Herbalife India, a global company specialising in health and wellness, has entered into an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences in Solan, Himachal Pradesh. This collaboration aims to incorporate the concept of direct selling into the online Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programmes offered by the university, according to an official release.
Herbalife India claims that this partnership with Shoolini University seeks to spotlight direct selling as a potent marketing channel. The objective is to position the direct selling industry in India as a catalyst for employment, economic expansion, and entrepreneurship. The MoU outlines the establishment of a Center of Excellence for Direct Selling in Academics (CEDSA) at Shoolini University, in collaboration with Herbalife India. This initiative is designed to integrate a specialisation in ‘Direct Selling Management’ into the MBA and BBA curriculums, the release mentioned.
“The partnership’s dual focus on empowering students and elevating the direct selling sector in India. The industry, which has seen substantial growth and currently employs nearly six million people, is recognised for its resilience in the face of socio-economic challenges. Notably, it has emerged as a source of career opportunities for youth, especially in Tier two and three cities, including women,” Ajay Khanna, senior vice president, managing director, Herbalife India, said.
The restructured programmes are slated to commence in the upcoming academic session in 2023-2024. The courses are structured to acquaint students with the unique opportunities presented by this channel, along with corporate and entrepreneurial prospects within the industry.
“By joining forces with Herbalife, we aim to create a dynamic platform that combines academic expertise with industry insights, offering guidelines for unparalleled opportunities for growth and development in the fields of entrepreneurship, sales, and management,” Ashish Khosla, co-founder, president, Marketing, Innovation, Shoolini University, said.