The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
SAMBALPUR, SEPT 23, 2021
Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday appealed to students to work towards bringing a synergy of modern knowledge and traditional values and represent as the true brand ambassadors of India.
Addressing the students at the 7th Foundation Day programme of IIM Sambalpur, Pradhan said, “As students of IIM Sambalpur as you embark on your life’s journey, you will not only become responsible citizens of the country but also leaders of tomorrow. You must work towards bringing a synergy of modern knowledge and traditional values to ensure that you represent yourselves as the true brand ambassadors of India.”
“Sambalpur is one of the fastest growing cities of Odisha and a land enriched with rich cultural heritage, where you have freedom fighters like Veer Surendra Sai, globally renowned poets like Swabhaba kabi Gangadhar Meher and saint like Bhima Bhoi has emerged,” said the Union Education Minister while urging the students to take inspiration from their lives and to leave an indelible mark in the field of education.
The Union Minister said that the National Education Policy 2020 aims to update, upgrade and upskill the youth.
The policy, he said, is based on the foundation of accessibility, affordability, equity and quality, and aims to transform the education system with the emerging dynamics of the 21st century. He said NEP is an important step towards an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and the government is working to make the policy a success.
“A healthy workforce is only possible when we have a competent workforce of skilled management professionals and I am sure IIM Sambalpur will act as a catalyst to fulfill this dream and help excel in nation building to the best of their potential,” Pradhan said.
Odisha Skill Development Authority Chairman Subroto Bagchi said, IIM Sambalpur has been on the trajectory to nurture responsible leaders for future with an entrepreneurial mindset. An educational institute must stand on strong values and IIM Sambalpur has been a defining factor in earning that trust.
Speaking on the occasion, IIM Sambalpur Director Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal highlighted the achievements of the institute.
“IIM Sambalpur was established in the year 2015 with 49 students in the first batch of MBA and currently 6th and 7th Batch of MBA strength is 328, 3 batches of PhD is 15 students, and 2 batches of Executive Ph D with 22 students and 1st batch of Exe MBA with 54 executives. The Institute outscored most other top Institutes in terms of highest gender diversity in MBA (2019-21) batch with 49% girls’ students and 43% girls in MBA (2020-22) and 46 percent in the current year (2021-22).In intellectual capital we started with a faculty strength of 3 in 2017 to 17 full time faculty members in the current academic year. IIM Sambalpur was also decisive in initiating international partnership with a leading 6 Business Schools of Europe and Asia during the year. Albeit being the youngest IIM of the country, IIM Sambalpur, this is yet another glorious feat.”
“For collaborative work, IIM Sambalpur has signed three MoUs and partnered with the Ministry MSME, Flipkart, India SME Forum, JSW, Vedanta Ltd., MCL, IOCL, and The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), Delhi. We have also set up Incubation Centre and currently 7 startups are being incubated at IIM Sambalpur,” he added.
Prof. Jaiswal further said, “Most notable during the year has been the significant milestones achieved by the Institute in infrastructural development. Year 2021 has been a revolutionary start for the Indian Institute of Management, Sambalpur. Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, laid the foundation stone of the permanent campus of IIM Sambalpur on 2nd January 2021. Work on our permanent campus is in rapid progress and we expect to complete the first phase of the campus by August-December 2022.IIM Sambalpur has ranked 61 in the recent NIRF ranking and amongst the third generation IIMs it stands 2nd and 1st across India and is positioned in the ‘HEI of Eminence: Institution of Academic Excellence’ category in the OBE Ranking 2021, by R World Institutional Ranking.”
Addressing the audience, Flipkart Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Rajneesh Kumar, who graced the occasion as Keynote Speaker said that there is a need for businesses to be more responsible and inclusive.
“There have been fundamentals shifts that Covid has created in our lives and businesses. It has become evident that companies can no longer operate without considering of the larger context. This impacts the way we interact with different stakeholders. We have seen companies and businesses come together and support the Government during the tough times of Covid. There is a need for businesses to be more responsible and inclusive. At Flipkart, this is exactly what we try and do build responsible growth and businesses. We believe this is all connected and coupled with our aspirations.” He further elaborated on Flipkart’s initiative to support small businesses through Flipkart Samarth and their partnership with IIM Sambalpur.
The program witnessed awards and felicitations of key achievers from various fields. Indian field hockey player and member of the Olympic bronze winning Indian hockey team, Amit Rohidas and renowned Sambalpuri singer Jitendra Haripal, famous for the superhit song Rangabati, were honoured during the program for their marvelous accomplishments.
IIM Sambalpur also awarded merit scholarships worth Rs 1,00,000 each to the top seven students of second year based on their academic performance in the first year.
