Outbound Learning Program


Bengaluru, Karnataka – The students of Symbiosis Institute of Business Management Bengaluru, were taken to a an outbound learning centre for an "out of the classroom experience."

DAY 1:

Three days into the MBA program and the fresher batch (2013-2015) of SIBM-Bengaluru was asked to pack their bags again. They were being taken to the outskirts of the city on a program known as Outbound Learning Program (OBL). However, the "Learning" word was a misnomer. So, if not learning, then what happened at the camp?  Read on to find out...

The students reached there after a three hour long journey. It was an unending siesta of singing songs, shouting, laughing & giggling. The bus suddenly stopped in the middle of nowhere and as per the driver, their destination had arrived. Pegasus Institute, the location of the camp, was nestled between hills, 30 kms away from Bengaluru. Travelling through a rickety path, they all reached the gates.

Friendly looking faces welcomed them with warm beverages. After the refreshments, they were escorted to their temporary rooms-tents!! Post a brief introduction session, it was called a day and people scattered. Groups were formed, games were played, and songs were sung. For all 170 of them, the day had just begun.

DAY 2:

The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, they all assembled in different areas where they were asked to divide themselves into further groups which now became their teams. The teams were then taken to the site of action.

Site 1, activity 1. Tall structures made of pillars stood there and the entire team had to cross them without their feet touching the ground. Site 2, activity 2. Each team (a new one this time) consisting of ten members was made to stand on three drums. Again, the entire team had to reach the other side without falling on the ground. As you can guess, the team that completed the task first would hoot, shout & scream. The competitive spirit showed. There was a lot of cheering & roaring. But, in all the fun & excitement, they had forgotten the main objective that was given to them: not a single team, not two teams but all teams had to complete the task; only then it would be labeled as finished.

Later, during lemonade breaks, they were pointed out this mistake. Everybody slowly realized that in a very subtle & sly way, they had been taught their first ever corporate lesson - put your department above your team, and your team above yourself.

Site 3, activity 3. Now having understood the motive behind all this, everybody geared up for the next activity. Ten people were made to stand on two planks-one left and one right-and were asked to cross a path full of fake bombs without touching the ground. People began moving, co-coordinating, shouting instructions, falling and again moving. A few struggled, a few managed. But the end result was different this time. Those finishing first helped the others as well. This time everybody finished the task within the time limit.

The euphoria post the completion of the task was prominent in the air. Hi-fives and pats on the back were exchanged, names were now being remembered, friends were being made and everyone had a glint of excitement in their eyes.

DAY 3:

The next day was again a plethora of activities. Amidst all the fun were secret learnings - team work, managing self & others, identifying glitches & solving them, achieving tasks etc. All these boring corporate jargons had been translated into fun filled activities which everyone was eager to take part in. Needless to say, there was 100% attendance in all these classes.

Site 6, task 6. A wooden A-frame (almost 7 feet tall) had been set up. One random person from each team had to stand on the vertical line of the A and rest of the members had to pull the frame forward with the ropes attached to it while ensuring that the person on the frame does not fall. As this was the last activity, coordination was at its best, people were managing everything with finesse. But the Gods wanted something more. Suddenly, the skies opened up and rain started pouring. The wooden frame became slippery, the ropes became wet & the mud on the ground became a swamp. But, the teams were on an adrenaline rush. Nobody wanted to stop. In fact, everyone started putting in double the effort. Everybody was hard at work, huffing and panting, pushing the frame, not giving a damn to the rain.

Nimisha Nasa, a student from the junior batch says "I can never forget that moment. Rains pouring. People hanging on the A-Frame. Others pushing the A-frame while making sure that their team members don't fall. Shouting helpful comments to each other. Motivating each other and finally, completing the task. I don't need to elaborate on what we learned, what we achieved. It was there with us, in us. And it will always stay with us. Lifelong."

Swetha R.K., another fresher says "We went there as strangers and we came back as a family, a well bonded one. This classroom at Pegasus has been the most memorable one."

This program was an enriching experience for the students. They have established lifelong friendships and have been taught important lessons which will be ingrained in their minds forever.