Herbalife India, a global health and wellness company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences in Solan, Himachal Pradesh. According to an official statement, this partnership aims to incorporate the concept of direct selling into the University’s online Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programmes.
Today, the direct selling industry allows individuals to become entrepreneurs and benefit from personal and career development. Skill development is essential for advancement, enabling professionals to hone their leadership, sales, and other business skills. This collaboration with the prestigious Shoolini University seeks to highlight direct selling as an effective marketing channel and the direct selling industry in India as a driver of employment, economic growth, 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.
Speaking on the collaboration, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Herbalife India, Ajay Khanna, said:
We are pleased to announce our partnership with University Shoolini. The signing of the MOU demonstrates our commitment to promoting a better comprehension of the direct selling industry. As the industry continues to increase in India, there is a pressing need for a structured program focused on direct selling in the business administration curriculum. This strategic partnership will equip students with the necessary abilities and perceptions to flourish in this dynamic industry and elevate the natural selling sector in India.
The new restructured programmes will commence from the next academic session in 2023-2024. The course will be a stepping stone towards familiarizing students with the opportunities offered by this unique channel and the corporate and entrepreneurial opportunities available across the industry.
Shoolini University is a young, research-focused, philanthropic university founded by leading academicians and professionals. Since its inception in 2009, this dynamic and innovative learning centre has made tremendous progress. It has consistently been ranked among India’s top 100 universities (NIRF), is one of India’s leading patent and innovation generators, and matches the world’s best universities in research output. The University aims to be a Role Model for Private University Education in India.
Ashish Khosla, Co-founder and President of Marketing and Innovation at Shoolini University, commented:
I am delighted to announce the formalisation of this exciting initiative between Shoolini University and Herbalife India. This cooperation marks a significant milestone in our commitment to fostering innovation, research, and holistic education. 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 entrepreneurship, sales, and management.
According to a report from the World Federation of Direct Selling Association (WFDSA) last year, India moved up to 11th position in the global ranking for direct selling. The industry employs nearly six million people, significantly increasing over the previous few years. Despite socio-economic challenges, the sector has emerged resilient with career options for the youth and employing individuals from Tier 2 & 3 cities, including women.
The alliance between Shoolini University and Herbalife India extends beyond academia, with the aim of providing teaching modules for academic institutions interested in incorporating Direct Selling into their curriculum.
In India, Herbalife, as one of the market leaders in direct selling, has been working with industry, academic institutions, businesses, and the government to foster an environment conducive to the growth of the direct selling industry through best practices, advice and dialogue, and development activities.
