MOU signed between IIM Raipur and National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN)

The Indian Institute of Managemnent Raipur signed an MoU with National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN) today at IIM Raipur Campus. The partnership with NEN will help IIM Raipur develop content and programs around Entrepreneurship to motivate its students take up Entrepreneurship as a career option and at the same time encourage local entrepreneurs to scale up and reach out to a wider audience. The immediate result of the partnership will be capacity building for the Entrepreneurship cell of the Institute so that it can develop over a period of time to answer to the needs of the students of the Institute. The MoU was signed by Prof Ajit Prasad Dean Academics, IIM Raipur and Ms Kalpana Sinha and Mr Debmalya Bhattacharjee from NEN. 

The MoU signing session was preceded by a session by NEN highlighting the relevance of Entrepreneurship and at the same times how NEN can benefit the institute. Speaking to students Mr Bhattacharjee told 

By 2020, the average age of India’s population will be in the 25-30 age bracket. Considering this, there will be a huge need of jobs for the young people and job creation in turn needs entrepreneurship. NEN, an organisation founded by Mr.Ramesh Wadhwani of the Wadhwani foundation, focuses on fostering the spirit of entrepreneurship amongst the students and aims to inspire, educate and support them. Its goal is to create 100,000 jobs in India. 

Mr. Bhattacharjee started the session with a video on ‘Lead India’ and explained how entrepreneurship is all about need, innovation and fun. He further explained NEN’s model of synergistic partnership with the institute and how it would be effective in building a vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystem on campus to aggregate support for the institute members and entrepreneurs. 

Ms Kalpana Sinha from NEN, Delhi Region, motivated the students to ‘Try and fail, rather than to fail to try’. She, along with Mr Debmalya entertained all students’ queries. 

Speaking about the positives of the partnership Tarang Singhal, the student Coordinator of Entrepreneurship Club said that that the club is right now only a year old but has started with the right notes by starting a B Plan Competition to promote ideas here in Chhattisgarh. Partnering with NEN would add more resources to take make the programs more effective. Rahul Khedkar, member of Entrepreneurship Club expressed hope that this partnership would help him take his business plan from idea to an execution stage and he looked forward to the programs from NEN at IIM Raipur campus. 

The session was also attended by Prof. Sanjeev Prashar, Prof. Ajit Prasad and Prof. S.K Mitra of IIM Raipur. The student members entrepreneurship club of IIM Raipur Tarang, Vamsy, Rahul, Deboleena, Manu, Shashank, Bir were also present at the MoU signing ceremony. 

IIM Raipur launches Post Graduate Programme for Working Executives – Inauguration by Hon’ble Governor of Chhattisgarh

IIM Raipur launched Post-Graduate Programme for Working Executives on October 27, 2012. The Programme was inaugurated by Governor of Chhattisgarh Hon’ble Shri Shekhar Dutt.

The Hon’ble Governor said that in pursuit of excellence if you achieve the skill of managing business, corporate or other economic affairs; people may call you the Business Manager par excellence but if you can achieve the quality of managing and inspiring others to manage those affairs – you are a Business Magnate.

He further said that today, our country is recognized by the world as the future world leader and he believes that this generation is the one who will lead the country to new heights. Therefore, they have this added responsibility of achieving this goal. It is said that 21^st century is the century of Asia, but Hon’ble Governor extended it to the century of India.

Welcoming Hon’ble Governor and PGPWE students, Prof B.S. Sahay, Director IIM Raipur, said that there are many qualified professionals who could not pursue their management education due to different reasons. The PGPWE provides an opportunity for such experienced professionals and minimises disruption of work and personal pursuits. It empowers one with the knowledge, skill attitude, flexibility and ability for lifelong learning, to develop one’s career to its fullest potential. It fosters independent thought and fuels informed management decisions and practices resulting in valuable contribution to the organisation.

He added that the uniqueness of PGPWE is the rich, diverse yet collective professional experience of its participants, which translates into outstanding learning opportunities, enriching the educational environment and shared understanding.

