The first-semester management students of KLS Institute of Management Education and Research (KLS IMER) participated in a three-day outbound experiential education programme from 13th to 15th December 2025 at Nature Bound Sahyadri, Sunksal—an experiential learning camp set amidst the Sahyadri mountain ranges of Karnataka. The programme was designed to provide immersive, hands-on learning experiences aimed at strengthening students’ social, emotional, leadership, teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

The training formed part of the “Named Executive Officer” experiential education course, offered under the Professional Development Programme as envisioned in NEP 2020, emphasizing learning beyond the classroom. Over the three days, students engaged in a series of structured individual and group activities that progressively challenged their physical endurance, mental resilience, and emotional intelligence.

The first day focused on orientation, ice-breaking sessions, and self-discovery activities that helped students understand their strengths, limitations, attitudes, and behavioral patterns. These activities encouraged self-awareness, confidence-building, and adaptability in unfamiliar situations. The second day emphasized team-based tasks, trust-building exercises, leadership roles, and problem-solving challenges that required collaboration, effective communication, and strategic thinking. Students learned the importance of mutual trust, coordination, and shared responsibility while working under time-bound and pressure-driven scenarios. The final day centered on reflection, experiential learning reviews, and decision-making simulations, enabling students to connect their experiences with real-world managerial situations and personal growth.

The programme was conducted under the guidance of Mr. P. G. Konnur, Chief Executive – Camp Operations, who served as the resource person and facilitated the learning process through structured debriefing and reflection sessions. The outbound training was effectively organized by Dr. Ajay Jamnani, Associate Professor, KLS IMER, with Prof. Shrirang Deshpande and Prof. Rashmi Harti, Assistant Professors, KLS IMER, accompanying and mentoring the students throughout the programme.

The initiative was highly appreciated by Shri. Uday N. Kalkundrikar, Chairman, GC, and Dr. Arif Shaikh, Director, KLS IMER, who commended the efforts in aligning experiential education with the objectives of NEP 2020. The programme significantly contributed to students’ holistic development by fostering self-awareness, leadership readiness, teamwork orientation, and experiential learning essential for future management professionals.