SPJIMR hosts HSBC seminar on CSR

On 28th November 2007, SPJIMR in association with 'Partners in Change' and HSBC organized a CSR seminar as part of the lecture series on 'Investing in Business Leaders of Tomorrow', conceptualized and implemented by Partners in Change. 25 studens from the Industrial Engineering and Business Administration courses of the University of Twente, Netherlands, attended the seminar as a part of their study tour to evaluate CSR practices and initiatives of business enterprises in India.

The seminar was inaugurated by Mr. Peter Brew from IBLF (International Business Leadership Forum) and Mr. Viraf Mehta, CEO, PIC. Mr. Brew spoke about the need for students to take interest in issues affecting the society at a global level. Mrs. Malini Thadani, corporate head, HSBC gave a brief presentation on the CSR initatives taken up by HSBC in India and abroad.

A documentary titled ‘The Merchant princes of Bombay', which tracked growth from that of HSBC right from the days of David Sassoon, to the growth of charity from philanthropy in latter days, to CSR initiatives of corporate today, was screened. This was followed by a panel discussion on 'The Scope for inclusion of CSR in Management Curriculum'. The panel moderated by Mr. Sarang Tamhane, comprised of Mr. D.B. Raju (Larsen & Toubro Ltd.), Ms. Hima Mehta (Colgate Palmolive) and Ms. Suvrata Gharge ( Head-CSR, Mahindra & Mahindra).

Students and alumni from SPJIMR, students from University of Twente and those from AIESEC, shared their views on CSR and the day ended with a splendid high tea; all for a good cause! CSR aware and skilled human capital is becoming vital to a company's sustainability and not enough is being done to foster it. The DOCC committee took an initiative of organizing this event and very effectively highlighted that CSR is the need of the hour.