Prof. Pradyumna Dash, Chairman (Admissions & International Relations) IIM Raipur presented the profile of the pioneer batch of PGPWE. 1^st Batch of PGPWE comprises of 39 students with an average age of 37 years and an average work experience of 13 years. The participants are a fine blend from many private and government organizations viz. NTPC, SAIL, ACC Ltd, BALCO, NRDA, Kotak Bank, Central Excise and Indian Railways etc.

Prof. M. Kannadhasan, Chairman (PGPWE) IIM Raipur briefed the participants about the programme. The programme is formulated and designed to enhance skills and capabilities essential for managerial positions. The focus is to enable and develop managers that understand global requirements of their organisations as well as also understand the intricacies of business at functional and strategic levels.

Prof Ajit Prasad, Dean (Academics) IIM Raipur proposed vote of thanks to the Hon’ble Governor. He extended his thanks to the Director, Chairman PGPWE and Chairman Admissions. In his address to the PGPWE students he said that the participants will study in an intellectually invigorating program for the next 18 months. After the program is over they will be in a better situation to face any organizational promotional challenge. They will work under the prestigious IIM brand name, being taught by the best minds in the country, using state of the art pedagogy.

IIM Raipur signs MoU with HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, Germany

Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Raipur, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management seeking student and faculty exchange programs, collaborative research projects and organization of joint academic and scientific activities. The MoU was signed by Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM, Raipur and Mr. Frank Hoffmann, Director, International Relations, HHL.

Both parties of this cooperation agreement express their determination to promote international mobility of students and teaching staff and to improve the quality of their training by different means of exchange and cooperation. This agreement is based on mutual confidence and acknowledgment of the principles and practical rules of both institutions.

Cooperation should mainly be concentrated on the exchange of students which should give students the opportunity to pass an acknowledged and integrated study term in a partner institution abroad.

Both parties agree to the exchange of students in the field of business administration on graduate level. Language of instruction for coursework will be English at the host institution.

Students can spend one term at the partner institution. The selection of the students designated for the exchange is made by the home institution based on a list of criteria developed by both parties. The host institution agrees to admit the selected students without any further examinations or conditions.

Students are entitled to the use of university and social services granted to home students.

HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management is accredidated by AACSB and has collaborations with IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow and IIM Kozikode.

IIM Raipur collaborates with AIT Bangkok

Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) Bangkok seeking student and faculty exchange programs, collaborative research projects and organization of joint academic and scientific activities. The MoU was signed by Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Raipur and Prof. Said Irandoust, President, AIT on 18 October 2012.

Prof. Sahay remarked that his association with AIT dates back to 17 years when he first visited the Institute. IIM Raipur has already started its post-graduate and doctoral programmes and it wishes to collaborate with AIT Bangkok in both Master’s and Doctoral programmes.

Both the top Institutions are committed to promote more contacts and co-operation between their faculty members. It is to be emphasized that contacts and cooperation between faculty members create a strong basis for the development of joint training programs, formulating joint research projects, exchange of teaching materials, and exchange of students. Both institutions will collaborate in research activities will be explored in subjects of mutual interest and benefit and encourage the doctoral students to get a co – supervisor. IIM Raipur and AIT Bangkok will conduct the exchange of postgraduate students starting in the academic year 2013-14. Both institutions will accept to host a short study tour of a few weeks by the students of the partner institution.

IIM Raipur and AIT Bangkok will explore possibilities of collaboration in conducting middle and senior management training programs in business management.

Prof. Said Irandoust, while welcoming Prof. Sahay said AIT was happy to be associated with IIM. Prof. I.M.Pandey, Vice President for Academic Affairs, AIT, elaborated on the many offerings in AIT, particularly its Doctoral program in Business Administration (DBA). Prof. Sahay expressed his desire to associate with AIT’s DBA program. Mr. Ahmed Amjad Ali, Head, External Relations and Communications Office (ERCO), Mr. Tenzin Rabgyal, Senior Program Officer, ERCO, and Ms. Binita Gurung, Program Assistant, School of Management (SOM) also attended the meeting.

