IILM-NHRDN 7th Business Leadership Quiz 2018

Events, Faculty, IILM University10 DecemberVISHAL GOEL

“I think what makes us special is that, among all the quiz and game shows out there, ours tends to encourage learning”

On 1st December

IILM University takes pride in partnering with NHRD to organize 7th Business Leadership Quiz 2018 that was held with an element of fun & frolic in the premises of IILM, University Gurugram. It corroborated the institute’s objective of promoting strong learning and development culture by exposing students to value adding enhancements incessantly. As a core value, IILM fosters its students to aim for nothing but the best and to have an attitude of perpetual learning. With this in mind, the leadership quiz was organized that witnessed participants who possessed knowledge from varied domains such as marketing, advertisement, business history, leadership, to name a few.

The quiz was peeled off elaborating NHRD’s code of conduct that was addressed to the entire audience. It was followed by a welcome speech by Mr. Dhananjay Singh, Director General of NHRDN who spoke about the importance of continuous learning and expressed his enthusiasm upon unfolding 7th Business Quiz. Following him, Dr. Sujata Shahi, vice chancellor of IILM University welcomed the chief guest and other participants and apprised them about recent achievements and success of IILM in getting converted into a University from this academic year. Post that, Mr. Avadhesh Dixit, CHRO of Moody Corporation expressed his ecstasy upon receiving the invitation and felt proud in being associated with a prestigious and trustworthy institution like NHRD for 20 years. He acknowledged the magnum of such quizzes is seeing an uprising trend every year. He wrapped up his address by congratulating the students for their empowering endeavor and wished everyone good luck for future. And finally, Dr. Aayushman Gupta, Senior Professor, thanked everyone for their presence and advocated the need of blended education.

The quiz was conducted by Quizmaster Ajay Poonia, who is the co-founder of www.qryptiq.com. Mr. Poonia is a young & exuberant quizmaster as well as an avid quizzer too. The quiz kicked off with prelims round for northern region in which executives from 43 companies participated. This round had a total of 25 questions which were a fusion of general awareness, advertisement, business marketing. This round also had audio & video based questions in culmination to keep it more interesting and engaging. The winners of this round were teams from Deloitte, Hero MotoCorp, NTPC, Maruti, Ernst & Young, and Power Grid. These teams further competed against each other for top 3 positions for northern region. The final round witnessed nail biting moments with Ernst & Young, Deloitte and Power Grid crowned as the first, second and third winner respectively.

In totality, the underlying objective of an exciting quiz was fulfilled when both the students and participants who were eager to learn and enjoy came out of the auditorium with satiating smiles. The smile in the minds and the heart of learners spoke loudly that they are ready for future and settle for nothing but the best.

Contributors: Faculty Coordinator:

Juhi Gupta – PG – I CA. Vishal goel

Manan Porwal – PG – II

Liberal Arts Education: Door to Creativity, Happiness and Bright Future

Faculty, General Blog, IILM University28 NovemberDr. Vidhisha VyasBBA, BBA colleges in Delhi, Career, Embracing Liberal Education, IILM, IILM Gurgaon, IILM University, Management

Liberal Arts Education has become a buzz word in India from past couple of years. More and more parents and students are inquisitive about it and also showing positive inclination towards the same. Liberal world holds its origin in a roman word ‘liberalis’ which means freedom, hence, simply freedom to pursue the choice of discipline can be called as liberal arts. The term liberal arts originated in Europe however it was American Universities which make the concept not only popular but also successful. In fact, the liberal education brought many American Universities in limelight and on top spot in world university rankings. The Indian higher education was focused on Job driven unidirectional studies where focus was on ‘what to learn’ than ‘how to learn’. However, thanks to the fast changing world dynamics and need of multi facet skills, this trend is changing and driving Indian Higher Education system to embrace liberal arts education with arms wide open.

Is liberal Education new to India?

