Short Immersive Programs

At Ecological Society, we design short, customized programs (1–5 days) for decision makers across government, business, academia, media, and professional sectors. Each program is tailored to the specific needs of the cohort—whether officials, corporate executives, faculty, journalists, engineers, architects, or designers.

Interested in this program?

Why this program?

Uniqueness, Vision & Impact

The Problem

Every effort to provide quality life and livelihood is challenged by tensions between the current development model and the ways of sustainable living today. This situation is seriously aggravated by global warming and the changing climatic conditions.

Leaders in every walk of life are required to shoulder the responsibility to steer their organizations, businesses, and people through these turbulent times towards a sustainable future! In this context, what do the leaders want to know, to take wise decisions and actions for the near and far future? How can they build their own and institutional capacity for this?

Program Uniqueness and Approach

Towards this, ES designs short programs to build capacity of the leaders to find their own path in diverse specific contexts. The program’s unique value lies in building a foundational awareness of the deep interconnections between economy, ecology, and society that shape today’s development models. Through a blend of conceptual learning and experiential engagement, participants gain:

A clear understanding of the sustainability and climate resilience fundamentals
A fresh and holistic perspective to guide responsible choices
Practical orientation for decisions and actions that enable systemic change

The program is facilitated by renowned experts and practitioners, who bring deep experience-based knowledge and insights from their respective fields.

Vision

Our vision is to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to lead sustainable change. By understanding the deep interconnections of ecological systems, participants are empowered to contribute effectively to natural resource management and conservation efforts in various sectors.

Impact

Over 800 participants from across government, corporate, social, and educational sectors have participated in these programs and connected the ideas to their personal and professional lives.

Develop Holistic Ecological Understanding

To provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the connections between nature, economy, livelihoods, and conservation through an integrated ecological approach.

Foster Ecological Literacy

To impart knowledge of core ecological principles, biodiversity's role in ecosystem integrity, and the functioning of major ecosystems including mountains, tropical forests, grasslands, marine, riverine, and wetland environments.

Promote Sustainable Thinking

To develop participants' understanding of sustainable development principles, ecological economics, energy systems, and the integration of rural economy and urban ecology considerations.

Cultivate Systems Thinking

To help participants recognize and analyze current environmental challenges through a holistic lens, understanding the interconnections between development models, lifestyle choices, and environmental sustainability.

These programs are designed as per the specific requirement of various organizations, institutes.
Program can be designed from a day program upto full 5 day program as per the requirement of the organisation
These sessions cover core concepts, interactive with more focus on case studies and free flowing discussions
Program to include half a day field visit for program designed for more than 2 days
Interested organizations / institutes can either execute MOU with us for long term engagement or can approach us directly to design such programs
Fees for such programs will be decided based on number of hours and days, field visit and understanding with each organisation
These programs can be conducted in classroom, online or hybrid mode as per the requirement of the organisation. However, for immersive learning, we recommend classroom face to face mode of implementation
Eligibility for these programs will be decided in consultation with partnering organisation

Ongoing Programs

Customized Programs for Government officials and Administrators

ES conducts administrative training programs through MOU signed with Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (YASHADA). YASHADA is the Administrative Training Institute of the Government of Maharashtra, and meets the training needs of government departments and rural and urban non-officials and stakeholders.

So far, ~ 10 programs by officers from IRS, IPS, IRTS, MPSC, faculties from polytechnic and engineering colleges, Forest officers, Animal Husbandry officers, Pollution Control Board officers, Electricity Board officers etc.

Customized Programs for Faculty of Higher Education Institutions

ES entered into an MOU with Maharashtra State Faculty Development Academy (MSFDA). MSFDA is a Section 8 company established by the Department of Higher and Technical Education, Government of Maharashtra, in partnership with universities, to offer unique Faculty Development Programs to higher education faculty of Maharashtra, especially in view of the reforms recommended by National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

So far, we have conducted ~ 5 programs for more than 150 faculties of higher education institutions from Maharashtra.

Customized Programs for Students of Higher Education Institutions

ES signed an MoU with Centre for Holistic Education, Training and Novel Advancement (CHETNA), a centre of SNDT Women’s University, Pune. Under this, ES has proposed a three-credit course for SNDT undergraduate students for the year 2025-26.

Customized Programs for Professionals

ES designed a dedicated program for architects, along with ES architect alumni, for the Council of Architecture. The Academic Wing of Council of Architecture was constituted in 2005 as the National Institute of Advanced Studies in Architecture (NIASA) with the purpose of creating training centers for teachers in schools of architecture and practicing architects.

MOU signed with C4i4 Lab Pune set up by the Department of Heavy Industries, Government of India.

Under this MOUS we have conducted training program on sustainability for Tata Motors Limited (TML) officers.

Faculty

Manasi Karandikar

Ketaki Ghate

Ajay Phatak

Dr Gurudas Nulkar

Dr Kedar Bhagwat

Kedar Champhekar

Geetanjali Date

I had the opportunity to attend the 5-day Green Campus workshop conducted by few experts of the Ecological Society, Pune. The workshop was highly informative, well-organized, and effectively delivered by the resource persons. The sessions covered important topics such as the need for a Green Campus, foundational environmental concepts, air, water and soil ecosystems, ecosystem services, resource stewardship, waste circularity, and energy efficiency. Each session was explained clearly, interactively, and practically, which greatly enhanced our understanding of sustainable environmental practices.

I sincerely appreciate the dedicated efforts of the team from the Ecological Society, Pune, for conducting such an enriching workshop. Their expertise, commitment, and engaging teaching approach motivated participants to think responsibly about environmental sustainability and inspired us to implement green practices within our institutions and daily lives.

Dr. Omkar Lele
School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics,
D. Y. Patil Deemed to be University, Navi Mumbai

Before the Green Campus sessions, I never thought about where my plastic waste goes. Dr. Geetanjali Date Ma’am and Dr. Kedar Bhagwat Sir shared facts that really stayed with me. The session on campus biodiversity was my favorite. I have started talking to my colleague about saving electricity and water in college. On 5th of June, we will celebrate the activity, a street play ("nukkad natak") titled "Plastic se Aajadi," at Borivali station in association with an NGO Suhana Safar Globale Kapol Trust. I'm grateful to the Ecological Society for this shift in mindset.

Yogesh Tripathi
Program officer
KES Shri VHS Jr College of Arts and commerce Kandivali West, Mumbai