Global Academy Meeting 21/01/2025 at 1pm:-
The meeting was attended by Dr. Peng, Founder of Global Culture Co- Learning, Taiwan, Mr. A.S.Sankaranarayanan, Managing Trustee, NMCT, Coimbatore, Dr. John Britto, Founder/CEO, JOBA, Australia and Dr. Shoby Bovas COO of NMCT, Coimbatore.
After the introduction of DR. Peng, we had discussions on the following areas :-
1.Initial concepts for the Global Academy
Individual thoughts and core ideas were shared by the team members,
Mr. A.S.Sankaranarayanan Managing Trustee NMCT mentioned that two years ago, NMCT had a lot of students from various countries. We had students from Germany, Sweden and throughout India. We had conducted a meeting along with Dr Britto and academicians in India. Mr. A.S.Sankaranarayanan raised certain queries that, can we have an idea of getting the students from different countries for field study in India? and how to share the Cultural experience and interchanges of different countries among interns?
The discussion for this meeting can be focused on exploring short-duration initiatives and long-term vision programs and the agenda for the current year and the upcoming years. As per NMCT's concerns, NMCT have 36 years of impactful experience in the field, specifically addressing the needs of HIV-infected individuals, tribal communities, slum children, and people living below the poverty line. We have successfully implemented models in certain areas, which can be showcased to interns, providing them with valuable practical exposure. Furthermore, we are open to adopting a hybrid mode of education if necessary. To enhance our knowledge and understanding, we plan to visit Taiwan and Australia, engaging with local communities and learning from their experiences.
Dr Peng asked whether students come to India for studying and How would you visualize the Global Academy like school, university college, or part of the NGO.
Mr. A.S.Sankaranarayanan responded to Dr. Peng, referencing the first slide, and suggested the following roles: Dr. Peng as Global Advisor, Dr. Britto as Education Advisor, and Mr. A.S.Sankaranarayanan as Practical Experience Advisor.
Dr. Britto Paraphrased the discussion as this academy aims to nurture youth leaders equipped to tackle pressing global issues. With a broader focus on poverty eradication, environmental challenges, sustainable development goals, and community-driven initiatives, our academy will offer a comprehensive curriculum that encompasses social work, community service, charity work, and entrepreneurial development, empowering young minds to drive positive change. And we can name this Academy as “NMCT Global Academy”.
2.Student Recruitment and stability
Dr. Peng inquired about the qualifications of the target Interns, specifically whether they would be undergraduates, postgraduates, or if the program would eventually focus on doctoral students.
In response to Dr. Peng, Mr. A.S.Sankaranarayanan noted that we currently receive volunteers through government representations. For example, in Germany, the government agency like Weltwaerts provides complete sponsorship for volunteers. This is part of the curriculum, where students are required to undertake six months of social work after completing their 12th standard and it is limited to India and Philippines.
Considering our global presence, we need to identify government schemes that support students as volunteers for social development. He suggests that one or two governments may support this initiative. Once we establish the academy with a structured schedule and module, we anticipate increased government support and collaboration.
During the discussion, Mr. A.S.Sankaranarayanan emphasized the importance of establishing clear criteria for student intake.
Dr. Peng stated that she could design curriculum connected to educational institution and universities to provide professional resources . She suggested to provide specific routes for availing government sponsorship.
Dr. Britto agreed with Mr. A.S.Sankaranarayanan that we should do research in Germany, Malaysia, and Indonesia that do they have any such kind of schemes in universities or colleges ? he mentioned that some universities send their students for one month or 3 months for internships and some corporates want to train their employees for a week or 10 or 15 days certificate course. So from the sides of corporates and NGO, we need to do research on this . Also mentioned the need to provide short term orientation for newly recruited employees in NGOS.
To attract potential partners, including NGOs, corporates, universities, governments, and CBOS, we need a website. This platform will enable us to connect with various stakeholders, such as funding agencies like those in Denmark, which collaborate with local universities to provide financial support to selected students. We can conduct research on foundations that support volunteering efforts, identifying opportunities for student recruitment and partnerships.
Dr. peng sought clarification on the specific community which we plan to provide our services. Because India is a developing country which consists of rich and poor and whether our primary focus would be on providing solutions to support the underprivileged.
Responding to Dr. Peng, Mr. Britto clarified that students from the poorest or poorer backgrounds often cannot pursue higher education, and therefore do not typically enrol in master's degree programs. On the other hand, affluent students often opt for family business ventures. Middle-class students, however, are able to pay for their education. While occasional exceptions may arise, where students from poorer communities are able to secure sponsorships from foundations, our organization's sustainability relies on students paying for their education. Otherwise we cannot sustain the organisation and provide services but we can facilitate scholarships.
3. Location and Global Strategy
Dr. Peng suggested that Europe or America would be the most suitable locations for the academy, serving as a central hub for the region. Mr. Shanker Narayan responded, "Our vision is ambitious, and we have a global presence. From my end, in South India, we can inform all the universities about the upcoming course, provided we develop a comprehensive schedule and module for its completion. We're also considering the option of sending students to Sri Lanka, which would be a cost-effective solution."
Dr.. Peng suggested that To initiate our project, let's focus on the first phase, which involves social work and knowledge sharing. Taiwan could be an ideal location for this endeavour. We can start with a small-scale Taiwan-India student exchange program. By connecting with Taiwan's international network, we can begin with small, manageable steps.
Dr. Britto responded to the team that Considering Taiwan's global presence and expertise in new technologies, Global academy should have a virtual hub that can be operated by a website and should have technical support that can be operated by different people. Additionally, we can set up physical hubs in Taiwan and India, which can later be expanded to other countries if needed. We can establish a physical hub in Coimbatore (CBE) and collaborate with reputable NGOs in Philippines and Malaysia. For our virtual hub, we should employ technical personnel to manage it. We will also require a very strong website promotion strategy.
4.Taiwan’s Role and Advantages:
Dr. Peng emphasized that Global Academy's academic training is crucial nowadays, as knowledge is readily available. "We need to elevate and deepen it," she added. The academy plans to gradually expand into other professional fields, focusing on international and interdisciplinary collaboration. Local NGOs with feasible projects can be integrated into the global framework.
Dr. Peng shared that his expertise lies in research, which can be combined with social work. He also mentioned having a design team of experts. Dr. Britto added that for website design, hiring experts would be necessary. Regarding finances, as Mr. Santiago suggested, submitting a proposal to raise funds would be the next step.
Dr. Shoby Bovas inquired, "Does our Academy have a credit system?" She explained that in India, universities and colleges have credit system for undergraduate and postgraduate programs, where students must earn a stipulated number of credits to complete their degree. Notably, In some university and colleges students can also earn some credits through online platforms like MOOCs and Coursera, enabling them to complete their program ahead of the standard tenure.
Integrating a credit system into our program, accredited by a recognized accreditation body, would undoubtedly enhance its value. I would like to learn more about the implementation process.
The following are the pictures of discussion NMCT organised with the academicians from various universities in the year 2022.
This is the screen shot of the international consultation held regarding the global academy in 2023 to discuss the curriculum of the academy.
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