Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu marked the beginning of another promising academic year with a grand inaugural ceremony.The inaugural ceremony of the orientation programme was also special since it was being held in its state-of-the-art permanent campus.
The IIM Jammu successfully inaugurated the Orientation Program, welcoming the 8th Batch of MBA (2022-24), 4th Batch of Ph.D. (2023-26), 3rd Batch of EMBA (2023-25), 1st batch of EMBA (CA&M), 2nd batch of Ph.D (WP) and the 2nd Batch of MBA (HA&HM) (2023-25).
The event commenced with the symbolic lighting of the lamp, signifying the illumination of knowledge, wisdom, and prosperity. Following this, the atmosphere resonated with the soul-stirring notes of "Saraswati Vandana," by students of the MBA'07 Batch.
The ceremony was graced by Dr. Milind.P. Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu, Shri Anand Kripalu, Member, IIM Jammu, Dr. VijaySinh. S. Gambhire, Lalit Naik, Suresh T. Salunke, Members, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu and Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu.
Present on the occasion was Prof. (Dr). Shakti Gupta, Director, AIIMS, Jammu, and Prof Manoj Singh Gaur, IIT Jammu. Also present were Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean Academics, IIM Jammu, and Dr. Rashmi Ranjan Parida, Chairperson, Admissions, IIM Jammu, faculty members, officers, staff and students of IIM Jammu.
Dr. Rashmi Ranjan Parida, Chairperson Admissions, took center stage to present an impressive overview of the incoming batch and the diversity in the student profile from various backgrounds. He emphasized that IIM Jammu has the largest ever cohort of Ph.D. (working professionals) with 23 students, the impressive gender diversity of the commencing MBA cohort, with female students comprising 47% of the total strength of 265 students, and the launch of the new EMBA-CAM program.
Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean (Academics), captivated the audience with his warm welcome speech. He articulated the academics at IIM Jammu to be truly enriching, informative, and highly interactive for students. Prof. Jabir Ali emphasized IIM Jammu's remarkable growth rate because of its increased student strength and program diversity since its inception.
Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, addressed the students and shared the vision of IIM Jammu, encouraging the students to embrace the new academic environment and learn from hardships to become better managers.
Next was the address by Prof. (Dr.) Shakti Gupta, Director AIIMS Jammu. Welcoming the new batch, Prof. (Dr.) Shakti Gupta, Director AIIMS Jammu, highlighted the significance of inculcating resilience and being open to diverse perspectives and ideas.
Prof. Manoj Singh Gaur, Director, IIT Jammu, addressed the students, emphasizing the importance of learning how to adapt to the new changes in global trends and technology.Dr. Milind Kamble, Chairman, BoG, IIM Jammu, presided over the event and gave the presidential address, encouraging the students to engage in and promote "self-reliance" and contributing to the vision of India put forward by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Dr. Muqbil Burhan, Chairperson, Executive Education, IIM Jammu, delivered the Vote of Thanks and extended his gratitude to the dignitaries and participants, expressing his confidence in the student's potential to create a positive impact on the world. He also showed his appreciation towards the parents for their cooperation while adjusting to the new campus. The inaugural ceremony culminated with the national anthem.
The symposium featured inspiring keynote sessions delivered by distinguished industry leaders, who shared their expertise and wisdom with the students. Anand Kripalu, MD & Global CEO, EPL Limited (Blackstone), enlightened the audience on 'Career Growth and Development,' emphasizing the value of embracing the ups and downs of one's career and believing in India’s story. Kripalu advised the students to take the right path throughout their career trajectory and step out of their comfort zone.
Next was the session by Dr. VijaySinh S. Gambhire, President & Director, The Sirpur Paper Mills Limited, who spoke about ‘Turnaround of the Organization,' imparting invaluable lessons in raising a business from the ground up, and the roles of goodwill, market research and how government supports play a crucial role in improving business practices.
Dr. Suresh T Salunke, CEO, Tata Precision Industries, shared his 'Corporate Journey,' showcasing the power of having a positive mindset and letting go of the inferiority complex. Drawing anecdotes from his personal life, he urged the students to inculcate time management skills in entrepreneurship by prioritizing what is important to them.
Lalit Kumar Naik, Director, Noveltech Feeds Pvt. Ltd., shed valuable insights on the topic 'Career in Consulting,' inspiring students to become great and successful consultants by understanding the client's needs and translating them into meaningful data. He also emphasized the importance of being an idealist and prioritizing quantitative analysis as opposed to qualitative judgment.
Prominent faculty members of IIM Jammu shared valuable insights into the academic rigor, pedagogy, and expectations of the students. Dr. Manu Bansal, Co-Chairperson (MBA) suggested the students make the most out of the rigorous curriculum and approach it with focus and resilience. Dr. Harsha Jariwala, Chairperson (MBA (HA&HM) welcomed the students and encouraged them to take failures as life lessons towards a successful career path.
Dr. Archana Sharma, Chairperson (EMBA) highlighted that the demanding curriculum will make the students learn how to handle difficult situations. Dr. Vaseem Akram, Chairperson (Doctoral Program) focused on being responsible and ethical leaders and to win but winning the right way.
The first day of the Orientation Programme ended with an address by Arup Bhattacharya, Administrative Officer – Academics. He addressed the students, familiarizing them with the environment and culture of the Institute.
The event also witnessed massive tree plantation by Dr. Milind.P. Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu, Members of the Board of Governors, Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, Prof. (Dr). Shakti Gupta, Director, AIIMS, Prof. Manoj Singh Gaur, Director, IIT Jammu.