Some unconventional inputs, some learning by doing processes and some crucibles, to learn and for leadership to emerge

Would be students to note that SCMLD is a “learning centre”. Learning by exploring, finding out, doing, experiencing, realising and continuously unlearning and changing. Learning is nothing but changing oneself for better /to be better. You will never change unless you change something you do daily. You need to discover a “new me” in you everyday. For this you need to embrace the “non me” aspect, in you. That is, you need to discipline your life for a larger purpose controlling the “I, Me, Myself only” syndrome. Further you need to "DO" things rather than say things. Leaders are the ones who have vision, determination, motivation and do things that deliver desired outcomes to change for the better. Hence, you need to go through these crucibles. Iron ore cannot become stainless steel unless processed through the furnace. Commandos cannot be trained in AC rooms. Olympic champions are not made in days and weeks. Juice cannot be extracted unless cane is crushed or fruit squeezed. Diamonds shine out of grinding. Grinding will generate sparks, heat, dust and noise. Please be ready to go through the grind. If not, please do not apply. Many innovative learning crucibles will be introduced as and when needed. You must submit to the processes as sculpting cannot be done unless the object submits to the chiseling out of the unwanted. Once you join SCMLD you cannot criticize any of its processes meant for you to emerge professional. SCMLD is dynamic. It will keep discomforting you to learn and learn. Leaders find comforts in discomforts. If you have any reservations please don’t join SCMLD. We respect you as you are. But if you are a learner you must be willing to go through the learning processes. Hence, our effort to be as communicative and transparent as possible. If you think all these are to impress or sell SCMLD, sorry - all these are for daily practice without any compromise.

• Yoga & pranayama or workout /aerobics and meditation, prayers for self, parents and also for the well being of all the beings – daily.

• 10 day Vipassana meditation camp to distill you back to your original purity and prevent further pollution of the mind. Also, many other processes for self purity - Art of living, SSY etc. if required.

• Outbound missions and talent expressions - once a month or as required to unleash the being, the child within.

• 3 day spiritual processes to flush out all negatives- blocks, wrong beliefs etc and free you from the past dysfunctional conditioning - fear, anxiety, anger, hurt, hatred, jealousy, resentment and so on.

• Mandatory community work - 20 hrs per trimester. to develop sensitivity, fellow feeling and infuse compassion besides realisation of realities.

• Cleaning of 1.5 kms stretch of road on which the institute stands and the institute premises including the toilets everyday to embed in you dignity of labour, sense of responsibility, responsible citizenship and to free you from fear of public opinion. (Now suspended due to Swine Flu. Will restart as soon as we feel that infection will not happen)

• Active involvement of volunteer students in institute management & administration through Self Managing Teams for activities numbering more than 50, to learn the art of leadership - what cannot be taught in the class room or formally.

• Open Houses for effective communication and transparency. Students can also request for an open house whenever they feel the need. Everything about the institute and its processes and why they are etc. are shared with the students. Also they are encouraged to be partners in institution building. However, indiscipline, casual attitude, evasion of responsibility, avoidance of work, lack of accountability etc. will be penalized if caution, counseling, pleading etc. fail. Please note that open house is not for negotiations for abandoning processes, principles, disciplining processes or to change established norms and practices. None of the SCMLD grooming systems will be changed because some do not like it. And no exemption will be given to anyone.

• Biography studies, field assignments, online projects and consumer surveys to learn by experiencing, and to be self inspired.

• Special training by experts in System Thinking for vision building, Kaizen for organized and disciplined work, Workshops by specialists for applied insights/specific skills, to be competent and professional.

• Coaching for special certification programmes - CPIM, CIRM, CFP, NCFM, Six Sigma, Career Development Skills, without additional fees, to make them extraordinary, if students wish to undergo these. Registration charges and exam fees are to be borne by students.

• Discover India assignments: Survey of construction work sites, municipal/panchayat schools & hospitals, living styles & patterns of end consumers, household surveys for understanding income, expenditure, consumption, saving, investment, risk management and other aspects.

• 100% attendance in all activities to make you responsible, punctual and time bound.

• Addresses by spiritual/social leaders for students to be human (spiritual), to reach out to the less privileged, to be free from ignorance and embark on the path of truth in their life and careers.

