IIM-T orients new students through fun & games

Going on a treasure hunt, playing galli cricket and volleyball, spending time at orphanages and teaching children at a blind school, learning about heritage structures in town and diet tips to keep them fit through the maddening two years ahead... The new batch at the Indian Institutes of Management are settling into the new homes and gearing up for the gruelling times ahead.

While students of the new post-graduate programme (PGP) batch are going through the orientation programme at IIM-Bangalore, those at its mentee institute, IIM - Tiruchirappalli, just finished their exercise.

Before the two years of hectic academic schedule begins, students are being briefed on everything they need to know -- from facilities on campus to the city where they're based -- all in IIM style.

At IIM-B, students are sent on treasure hunts to be familiar with the 100-acre campus. They play galli cricket and volleyball and go on outbound adventure activities to build team spirit.

The students are almost mid-way through the week-long orientation. The lessons on values and ethics began on Day 1 when students were taken to school for the visually impaired and orphanages in the city. Students, in batches of 120 were taken to Snehasadan, an orphanage, and Samarthanam, a school for the visually impaired, and will also visit the cancer centre, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology. These visits are desgined to make them sensitive to disability and suffering. There are briefings on ethics, gender sensitivity and environment and a communication workshop to get tuned to teaching methods.

It's the first batch at IIM-Trichy and it comprises 85 students, including 15 girls. The welcome was warm and different. Students from all parts of the country were introduced to the town's great history, culture and heritage. "I took them through the history of the town by showing them some rare photographs of the place. This includes the renowned Tanjavur temple, the fossil tree, the dinosaur eggs found 60km from campus and rock specimens that go back to 3,600 million years," said freelancer Soundarajan P, who conducted the introductory lecture.

"The students will live here for two years. They should know more about the place and take pride in it," he added.

Students also attended a lecture on holistic healthcare and general well-being. This included diet tips like healthy food, water intake, exercise, stress management and postures to be adopted while studying.