Travel and work in India while learning about social enterprise with new subject: International Business Experience
Picture this: buffalo, cows and goats roaming by as you walk along meandering streets, while monkeys chatter happily in the trees above. You’re in a vibrant farming village on the rural outskirts of Bangalore, where city traffic and noise pollution have been left behind.
In summer 2017, BCom students will have the opportunity to live and work in one such village.
On the surface, this simple lifestyle may seem idyllic, but it hides a harsh reality for many such areas in India. Problems that plague development include child malnutrition, poor water quality, a lack of an adequate education system, and very high rates of unemployment amongst both men and women.
A new subject, International Business Experience (IBUS200007) will allow you to work as a consultant (a.k.a a 'Glober') through a partnership with 40K Globe, heading to India to make a difference to the lives of rural villagers by means of social enterprise.
Cows in rural india
The learning process
Based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS), Globers select a ‘need’ to work on, such as water, education, energy, employment, food security and health. You will also be provided with a set of objectives that will help to implement these community driven social enterprises.
Using skills from university such as financial planning, human resource management, and negotiations, you will practise and make decisions around the direction and impact of 40K Globe projects.
During the month-long visit, you will be guided by 40K Globe’s five-stage impact process with access to tools such as customer discovery, needs analysis, lean start-up methods, and social entrepreneurship. While doing this, you will also be exposed to the obstacles and red tape that surround Indian businesses, ranked 130/176 for ‘ease of doing business’ (World Bank).
“This experience allows undergraduate students to both learn about, and work within, a social enterprise in a unique setting – making a real difference for rural villagers in India through responsible, community driven businesses. Dr Ben Neville, IBUS20007 Subject Coordinator
Globers with women who work in a quarry
40K Globe’s impact so far
Education
40K Globe’s first project was an after-school education program called 40K Plus. It now operates as a social enterprise and employs over 25 staff, providing English education to over 500 students in 14 villages. It was recently backed by tech giant, Atlassian, with a grant of $50,000 for future expansion plans to Cambodia, 300 android tablets and the hiring of 4 new staff members.
Employment
40K Products currently employs 9 women working 20 hours per week from home to produce products such as yoga mat bags and shorts for sale in Australia. 7 of these women have been employed for 18 months and now enjoy financial independence. July 2016 saw the sale of $9,500 worth of stock into Australia.
Water
A scalable water delivery service commenced in January 2016. It is currently trialling in the village of Anakanhalli and caters 40 families with fresh, clean water. 40K Globe are confident the solution will scale into multiple villages this summer.
Energy
In July 2016, the first of 40K Globe’s energy projects was launched, in partnership with Indian organisation Anu Solar, installing over 35 solar-powered lights in homes in their first wave.
Globers brainstorming
Becoming a Glober
Apply directly via the 40K Globe website by 18 September 2016. If you are successful after the application submission, you will be invited for a 20-minute interview with the 40K Globe operations team where you’ll be assessed on your knowledge of 40K Globe projects and your passion for travelling and working in the communities in India.
Fees and support
Students travelling with IBUS20007 may be supported by university funding through the New Colombo Plan grants, Melbourne Global Mobility Grants, and/or OS Help Loans.
On top of the $2,600 program fee, you will need to arrange and pay for flights, any required immunisations, a business visa, and any personal travel.
The total estimated cost is between $4,200 and $4,600.