• Students are empowered to audit the Accounts, Examination Department, all promises made in the prospectus & advertisements etc. to ensure that they have effective participation in managing the institutional processes and also monitor the delivery of the promises and commitments. This is to generate ownership provided students volunteer for this as we cannot force anyone to audit.

• Students evaluate faculty and staff periodically. Cash incentives are given to faculty and staff who score more than 3.5 in the scale of 1 to 5 with many parameters for evaluation. It is a 360º process wherein students' feedback weightage is 40%. That is, performance based pay raise to staff and faculty is decided by students.

• SCMLD is an institution which came into being by the insistence of and funding by the former students of a teacher for him to carry on with the work of building executive, entrepreneurial and citizen leaders of action.

• It is the only institute which from concept started functioning within 40 days of the decision to start it.

• SCMLD has enunciated the concept of “Management By Truth” following the Gandhian principle that Truth is God and not God is the truth; Truthful living is experiencing God and truth is nothing but accepting the eternal laws of nature and living by it. Students will have no option but to practice truth. SCMLD has zero tolerance for dishonesty. Students to be aware of this.

• Action learning crucibles of “being a street vendor to earn minimum Rs.250/- a day” has to be done by every student. In teams of 3, they sell chosen items on foot paths and earn the above minimum profit per head per trimester. Finding wage employment for two youngsters from the poorest of Pune and working alongside them doing the same work and earning minimum Rs.200/- per person per day for minimum 2 days is another crucible, to learn. There are several such crucibles for experiential learning and to be sensitive to the realities.

• Assignments to develop deeper understanding and to be research oriented. Students are to build sectoral / industry portfolios and keep updating it. Learning inquisitiveness and knowledge acquisition interest of that student, as a student will be gauged from the quality and content of this portfolio. Every student must prepare his / her own portfolio - showcasing his / her talent and scholastic inquisitiveness / interest.

• Earning minimum Rs.1000/- for pocket money per month (Rs.250/- per day and one day per week) by doing "any work any time any where" to instill dignity of labour, shed ego, and demolish unrealistic assumptions and presumptions.

• 60% of learning evaluation of all subjects is by means of collaborative learning efforts to inculcate - collaboration, camaraderie, lifting the weak, helping each other and teamwork. This collaborative learning based evaluation is to develop skills and attitude of team working, bonding, sharing, mutual support, taking responsibility, assertiveness and so on. Different sources for research on the topics already taught will be given to each student. Each student to compile information on that part of syllabus from the allotted source(s). All these compilations including illustrative contemporary applications are then discussed in the team and a team write-up created. On the day of evaluation one student at random will be asked to “explain” all the knowing & learning, to the entire class. He/she will be interviewed as well. That score becomes the score of all team members.

To avoid casualness, faking, not working and piggybacking, laziness and taking advantage of others’ efforts and also to protect the hardworking and collaborative ones, there shall be an end term exam as well for the entire syllabus. If the individual score in this written exam part corresponding to the 60% continuous evaluation part is more or less than that of the team learning score, the least out of the two will be considered as the actual score unless one has scored more than 60% in this concurrent written test. This is to make sure that the system is not made farcical. Those who score 60% and above can have choice of the best out of the two. Those who score less than 60% will have to satisfy themselves with least of the two as the actual score.

However, if a particular student has a grievance in this, he/she can ask for a review of his / her research output already submitted for team writeup and a review of viva-voce and written test, and a faculty will interview or give tests or both and evaluate the students’ understanding of the subject / topics, and award a fresh score which will be the final score for the 60% continuous evaluation part and process for that student. This has to be done within 10 days of the declaration of the result incorporating best / least of the two evaluations. After 10 days no such application will be accepted.

This process is not only to test knowledge and understanding but to inculcate teamwork, collaboration, taking responsibility, helping the weak, supporting the strong and so on. Therefore, anyone having any difficulty in this process, - should desist from taking admission.

This is a real crucible if one is not, a team player, collaborative, morally and ethically right and hardworking. This will test one’s integrity, courage, conviction and a host of other leadership aspects. The faking ones will attract negative integrity and commitment indices as well. There shall be no re-test for this 60% part, save as above (grievances).

