives. By integrating meaningful community service with academic instruction and reflective practices, these projects not only enhance student learning but also offer substantial benefits to faculty members. Here are some key advantages that educators can experience through active participation in community engagement initiatives: Satisfaction with the Quality of Student Learning: Faculty members often find a deeper sense of fulfillment and satisfaction when they observe the tangible impact of community engagement on student learning. As students engage in hands-on experiences, faculty can witness their growth in understanding, skills, and civic responsibility, which can be incredibly rewarding. New Avenues for Research and Publication: Community engagement projects open up new and exciting avenues for research and publication. This can lead to innovative publications that address real-world issues, bridging the gap between academic theory and practical application. Networking Opportunities: Participation in community engagement initiatives provides valuable networking opportunities. Faculty members can connect with like-minded colleagues from different disciplines and institutions who are also dedicated to community involvement. These connections can lead to interdisciplinary collaborations, joint research projects, and shared strategies for integrating community engagement into curricula, enhancing the overall academic experience. Stronger Commitment to Research: Engaging with the community can reinvigorate a faculty member's commitment to their research. The direct impact of their work on the community provides a renewed sense of purpose and motivation. Seeing the real-world applications and benefits of their research fosters a deeper commitment to their academic pursuits and inspires ongoing inquiry and innovation.
By embracing community engagement projects, faculty members can enrich their teaching, expand their research horizons, and build robust professional networks. As a result, these benefits not only enhance their academic careers but also contribute to the broader mission of fostering civic responsibility and strengthening communities. | |
Cause Spotlight
Education as a cause | |
Education plays a significant and remedial role in balancing the socio-economic fabric of the Country. Only education has the power to reduce inter-generational poverty. However, not every child has access to quality education. In India, The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, means that every child has a right to full time elementary education of satisfactory and equitable quality in a formal school which satisfies certain essential norms and standards. The implementation of quality education for children across all socio-economic backgrounds requires sustained efforts from all stakeholders - the government, social and non-profit organizations and civil society. The NGOs and social enterprises in the space work towards increasing access to education and improving quality of education. Key areas of work of different NGOs are listed below. Teaching support - Supporting understaffed schools with additional teachers and volunteers to enable effective learning School leadership and teacher development - improving the capability of staff and management. Content development - organizations focused on developing content and local language content. After-school support organizations - enabling students beyond school. Innovative and experiential pedagogy - teaching through art, drama, music, stories and sports. Organizations working for communities not covered under mainstream education - migrant worker education, street children education, learning centers in slums. Policy implementation - implementation of Right to Education (RTE), research and advocacy. Infrastructure development of schools - school refurbishment, painting and infrastructure development. Technology for education - digital content, tabs, audio-visual content development. Holistic development - life skills education and extracurricular activities.
A volunteer interested to work in the area of education has many opportunities to contribute and work with children and make an impact. | |
NGO Showcase Youth for Seva (YFS) | |
Youth for Seva (YFS), founded in April 2007, is a nation-wide volunteering movement that inspires youth to volunteer, and provides them with meaningful opportunities to serve the community. YFS aims to create positive change in the society through the culture of volunteering. Youth for Seva's philosophy is rooted in the traditional Bharateeya concepts of 'Runa' and Yajna'. Runa (The Debt) Whatever people achieve in their lives is not solely due to their individual efforts. Parents, teachers, friends and even many unknown others contribute to a person's well-being. | | | | If we contemplate on this aspect, we will be overwhelmed with a sense of immense debt to our parents, teachers, fellow human beings, animals and other elements in nature like trees, rivers and mountains. The organization’s focus is to empower education in mostly rural parts of the region. Some of their important programs include Vidyachetana, National Means Cum Merit Certificate Scholarship, STEM, NTSE, School kit donation drive, Chiguru, Give paper back. The other areas of work include health, livelihood and environment. | |
LetsTagOn Highlight LetsTagOn team facilitated Social Immersion Program
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Team LetsTagOn is happy to have conducted a three days Social Immersion Program at Al-Ameen Institute of Management Studies. The students had an incredible social immersion journey through sessions including case study analysis, team presentations, engaging discussions, volunteering and sensitisation activities.
Students were excited knowing more about the varied aspects of self, society and surroundings with a day of rural visit to community places like dairy, government school, animal husbandry unit, department of horticultural research, broadening their horizons of knowledge. We are grateful to the staff and management of the institution. | | | | | | | | | | Our mailing address is: info@letstagon.com
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