INSEAD, the business school for the world, and Splash Projects, a UK-based company that delivers innovative experiential learning programmes through real-life community projects, have jointly announced the successful completion of two charity projects with more than 500 INSEAD MBA participants across INSEAD’s Europe and Asia campuses. The projects took the participants’ leadership and management skills to the limit, whilst also giving back to the local community.
The project plans were closely guarded secrets until the day before the MBA participants’ arrival on site. After the plans were unveiled, the participants had to organise themselves into effective working teams in order to complete the construction projects over three and four days.
Schon Beechler, INSEAD Senior Affiliate Professor of Leadership and Organisational Behaviour, comments that “The INSEAD-Splash partnership provides a challenging and fun way for INSEAD MBA students to get to know each other in a unique setting, working on projects that will immediately benefit children and young adults and leave a lasting contribution in the community. I am proud of the work that we do together and which supports our vision that INSEAD will continue to be a source for good in the world.”
In Singapore, 210 MBA participants developed a piece of land at the Onesimus Ministry, which supports disadvantaged people. The area provided was being transformed into a functional garden which the charity’s clients can use. The participants also created a retail store where fresh products can be sold to the public. In France, 300 students created a special sensory trail and a small farm and garden for IME Villa Marie-Louise, a not-for-profit organisation which supports children with disabilities and those who live in care. Groups of 70-75 students worked for one day on the build itself and had to create a virtual handover to the next cohort so their peers could continue the work the next day.
“It is a very steep learning curve for the students and really hones their leadership and managerial skills,” says Simon Poole, the Managing Director of Splash Projects. “They are taken out of their comfort zone completely. There are no designated leaders and so they must work well together to get their part of the build completed. Communication is key and there’s the additional incentive that they are creating something which will make a difference to other peoples’ lives.”
INSEAD and Splash Projects have been running successful community projects with MBA participants in Singapore since 2012 and in France since 2013. During this time more than 4,000 INSEAD MBA participants have created stunning new facilities for children and young adults in the two countries, giving back to the community at the same time while pursuing top-notch business education programmes.
