Vihaan – India in 2040 – a World Class Leadership Development Initiative

Given the huge demographic bonanza India is currently blessed with today and for another at least 2 decades to continue, it is imperative that today’s youth, the tomorrow’s leaders, have to be properly directed and guided.  We have the world’s largest young population. As per the 2011 census, almost 41% of our population is below the age of 19. And that is a staggering 500 million! That is the population of the European Union or 1.5 time the population of the United States of America. We are currently the third largest economy by Purchasing Power Parity and expected to become the world’s 2^nd largest by PPP by 2030 a USD 46 Trillion economy (Source Oxford Economics, Brookings). And yet we are 130^th out of 189 countries in the Human Development Index. 

If we really want India to get its rightful place in the comity of nations it is imperative that we develop leaders in multiple areas. This leadership development must ideally start at a much younger age at the school level. As of today, there is not much focus or even and idea of how to take this forward.  While the schools and colleges are certainly trying their best, it is undeniable that there is ample scope for them to prepare the students to face the corporate/industrial/entrepreneurial world with the specific skill sets required for the same.  Vihaan is an initiative which seeks to start a conversation on this crucial issue.  Vihaan in Sanskrit means dawn and signifies awakening. 
SIP Academy brought together the key stakeholders, viz., School Principals, College Deans, Corporate Leaders and Entrepreneurs in 4 separate panel discussions each addressing a specific requirement, in a one-day event held on 24^th January in Chennai. 

The topics for panel discussions were:

1. Skills relevant for work which can be developed in Schools as seen by top Corporates
2. Skills relevant for Higher Education that can be developed in Schools as seen by College and university deans
3. Skills relevant for Entrepreneurs that can be encouraged in schools as seen by successful entrepreneurs who were not that successful academically.
4. What do top schools do to develop the above.

Summary of panel discussions of Vihaan – India in 2040:

Keynote Speaker, Arnab Bhattacharya, Scientist TIFR & Founder of ‘Chai & Why’, said that all kids are researchers; however, the current education system roots out creativity by not allowing them to ask questions, experiment and discover things for themselves. We need to develop a scientific temper in children by giving them to give ample opportunities to explore and learn for themselves.

Narendra Murkumbi, Founder – Sri Renuka Sugars Limited (World’s 2^nd largest Sugar Producer), representing Corporate World of India, pointed out that other than basic communication & mathematic skills, schools should focus on inculcating problem solving skills, adaptability, decision making and team spirit which help in preparing students for a successful corporate life while Sandeep Bhushan, Director & Head of India GMS – Facebook, the other Panelist added that the top corporates look at core skills such as language, mathematics, computing, as also basic rigour, sociability and most important understanding and applying their domain knowledge.

Rev. Dr. F. Andrew, S.J. Principal – Loyola College, Chennai, representing Colleges & Universities of Indis, sought for identification of students’ potential and channelizing them effectively. Train them to have healthy relationships, avoid instant gratification and teach them to accept failure & develop their problem coping mechanism.  Dr. C. Muthamizhchelvan, Director, Engineering & Technology, SRM Institute of Science & Technology suggested that the Schools should help students in their goal setting and nurture skills such as creativity, critical thinking, social consciousness and adaptability. Students should be given an opportunity to develop team spirit and empathy.
C K Kumaravel, Founder, Naturals Salon, India’s leading chain of salons, representing first generation entrepreneurs advocated that the ability to learn, unlearn & re-learn are skills that children need to develop in the modern times. The ability to think differently and look at problems as opportunities, which will nurture entrepreneurial skills in an individual.  M.V. Subramanian, Co-Founder & MD of Future Focus Infotech P Ltd., added that the quality of managing resources to fulfill an ambition needs to be taught in schools. The schools need to encourage the Parents & Alumni, who are entrepreneurs to interact with the students.

Prof Dr. Sridhar Srivastava, Dean (Coordination) NCERT, New Delhi, representing top-ranked Schools of India, highlighted that knowledge has to be constructed in the classroom and that Schools are to give students ample opportunities to question, debate and clarify.  The other panelist, Mr.Skand Bali, Principal of Hyderabad Public School, Hyderabad, said that schools should focus on 4Cs – Character, Compassion, Critical thinking & Creativity. Schools should treat every child as an individual and help her/him excel in their area of interest, instead of pushing them towards traditional career choices such as Engineering, Medicine, etc.
 
SIP Academy India, an organization which has been developing skills in children since 2003, has made a huge difference to the lives of many children and also women across the length and breadth of India. Starting in a humble way with one programme, 3 employees and a few franchisees largely in Tamil Nadu, SIP Academy now runs 5 programmes and is present in 23 states over 300 cities and has close to 800 centres and 300 schools where the programmes are run. In 2016, SIP Academy India went International and now the programme runs in 8 countries across the world. Every week over 150000 students are touched by a SIP Academy Programme in India.
Along the way the company has had many firsts to its credit:

1. The first organization in the country / may be the world to introduce money back guarantee on children skill development.
2. The first company to have run a programme to develop creativity in children on a large scale.
3. The first children skill development company in India to have an online system across over 250 cities connecting all franchisees
4. The first Abacus Company to take over the International Operations of the parent
5. The first company to give a guarantee on reading skill enhancement to schools.

Log in to https://www.sipacademyindia.com/ for more details.