World Monitor Magazine June #3 | Page 110

Social responsibility KIMEP University: future managers learn how to be responsible and help people people involved from the company 5 KIMEP staff members and 360 students affected social group 360 students, 3 orphan houses, 4 hospitals, veterans’ association, retirement home How can university prepare future leaders and corporate employees with understanding of CSR as well as cultivate empathy and responsibility? We decided to do it with our classes giving students project tasks that can help resolve some social problems. Students were divided in teams and each team chose target groups and ways to help them. During the year – Spring and Fall semesters of 2016, 360 KIMEP students implemented 79 projects with the aim to solve some social problems. Within their projects they organized events for the elderly and homeless people, orphans, disabled kids, poor families, veterans and even animal welfare organizations. They raised funds (more than KZT 1 million) to help these groups by washing cars, selling balloons, sport games, charity concerts, and fairs. Also they collected clothes and food, designed, produced and sold t-shirts, worked in Training café and implemented many other activities. Organizations and people involved included 3 orphanages, 4 hospitals/funds, veterans’ association, retirement home, local akimats, some restaurants and bakeries, shops, KIMEP faculty and staff members. 104 world monitor Students get great results – they raised more than KZT 1 million for more than 150 people in need and kids, developed them, organized some entertainment for groups that need attention (about 500 people), and helped set eyes and faces alight with happiness and smiles, but the most important – they understood how to help others gain business knowledge – business communication, operation management, organizational behavior, time and project management skills. Here are some testimonials from students: “I was attracted to it, because I knew social responsibility was an important topic in the business world.” “I felt like this would be a great opportunity for me to learn something that would help me in my future career.” “Once the course ended we walked away with a better understanding of the role we, as future managers, can play in a bettering society.” “We could have a profound effect on how businesses do business in the future.” “I feel like I can be a voice for social responsibility in any organization I am hired into.” “It feels good knowing that in my own way, doing my job, I might be able change the world.”