Before answering the question lets understand Liberal Arts Education. In the words of John Henry Newman, “The purpose of a Liberal Arts education is to open the mind, correct it, to refine it, to enable it to know and to digest, master, rule, and use its knowledge, to give its power over its own faculties, application, flexibility, method, critical exactness, sagacity, resource, address, and eloquent expression”.

If we read the above expression in depth then we understand that Liberal arts education had wide presence in ancient Indian universities like Nalanda and Takshila. Students studying in these esteemed Universities were imparted simultaneously knowledge in the field of grammar, philosophy, ayurveda, surgery, politics, warfare, astronomy, commerce, music, dance, and much more. The students were taught right blend of skills and subjects which were important to contribute in civic life.

Despite having strong educational past; during colonial era India was forced to adopt fixed curriculum model set up by British Education System. Also the greedy aspirations for professional degrees liberal education took back seat from main stream academia.

The Changing Paradigm

There is a pressing need for people to learn and enhance their creativity along with analytical skills and be a path finder in rapidly changing environment. The fast paced technological transformations and disruptions and challenges of degrading physical and social environment put forth the demand for leaders and scholars with deep sense of imagination, analytics and creativity.

Liberal arts education broadens the minds and understands the scenarios from diverse perspectives rather than being a conservative. It lights up the intellectual curiosity which fosters knowledge creation in subjects ranging from arts and humanities, social sciences to the natural and applied sciences. Liberal education inculcates problem solving and critical analysis skills which are much desirable in corporate world as well as in daily civic life. A sufficient emphasis on liberal arts education help us to tackle practical problems of this century and also provide our current and future generations a chance of freedom of knowledge and a way of living happy.

Who are making efforts?

Since 2015 Indian government decided to invest more in research universities, in social sciences and liberal education so that world ranking of Indian Universities can improve. Taking the initiative of the government forward private universities took charge to address the challenge and creating inter-disciplinary curriculum which are globally bench marked. However, very few have moved in this direction. IILM University situated in the heart of corporate Gurugram is centering interest in Liberal Arts education and aiming at inter-disciplinary education. IILM University has created the curriculum focusing on technology, psychology, business, design, communication skills, critical thinking and academic writing. The best part is, these courses are well aligned to the demand of the market. The extensive major and minor combinations open multiple career options. In all, liberal education not only shape career of the students but also creates informed and happy citizens.

Children’s Day Event

Events, Faculty28 NovemberVISHAL GOELChildrens Day, Childrens Day at IILM, IILM Blog, IILM Event, vishal goel

Children’s Day Event

IILM University believes in and nurture all round development of its students to prepare them for all the challenges of life with a smile on face and positive spirit in their heart. On one side if it leaves no stone unturned in maintaining highest level of rigor in academic activities than on the other hand give exposure to students to develop and showcase their talent and skills through various co-curricular activities organized under clubs at IILM.

In the pursuit of academic success, students sometimes need a break from the classroom and an opportunity to release pent-up energy. Athletics and sports not only have great physical benefits, but also help one to improve mentally and emotionally. When students are physically fit, they will achieve more academically too. Sport develops a sense of friendliness among the students and develop their team spirit Participation in organized sports offers the chance for youth to enhance their physical and social skills. Sports offer children a change from the monotony of their daily life. It is also a useful means of entertainment and much required physical activity for them.

Keeping in mind all these benefits, the sports club of IILM University organizes various activities for all the students to offer an escape from the walls of classrooms and working on gadgets. The recent addition to those activities was Tug of War, to teach them competition as well as teamwork and of course to have lots of fun.

TUG OF WAR

It is always good to ignite a child in you and what better than tug of war on children’s day i.e. 14^th November, 2018. To commemorate Children’s day Sports Club and NGO Club organized 2 events simultaneously. Post exams of Term 1 students also feeling stressed out and looking for a break in routine, so the sports club organized for both undergraduate and postgraduate students ‘Tug Of War’ that seems to be the most appropriate to pump them up. And it also made the children’s day really exciting and special. We invited the underprivileged children’s living nearby, who are the part of IILM University, NGO Club and it was really rewarding to see the smiles on their faces when they participate in various fun activities including musical chair and few performances from them.

