Using Constructionist Philosophy to Inculcate Optimism and Philanthropic Spirit Among Students
20 Pages Posted: 18 Apr 2011
Date Written: October 1, 2010
Abstract
This paper shows how inner satisfaction of making a social contribution can empower students to learn entrepreneurship by establishing and running a micro enterprise for an unemployed individual as their university project. It is often noted that pessimistic, apologetic and conformist mindset keeps majority of people among us from making a positive contribution toward society. Such individuals not only avoid making a contribution but also discourage any individual who tends to think otherwise. This paper shows the details and result of an initiative take by KIET’s (one of the leading management and engineering institute of Karachi) management to help change such pessimistic trends. For this purpose KIET management has launched a compulsory 3 credit hour course titled Social Advocacy, in which BBA students are inspired and encouraged to think optimistically and realize their potential to change the society. For this purpose constructivist approach (learn and realize by doing) has been used and students are empowered to establish and run a micro enterprise for an unemployed deserving individual, as a project. So far 20 groups of 3 to 5 students, during the course of two semesters, have successfully brought change in the life of at least one family per group. A methodological framework will also be presented in this paper which will be helpful to replicate this course in other departments and even in other institutes. The necessary coursework is also presented which was used to inculcate philanthropic spirit among students to carry out the project along with the challenges faced during the process. Finally the paper discusses how the learning’s from this initiative can be used to inculcate entrepreneurial spirit and how the constructionist philosophy applied in this initiative can be used to inspire business graduates to become socially conscious entrepreneurs.
Keywords: Community Service, Social Work, Constructivism, Employment Generation, Experiential Learning
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