Mumbai, April 19, 2024: Mumbai University and Shikshana Prasaraka Mandali, Pune, Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research (WeSchool) with campuses at Mumbai and Bengaluru have inked MoUs with Temple Connect, an organization dedicated to enhancing and developing the temple ecosystem. With this exciting collaboration, Temple Connect aims to enrich and support Temple Management courses with Mumbai University and WeSchool, by educating people about the importance and application of scientific management for temple administration, and organization. Mumbai University and WeSchool as a Premier Management Institute would be the Education partners, leveraging on their core strength of imparting ‘Management Education and recommending processes/systems. This initiative will enhance learning for the participants through a re-energized Temple Management Education ecosystem.
The Certificate/Advance Certificate/Diploma programs shall be ranging from 6-months/12-months/2 years duration with hands-on experience and will be delivered in-person as well as through online mode. The course will include topics such as Multiple Facets of Management, People Management, Socio-Cultural Management, Design Orientation, Sustainability, Indian Knowledge System, Inclusivity – Community Engagement and Development, Legal Compliance, Use of Information and Technology in the temples, Crowd Management, Asset Management, and so on. The present qualification criteria for the course is Graduation but in the near future courses would be offered with 10th and 12th grades as basic eligibility as well.
This Temple Management Course Committee was chaired by Dr. Suresh Haware, Ex-Chairman, Sai Baba Sansthan Shirdi, and graced by Professor Dr. Ravindra Kulkarni, Vice-Chancellor, Mumbai University, Shri Prasad Lad, Member of Legislative Assembly, Prof. Dr. Uday Salunkhe, Group Director, Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research (WeSchool), Dr Suhas Pednekar Ex VC Mumbai University & Shri Giresh Kulkarni, Founder of Temple Connect, along with other dignitaries across the nation who represent the temple economy from leading temples globally.
Professor Dr. Ravindra Kulkarni, Vice-Chancellor Mumbai University stated, “Signing this MoU with Temple Connect is an honor for us. It’ll enable us to educate our students about the significance of temple management.”
Prof. Dr. Uday Salunkhe, Group Director of Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research (WeSchool), is the first Edupreneur who has personally overseen and sought valuable insights by undertaking an observational study that covered 15 temples in Maharashtra, along with Professors and management students, that formed the basis for designing a structured curriculum for the launch of a Certificate/ Advanced Certificate/Diploma Program on Temple Management.
During the Temple Management Course Advisory Meet, Dr. Salunkhe made a very insightful and supportive remark that reaffirms Temple Connect’s belief in this new unchartered territory of enhancing devotee experience through a more professional and scientific approach to Temple management processes and systems. Prof. Dr. Salunkhe believes that this association will enrich our participants’ understanding of temple administration and contribute to preserving our rich cultural heritage and create a positive social impact.
Dr. Suresh Haware, Chairman of the Temple Management Education Committee & Author of Temple Management Book, stated, “Temple Connect is renowned for its global temple connections, bridging gaps between devotees and temples. We’re grateful for this MoU and anticipate great benefits for our students in understanding temple management worldwide.”
Shri Prasad Lad, MLC Maharashtra, said, “This collaboration has been an exciting step, and we hope that with this, we are able to help the temple economy thrive in the nation and across the world.”
Giresh Kulkarni, Founder of Temple Connect and International Temple Convention and Expo (ITCX), expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “We’re thrilled to associate with Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research and Mumbai University. Our goal is to raise awareness about temple ecosystems and their management. We’re eager to participate in the same to enhance the temple economy. I must acknowledge here that Mumbai University and WeSchool are the first Management Institutes under Dr. Kulkarni’s and Dr. Salunkhe’s stewardship to have undertaken an observational study on major temples across Maharashtra, that set the basis for designing a structured Program on Temple Management, soon to be launched from Mumbai University and WeSchool’s Mumbai campus.”
Temple Connect will be instrumental in engaging with the temple eco-system and the education institutions by encouraging industry stalwarts and key resources sharing their hands-on experience in temple management through this offering along with activation of internships and final placements at the temples. “This course will be further extended nationally by Temple Connect at various State Universities and Institutions in local languages to maximize this area of knowledge for better Temple Management and coordination. This is just the beginning of the revaluation in the Temple Management Sector as we are in touch with over 19 State and Private Universities/Institutions who have shown keen interest to actively start similar courses across multiple locations in India”, added Giresh.
