Introducing Compassionate Leadership: A Transformative Course at JSW Law
POSTED ON - Aug 11th, 2025
Starting this autumn semester, JSW Law, in collaboration with the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion (SMGC), has introduced an elective course entitled Compassionate Leadership for its students. This initiative marks the first of many joint programmes agreed upon by JSW Law and SMGC to commemorate the 70th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Great Fourth Jigme Singye Wangchuck—a true compassionate leader of our time—in a meaningful way.
While honouring His Majesty’s enduring legacy, the initiative seeks to cultivate a new generation of leaders who are compassionate, ethical, and grounded in justice and humanity.
The Compassionate Leadership course is designed to transform undergraduate students into leaders with a deep understanding of compassionate action and the capacity for mindful, practical problem-solving. The curriculum draws from Bhutan’s core values—especially the principles of Gross National Happiness (GNH)—as well as the compassionate leadership of Their Majesties and the vision of Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi.
A central theme of the course is that compassion is not merely an emotion, but a deliberate and courageous response to injustice. Students will explore ways to apply compassion in practical, ethical, and systemic contexts. Learning approaches include:
• Critical inquiry and reflective practice: drawing from both personal experiences and those of others.
• Project-based learning: applying compassion to real-world scenarios.
• Culturally responsive learning: grounding practice in Bhutanese traditions, values, and local contexts.
Key topics covered include:
• The various types of compassion.
• Distinctions between empathy and compassionate action.
• Case studies from Nobel Peace Laureates and Their Majesties, His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo and the Fourth Druk Gyalpo.
Through this course, JSW Law and SMGC aim to inspire leaders who will embody compassion as a guiding principle in addressing injustice and fostering societal well-being.