For the remaining 40% there shall be (maximum) two chances only. However for re-exam due to failure or absence, a fee of Rs.1500/- per subject will have to be paid besides submitting an essay covering the entire syllabus approved by faculty.

• Hostel Change : Hostel change will be made every trimester for students to accept diversity, widen social networking, and appreciate cultural sensitivity. Any objection to this will not be accepted or heard.

• Data & Company tracking : Every student to track 10 companies in which the student has an aspiration to enter and start his/her career or as allotted by the institute.

• Sectoral studies : Every student is supposed to do this as an ongoing process. Research acumen and scholastic pursuit are tested here.

• Portfolios for demonstration of talents and interest : Every student to create this under the guidance of faculty.

• 10 day paid sales internship : Every student irrespective of functional specialization should do this sales work and earn minimum Rs. 1500/- for this work of 10 days.

• Pocket money Earning : As stated earlier one has to work and earn minimum Rs.250/- per day per week. There is plenty of work in the institute and outside. But students to go and work and earn. “If you want something, go and get it” is the approach. No one is going to spoon feed anyone at SCMLD.

• Maximum outcome achievement with minimum resource and survival training expedition : One such outbound exercise will be carried out every trimester. This may involve jungle trekking, hill climbing, stream crossing etc. Students to be safety conscious and willing to do this. If unwilling, they can back out of this. If participating, one must be responsible for one’s safety besides the institute taking all precautions. Institute will not be responsible for any injury / hurt or any other adverse consequences.

• Prohibition : Accusations & excuses
Both the above are prohibited in SCMLD. Any problems brought or grievances raised must have solutions attached to them. If not, no cognizance will be taken of such complaints / grievances. In cases of theft, sexual misconduct , holding pornographic materials in laptops, obscene e-mails, violence, assault etc. FIR will be filed by institute’s management.

• Two Wheelers : Are prohibited in SCMLD. This is to encourage walking, save foreign exchange and prevent pollution and control inflation. For local students staying with parents residing at a distance more than 1 km, two wheelers may be allowed provided parking fee is paid and helmets are worn while riding.

• Swine flue prevention : Any student with fever, cough, cold, throat irritation / pain, joint pains, etc to immediately report to the Institute doctors between 7am and 8:30am and take their advice. Without doctors’ permission & advise no student with cough, cold, fever and throat infection is to sit in class. Disciplinary action will be taken against such students. Similarly such students must take medicines / tests as prescribed and inform the institute immediately for further steps. They cannot just go to hostels and stay there without information / permission /medication and being alone.

• Exemption from classes / activities / processes : Only in cases of hospitalization , full rest advised in writing by the institute doctors (consultation between 7 am and 8:30 am), marriage of own brother/sister or any fatal emergencies at home, exemptions are given. Otherwise attendance requirement is 100 % in all activities and processes at SCMLD. Every student to ensure that this exemption plus actual physical attendance must be 100% to be eligible to write exams/test. No excuse in this.

• Holidays : No holidays except, for 15th August, 26th January, and 2nd October. All festivals are to be celebrated at the institute. This nurtures national integration by practicing unity in diversity. However, holidays are at the discretion of the institute.

• Work hours : One must work for minimum 12 hrs a day sincerely and seriously for one’s own benefit.

• Rest : Everyone to take 30-40 minutes of afternoon nap/relaxation everyday. It is a must.

• Sleep : 10:30 pm to 4/5 am is exclusively for sleep. No other activity will be permitted. Hostel lights will/should be off during this time. However those who want to study between 4 am to 6 am can do so but will be segregated in separate hostel rooms so that others are not disturbed .

Those who still want lights beyond 10:30 pm to study will also be segregated so that others are not disturbed. Such students will be charged Rs.750/- p.m. extra for electricity. Electricity is a scarce resource. It cannot be wasted for movies and music between 10:30 pm & 4 am.