AIT Bangkok has been accredited by AMBA and has collaboration with IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta.

“Rural India is an exception to the four P’s of marketing” – Prof Sanjeev Prashar at SOAP OPERA – Marketing Simulation Store set up by IIM Raipur students

On October, 22, 2012, IIM Raipur conducted its first marketing simulation store “Soap Opera”. As the name suggests the simulation was about the Indian soap market, one of the biggest FMCG sectors of the country.

The event was conducted by a team of PGP first year students under the guidance of Prof. Sanjeev Prashar, Chairperson, Career and placement, IIM Raipur. The event was attended by the faculty and the students of IIM Raipur.

The store was launched with a case study presentation “Soapcase” by PGP first year student Shweta Mallick. The subject of the case study was Lifebuoy, one of the oldest soap brands and world’s largest selling soap.

The event had counters of major players in the Indian Soap Industry which displayed the various products and their variants from the product line of the company. Information about the history, target markets, positioning and campaigns during the evolution of the product was provided by the student volunteers. The companies who featured in the marketing simulation store included Godrej, Wipro, HUL, ITC, Park Avenue and Reckitt Benckiser.

Students participated in a quiz session to check their knowledge about the Indian soap industry. The quiz had attractive prizes for correct answers.

Prof. Sanjeev Parashar explained how the 4P’s do not work in rural India. Companies generally fail to understand it and hence their products do not make a mark in the Indian market.

The last phase of the simulation consisted of a humorous skit presented by Sujeet and group to show how despite of many marketing strategies being framed and applied by big companies, their products do not get success.

The event was a great success and the students gained new insight in the area of marketing of FMCG products. 

IIM Raipur join hands with State Council Educational Research and Training SCERT (Chhattisgarh), to augment education system in Chhattisgarh

IIM Raipur along with SCERT is conducting a five day residential training programme on School leadership and capacity building to improve school education and its process from October 15 to October 19, 2012 at Hotel Grand Tulip, Raipur.

This is the first step of a year long engagement by IIM Raipur with Chhattisgarh state government to improve the current education system and its process within the state. The participants for the whole training program comprised of principals of higher secondary schools of few blocks out of five districts chosen by State Government board SCERT. The State Council Educational Research and Training (SCERT (Chhattisgarh)) is an R&D institute at the state level by providing guidance, support and assistance to the state education department to improve the quality of primary, upper primary and secondary education and teacher education.

IIM Raipur is providing active consultation to SCERT for streamlining the overall development of secondary education in the state and to advise the Government on policy matters relating to school education. Speaking about the relevance of the programme Prof Ajit Prasad, Chairperson, PGP Program, said that the GSDP of the state is growing at 11% and the development of its human resource is of utmost importance. IIM Raipur has chosen to work at the very grass root level which is the school education. The program is as a part of IIM Raipur’s vision to be a net contributor to the development of the region.

The total participants are 25 in number who are currently undergoing training. This program is in phases and will also involve continuous monitoring and rigorous training at regular intervals.

The program instructors are IIM Faculty members including Prof. Ajit Prasad (Director of this program), Prof. Vinita Sahay (Director of this program), Prof. Sanjeev Parashar, Prof. S.K. Mitra and Prof. Shubhra Hajela.

The training involves training on understanding behavioural issues like developing school leadership, motivation, time management, use of technology, conflict resolution. It would also involve technical training on use of internet, computers and will also involve methods of community mobilization.

Given below are the program in details:

1.     Day 1 Monday October 15

Theme: Institutional Leadership:
It focused on assessing the current economic environment and the challenges posed to the school education system both in terms of knowledge, technology and changing age mix of the catchment population. Focus was to channelize motivation as a tool for community mobilization. There were four sessions taken by Prof Sanjeev Prashar IIM Raipur, Prof Ajit Prasad, IIM Raipur, Prof Shubhra Hajela, IIM Raipur and Prof Vinita Sahay, IIM Raipur.

