TISS weighs courses with higher fees, CSR to support 115 staffers

MUMBAI: Starting newer industry-oriented, revenue-generating courses to raising funds through corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, from alumni donation to sponsored industry research projects-multiple suggestions came up at a late-night TISS administration meeting held on Tuesday.
Deans of various schools along with senior officials from the institute's administration discussed sustainable plans to support the 115 staff members, including 55 teaching and 60 non-teaching staff.A committee has been set up to come up with a plan in less than a month, said an official, adding they will want to continue engagement with all the affected staff members.
The staff, some of whom were associated with the institute for more than a decade, were abruptly issued termination notices last Friday. Two days later, after getting an assurance from Tata Trusts, the institute recalled the notices and asked all teachers to resume work. On Monday, the trust released over Rs 5 crore funds towards staff salaries, which according to sources will support them for about five to six months. Sources from the trust had told TOI they will no longer back the institute, as it does not fall under their management since June 2023 and they believe in supporting social projects where they have a say.
An institute source said they will have to take a multi-pronged approach to have a sustainable plan in place. "Starting newer high-value courses, which are tailor-made for the industry's needs, is one of the many solutions that came up during the discussion and many of us agreed on the same. We are setting up a committee which will look at various solutions-right from raising funds through CSR, through alumni, through research-and present the report soon," said the source, adding the administration also plans to approach Tata Trusts to seek their support. "The amount is not much and comes to only about Rs 75 lakh per month, and we hope to raise it through different activities," the source added.
The institute plans to conduct a survey to understand the exact vacancies and eligible candidates from among the staff members, and the ones who are successful in the selection process can be absorbed as per UGC norms.