Developing Students as Socially Responsible Business Leaders Through Community Service

 The role of higher education is to mobilize university students to make a difference in their communities while developing their skills to become socially responsible business leaders. The leaders of tomorrow need to be sensitized today towards societal concerns and issues. In pursuance of this goal, students need to contribute to the society through community service and community programs whereby applying business concepts to develop outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need. By doing this, the students also get meaningful opportunities for learning and personal growth. 

Institutions which focus on developing students as socially responsible business leaders witness a journey of transformation of these students. The students personally and professionally benefit by creating a significant impact on the lives of the underprivileged sections of society. 

On their part, the students are motivated to take up these projects with the support of their Institutions, in terms of resources and opportunities, and their personal interest of enhancing their skill sets. While the beneficiaries of their community projects benefit immensely, it is the students who have a greater learning with respect to their own personal development and skill enhancement. By getting an environment whereby they get the required information and resources, the students feel inspired to give back to society. Working at the grassroot level, students get real-world experience and a hands-on exposure of the problems in society, the challenges faced by the destitute and by meeting with beneficiaries, they get sensitized to the environment and understand better the hard realities of life. These community outreach projects not only instill in them the confidence to face their future, but also enhance their people handling abilities. They get an opportunity to liaison with various NGOs and corporates, which hones their negotiation skills. 

Community Service initiatives at an Institution offer practical exposure leading to the overall development of the students, simultaneously making them societal conscious. At an early age, they get an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to society.

There has been a constructive engagement by the academic community on the role of business in society, both from teaching and research, as well as a leadership perspective. Management guru Michael Porter has emphasized the need for the right types and quality of education of future employees as one of the requirements for business to invest successfully in CSR and thereby become more competitive. In recent years, business interest in social and environmental responsibility has been triggered by successive corporate scandals combined with enormous pressure from NGOs, policy makers, consumers, and the media to a large extent.

Many businesses are appointing in-house specialists and creating special departments to formulate and communicate their corporate values. However, in order to move forward and fully benefit from good management of corporate sustainability, the knowledge, skills, and tools to effectively manage this integral dimension of a business’ operations need to become part of the education and training of every business manager and employ at every level of the company. Unfortunately, till date, with a few exceptions, business education at national and international level has failed to meet this demand in a coherent way. This failure is primarily due to a widespread lack of understanding of the subject and its strategic value within the core curricula of business schools. In contrast, companies are increasingly impatient for managers who can thrive in the changing global marketplace, one in which social and environmental priorities are increasingly on a level with traditional economic concerns. There is a clear demand for new business models and management skills to help companies respond to the triple bottom line of business: economic, social, and environmental.

By providing an opportunity like community service, the education institution that gives students a platform to enhance the essential skills in less tangible areas such as communication, interpersonal skills, change management and negotiation skills, is the one that actually survives. There is no denying that the students have also begun to feel the importance of giving back to society. In fact, in Universities like The NorthCap University where Community Service is a mandatory aspect of the curriculum, the students are more and more inclined towards social responsibility and empowerment of the underprivileged.

They not only get credits at the end of every year for completing 140 hours of societal work, but also become more empathetic and connected to their community around. The sense of satisfaction they feel is incomparable when their efforts turn homemakers to entrepreneurs, help the disabled people to become financially independent or to equip the less fortunate sections of the society with skills that would last them a life.

Students at The NorthCap University have collaborated with various NGOs which are making untiring efforts in bringing about a massive change in society. They have inspired hope and created economic opportunity, provided necessary assistance to aspiring entrepreneurs, presented effective solutions for small business owners to increase profits, helped low-income families achieve financial independence while emphasizing the importance of ethical and moral business practices. The Community Service initiatives have given students a chance to learn and develop the essential business and project management skills they will need when they enter the job market upon leaving the University. In fact, it is a mutually beneficial relationship – for the students involved and the community at large. 

• Prof. Sona Vikas

Professor, Department of Management & Commerce