2.     Day 2 Tuesday October 16

 Theme- Quality in Education
It covered the skill sets required for school principals like time management, efficient use of technology and the art of conflict resolution between the different stake holders. The following sessions were taken by Prof Ajit Prasad, Prof Sanjeev Prashar, Prof Shubhra Hajela and Prof Vinita Sahay, respectively:

·         On managerial skills and requirement for school principals.

·         Time management in school administration

·         Institutional planning, requirements, budgets, quality and vision of an excellent school

·         Conflict resolution: staying on top of conflicts

3.     Day 3 Wednesday October 17

 Theme- Personal Role Modelling:
It consisted of psychometric testing for participants to have a better self understanding and at the same time getting exposed to the basis of transactional analysis. Also, IIM Raipur focused on communication being the key factor in the leadership development, and therefore emphasised more on communication skills, understanding and improving. IIM Raipur also used training techniques to demonstrate at the individual level the different aspects of communication. The following sessions were being taken on day 3 of the training:

·         Understanding self, MBTI, basics of transactional analysis by Prof Shubhra Hajela.

·         Communication and self awareness and communication as a key to leadership by Prof Vinita Sahay which also included detailed training on individual and group communication

4.     Day 4 Thursday October 18

Theme- Managing Schools effectively
The principal as a leader is also required to be a good manager. This programme will focus on managing a school as an organization, setting of mission and vision, and translating them into objectives and goals. The session emphasised on the role of leadership in establishing culture, facilitating institutional planning to achieve targets and setting up of an appropriate Management Information System (MIS) to facilitate decision making. The following sessions will be in line for day 4:

·         Managing a school as an organization, mission, vision and objectives by Prof Ajit Prasad.

·         Understanding leadership, requirements, planning of a leader by Prof Shubhra Hajela

5.     Day 5 Friday October 19:

Theme- Leadership and Change Management:
The role of the principal of a school as a change manager becomes very critical. The sessions will explain the importance to understand the leadership requirements, planning for growth, using technology effectively and applying best practices in the whole education system.

·         Creating culture understanding dimensions of culture which will be taken up by Prof. Sanjeev Prashar

·         Benchmarking education and need for standardization taken up by Prof. S.K.Mitra.

Apart from this, there were also some group activities in the evening every day after training from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, planned by IIM Raipur to fully utilise the facility of residential program and is scheduled for both day 4 and 5 of the program.

Vihaan – The first ray of light

Helen Keller had said that "There is no lovelier way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to those in the dark." The students of IIM Raipur and the neighbouring colleges took this saying to heart when they participated wholeheartedly in the eye donation registration camp organized by Kartavya. The event was aptly named ‘Vihaan’, which means ‘the first ray of light’ in Sanskrit. It resulted in over 200 people pledging to donate their eyes to the people who suffer from corneal blindness.  The main idea behind the event was to make students aware about how they can help others even after they are no longer a part of this world. Students of Kartavya Club had also arranged Free Eye Check up at IIM Raipur campus in Collaboration with Auribindo Netralaya, Raipur. This got huge response wherein over 80 people including students, faculty and staff from IIM Raipur and GEC availed the facility and got free counselling from Optician.

Corneal blindness is a serious form of blindness which mostly affects children and young adults. There are over 6.8 million people who suffer from this disease in India alone. Fortunately, it can be cured by transplanting the healthy cornea from a donor to replace the affected cornea of the recipient.  Unfortunately, due to lack of awareness, India is not able to receive sufficient number of healthy corneas and hence a large number of our fellow Indians are condemned to remain in the dark forever.  We burn or bury so many of our relatives without considering that their eyes could gift sight to someone who has never seen the light of the day. Every person can make a difference; we just need to take the initiative.

The students have shown the way, now it is up to the rest of us to follow them and ensure that we do our part as well. Donate your eyes and gift sight to others, there is no nobler gift.

