Bridge the gap

Updated on: Monday, January 17, 2011

Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, Ahmedabad, has launched a two-year postgraduate diploma programme in Management - Development Sector and Social Entrepreneurship. Talking about the need for such a course, Binod K Das, associate faculty, Development Sector and Social Entrepreneurship, said that professionals with knowledge and skills are required to handle the development scenario.

"The last two decades have witnessed an expansion in the domain and scope of development sector organisation ( DSO) activities. These NGOs are shouldering responsibilities in the area of efficient planning, networking with partners, executing schemes and managing public funds.

Such a programme will bridge the gap between the burgeoning sector and trained professionals. Moreover, social entrepreneurship has emerged as a viable business alternative in recent years."

Talking about the course, Das said, "The focus of this course is to develop management competencies and analytical capabilities, which are needed in the development sector. This course imparts the skills required to be a manager, teacher or field functionary." The course will cover aspects such as communication skills, strategic management in NGOs, legal framework for NGOs, social research methods, management of natural resources, and more.

Students also get internship opportunities for independent assessment of programmes. "During internship, students work with development organisations to learn several attributes, which do not surface in normal classroom situations.

Attributes such as intellectual ability, professional judgment, decision-making ability, inter-disciplinary approach, skills for data handling are developed during the internship," said Das.

According to him, this course will help students to work in multi-national or national level development organisations . The course equips students with skills to become educators, managers, executives or owners of an organisation. Students joining this course can also be 'specialists' in development research, micro finance, micro-enterprise development and social entrepreneurship and CSR.

Students who hold a Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university can apply. EDI accepts MAT and XAT scores in lieu of entrance test for admission. "This year, EDI will offer fellowship to all the candidates of the programme from the NGO Development Fund," added Das.

Times of India

Bridge the gap

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