The Sustainable Development Practicum allows students to take an active role in development projects working in the Tamil Nadu region and using Auroville as a home base. The idea of the practicum is not to import development practices, but instead to learn from local projects and discover the ways in which grassroots initiatives can foster sustainable change. “Students gain both practical knowledge and direct experience with academic fieldwork,” explains Professor Robert Earhart, MSIM’s program director. “They return from the practicum inspired and more knowledgeable, thanks to having directly engaged with NGOs and sustainability-oriented business ventures.” It’s a winning combination of personal and professional development.
As well as attending daily talks and workshops throughout the month-long study trip, students choose an NGO to work with, using their expertise to make up shortfalls in that organization’s capabilities while getting a taste for what they can learn when working in an international environment. They develop an appreciation of cross-cultural working practices and the diverse ways of understanding and implementing development concepts, along with an immersion in the local Tamil Nadu culture. “Having encountered new models of economic, social and sustainable development in Auroville, our students develop innovative research projects and gain new insights into their career possibilities,” explains Earhart. “All with a truly global outlook.”
By working closely with the NGOs, students gain firsthand experience of how academic knowledge applies to real-world contexts. Tiffany Padilla is an MSIM student who attended the practicum. “Working for NGOs in sustainable development is like my two interests had a baby!” she explains. Padilla is taking the Sustainability Systems Management track: “Initially, I wanted to focus on NGO management, but I learned that I had more of an interest in sustainability after taking a class in the subject.” She cites this practical experience as the main reason for her wanting to come to Auroville. Whereas global communications students focus on the messaging and marketing elements of the work of local NGOs, management students dig into the organizational structures of sustainable projects – laying important groundwork for their future careers.
“The trip resulted in much more than a beautiful cultural experience,” explains Shannon Kaylia Henry, another MSIM attendee. “I learned lots about sustainability in practice, especially concerning plastic waste and the textile industry.” As a student on the NGO and Mission-Based Management track, Henry was keen to gain firsthand experience of working for an NGO. She explains how her studies focused on analyzing management practices in the NGO sector in order to develop strategic solutions to management issues. Her experience in Auroville was, therefore, a great way to apply that theory beyond the classroom. She chose to work for a sustainable textile brand, helping develop the company’s communications plan.
A recurring theme in student responses to the trip has been the importance of seeking out diverse perspectives and approaching them with respect. “Cultural diversity exists indefinitely and needs to be considered in management,” says Henry. An appreciation of other cultures can also help students better understand themselves; “I realized that, in order to be truly passionate and genuine about my intentions with my studies, I needed to work on understanding my inner self,” explains Padilla.
“The practicum is a transformative and expansive experience for our management students,” says Earhart. As with so many aspects of AUP, the international nature of the study trip, which helps break down cultural barriers, also exposes students to a broader spectrum of theories and practices. Students have been known to maintain connections with the NGOs they encounter in Auroville long after the end of the practicum, and all attendees carry the experience forward into their professional lives. “It influenced and changed my life,” says Padilla.