• Please do not come to SCMLD if you :
Cannot be ready for action for the day by 8:00 am having spent 1 hour for physical health and 1 hour for intellectual work, before that time. Cannot meditate for 40 minutes a day. Cannot take rest lying down quietly for 30 - 40 minutes in the afternoon, everyday. Cannot read, focused to understand theories, concepts, fundamentals and for knowledge updation, for 4 - 5 hrs a day. Cannot visit minimum 10 companies and meet senior most functional heads during your studentship. Cannot do field assignments and surveys willingly. Cannot desist from smoking, drinking alcohol, using drugs etc. and cannot focus on the objective, goal and purpose of your being at SCMLD as a student of leadership Cannot sell a concept, idea, product or service for 10 days being in a shop or retail outlet. Cannot do certain out of box activities Cannot keep your hostel rooms clean. Cannot work in teams for collective goals with collaborative and shared efforts. Cannot accept and adapt to SCMLD’s systems, processes, culture and values. Cannot desist from malpractices in exams, library, hostels and so on. Cannot accept colleagues as they are and yet be friendly. Do not want to discover truths and realities and if you have psychiatric problems. Think that life is always pleasure and happiness as you desire.

• McKinsey Survey, FICCI Survey, MeritTrac Survey and even National Knowledge Commission - all say that 75% to 85% of graduates in India are not employable. The major reason attributed is the “Rote Learning” and evaluation of “memory” rather than thinking and application abilities. In an employment interview students ask “what I can learn and what I can get”, not “what I can contribute” and “what I can give”. In general, in India everyone is an advisor prescribing “what should be done” not “what I have done”. Everyone talks about “innovation”. But if someone innovates there is a lot of “resistance” because it discomforts people.

• So is the case at SCMLD. Students join with an ‘aha’ that “we are going to a place of learning” where innovation is a continuous process. And then students, faculty and staff... all ask why there is change…why the system is changed,... and resist all changes without understanding that market is changing...

• At SCMLD, we want to develop in all, holistic thinking, analytical thinking, creative thinking, critical thinking, original thinking; respectful behavior, ethical & moral conduct, collaborative teamwork, communication, listening, multi tasking, global approach, reading habits, application orientation, acceptance of diversity, sharing, supporting, learning attitude and so on. But we confront resistance everywhere and every time.

• If there is no academic rigor, improvement in teaching, learning & evaluation, flexibility and choice based credit system - changes from the existing rote learning system, how can quality relevant to existing and emerging needs can be met? People resist because change is discomforting.

• Hence, we have a request to parents and students that if a student does not want to change, then why does he / she pay the fee and come to SCMLD?

• SCMLD measures integrity of its students by monitoring the students’ behaviour; in library, hostel, meeting deadlines, exam hall, with guards and a host of behaviours. If one has a problem on this he / she should not take admission.

• There are so many other innovative, transformative and reformative processes for students to evolve as good human beings, responsible citizens and well trained professionals who will become assets to themselves, their families, organizations and the country by each one discovering and growing to one's potential.

• All our money transactions are through Bank only and any one can audit our accounts.

• There are formats for Classroom Reading, Library Reading, Seminar Notes taking, Team Learning, Data Updation, Out of Box Crucibles and so on, which are to be used.

All the above are firsts in education conceptualized, designed and implemented by Prof. M.S. Pillai. Many of the unique processes are copyrighted / under copyright application. These processes are nowhere in the formal / conventional system of education and grooming. This list of important systemic processes towards empowerment & sculpting of students - the chiseling out of the unwanted and to liberate the unexpressed, unheard and the unseen real being, - the natural leader within, alongside academic and other inputs, facilitates their evolution to be extra-ordinary.

“Everything is created twice, first in the mind, then in physical form”

Including a better society, a loyal customer, an excellent product, good roads, dams or a machine. Envision first. Then using intellect, knowledge, wisdom, science, technology, processes, tools and techniques, make that happen. That is action leadership. For this your “seeing” has to change to see the unseen. SCMLD works on that along with giving you knowledge, skills and techniques. Physical eye can only capture the image. It cannot see truths. Seeing, the seen and the seer all depend upon one’s ‘third eye’. Third eye cannot deceive, the physical eye can.

All facts are not truths. Truths may be somewhere beneath or beyond what appears or the data collected. Mostly it can be heard in the words unspoken, read in the words unwritten or seen in the reality unseen in the scenes we see...

Value addition, value creation & offering value to the customers and community presupposes vision - the ability to see the unseen, hear the unsaid, read the unwritten, touch the untouched, taste the untasted, feel the unfelt - and a passion converted into skillful & competent actions to offer ones’ BEST. It can be achieved only by learning, doing and exploring with persistence, faith and perseverance wanting to break new paths.