Contributed By: Neha Khapre, PGP 2012-14, she can be reached at pgp12084.neha@iimraipur.ac.in

IIM Raipur students organize flash mob to create awareness about eye donation

Kartavya, CSR club of IIM Raipur is organizing an eye donation registration camp in IIM Raipur on 11^th Oct, 2012. The event, called ‘Vihan’, aims to create awareness about eye donation among the students of IIM Raipur and other neighboring colleges.

To create awareness about the event, CUSP, Cultural Club of IIM Raipur organized a flash mob at Pandri City Centre Mall on Wednesday evening. The flash mob started with dancing on random dance numbers but ended with a message that one should donate eyes to make this world a better living place.

Chhattisgarh has one of the best Public Distribution System in the nation : Mr Kaushalendra Singh

The biggest sin for a king is the death of any of his subjects due to hunger

- Chanakya, in his treatise ‘Arthasastra’

Indian Institute of Management Raipur conducted a guest lecture by Mr. Kaushalendra Singh, Managing Director Chhattisgarh state civil supplies corporation on October 3, 2012. The lecture focused on the Evolution of best practices in Food grain management through procurement and Public distribution systems in Chhattisgarh.

The lecture discussed various aspects of public distribution system, and the usage of information technology and logistic facilities for effective and efficient collection and distribution of food grains throughout the state of Chhattisgarh.

He observed that the use of modern technology and the involvement of public in the PDS had been a major factor that ensured the achievement of the intended goal.

Recently the Supreme Court of India acknowledged the effectiveness of innovative policies followed in PDS by Chhattisgarh and has recommended implementation of similar policies in other states.

The state government’s role in procuring agricultural goods has improved the welfare of the farmers. It has saved the farmers from the distress caused by the intermediate agents. The farmers now receive right sum for their hard work void of exploitation at the hands of arhtiyas.

Improved accountability, transparency, instant payment through computer generated cheques and effective protection of the collected food grains have enforced the government’s commitment towards its people.  

 He commented that several legal and structural reforms were undertaken to deliver these benefits to the farmers and the ration cardholders. Removal of 2.80 lakh fake ration cards has helped the government to identify the real demand within the state.  The Dal bhat Kendra is an initiative taken by the government to provide healthy and tasty food for the below poverty line citizens.

All these measures clearly radiated the amount of political and bureaucratic will required in developing an effective public distribution system in the state.

The lecture closed with an interactive session with the students on the intricacies involved in the implementation and improvisation of the innovative systems designed for these purposes.

Prof. B. S. Sahay , Director of Indian Institute of Management Raipur gave a vote of thanks to Mr. Kaushalendra Singh for sharing his valuable insights.

A (non violent) explosion of colors at IIM Raipur on Gandhi Jayanti....

Creativity and subtlety has no bounds; it just needs a medium to express itself. The students of IIM Raipur proved the truth in this saying on the morning of Gandhi Jayanti, when over 60 of them participated in the finger painting and sketching competition organized by Kartavya.

The event aimed at portrayal of CSR related themes by participants through finger paintings or sketches, while having fun at the same time. The paintings and sketches would be displayed around the campus to help create awareness about the issues. Needless to say, the event was a rip-roaring success with some beautiful pieces of art being created and everyone having a great time.

Students rose up early in the morning and turned up in droves to promote a good cause. All the colors of the rainbow were seen in the amazing finger paintings created by the students. More importantly, each and every painting carried a message which was conveyed brilliantly through the colors. Some students focused on global warming, others on population explosion; some thought that water crisis was most important, while others promoted the go-green initiative. Some students highlighted burning human trafficking. No matter what the topic was, the students participated enthusiastically and ensured that their art create awareness about the issue.

The pencil sketches were no less brilliant; these artists didn’t even need colors to convey the meaning behind the sketch, the sketch spoke for itself.  Some students adopted face painting as a medium to express their sensitivity.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Through their sensitivity towards social and environmental issues, students showed the life of b-school student is not just restricted to business.

All in all, it was a day to remember for everyone.

Contributed By: Neha Khapre, PGP 2012-14, she can be reached at pgp12084.neha@iimraipur.ac.in