All the boys and girls from Post graduate and Undergraduate showed their strength and vigor. IILM University always believes in gender equality and empowering women in all possible ways, so teams had equal number of boys and girls and their strength and enthusiasm was also matched. There were total eight teams who fought with each other. ‘Pull House’ from PG 2^nd year and the ‘Flyers’ from PG 1^st year played the final match. The sense of representation was high as everyone wanted their batch to win and everybody was willing to give their all to make that happen. Audience were their throughout cheering and boosting the morale of the team battling it out at the field. The music and the witty commentary set the mood at the field. ‘Pull House’ ultimately stood victorious but not without facing some serious challenger from PG 1^st year and the undergraduates. And the winning team and the runner up team received a prize which matches the heart and effort that they had put into competing.

Thereafter children from nearby villages took part in some fun activities and received some gifts arranged by NGO Club.

The event was immensely enjoyed by the audience. Everyone departed with smile on their face biding good bye to the day full of energy and memories to be cherished.

The requests for another such event were already coming in. Sports club will surely organize many such events in the future.

Contributors: Divisha Agarwal , Rupanshi Sharma
Faculty Co-ordinator : CA. Vishal Goel

Scope for Design & Fashion Opportunities in India.

IILM University27 NovemberShankar SahayDesign, Design & Fashion, Fashion

The current fashion retail market is estimated to be worth US $46 billion and is expected to grow at a promising rate of 9.7% p.a. so as to reach US $115 billion by 2026.

Similarly, areas like Product Design, Interaction Design, Animation Design, Gaming, Graphic & Interior Design have shown a stupendous growth in the last few years.

All this leads to an ever increasing demand for qualified professionals. For instance, in the next three years the demand for fashion professionals alone is expected to be over 2.5 lakhs people.

IILM University, Gurugram with its state of the art infrastructure, experienced and qualified faculty members, International Collaborations, corporate Connects and industry relevant curriculum, is the right place to be for the present & prospective Design & Fashion professionals.

(source:- www.indiaretailing.com/2017/10/15/fashion/indian-fashion-apparel-market-2016-beyond/

www.cii.in/webcms/Upload/a2.pdf)

ENGINEER – RELEVANCE OF A MANAGEMENT COURSE

General Blog19 NovemberKesavan Baskkaran

What relevance does an MBA have to the technical skills of a professional engineer, and is there a need for an MBA specifically for Engineers?

Thoughts in Mind of an Engineering Graduate . It’s important to decide if one want to be a subject matter expert or a manager. If one love engineering and being on the technical side, then an advanced engineering degree puts them at the top of your field. But, if one is excited about working at a macro level in business and managing teams or considering an entrepreneurial endeavour, an MBA is right choice. Regardless of the path, undergraduate engineering background provides problem-solving skills and critical thinking methodology that serve one well in any chosen career.

Need for A Post Graduate Degree. A postgraduate qualification is becoming more important for engineers as the future unfolds. Professional Bodies and Industry look for an engineer through an accredited degree route and who has studied a matching degree of post graduation in technical arena . Another area of this matching section is in the area of management to attain Managerial Status .

One way of attaining this is through taking Master of Business Administration course (MBA). Most MBA courses are aimed for all graduate disciplines. More than 30 percent of MBA students are engineers. Few universities offer a technical MBA like industrial Management.

It is important that engineers widen their knowledge and skills in the management area if they wish to become senior managers in industry. Having obtained a technical under graduate or even Post graduate degree, an MBA completes their education in the wider areas of management that usually include subjects such as finance, marketing, human resource management, organisational behaviour, and management strategy. The engineer thus has the opportunity to quickly progress in their career

Need for Managers With Technical Background . The role of the engineer is changing – within an industry. The engineer is likely to be a manager who has to implement new practices and new technology. Thus the engineer often becomes the primary manager of change within the modern organisation, which again requires specific skills and learning.

What MBA Gives to An Engineer. MBA gives engineers the broad grounding that is missing in their technical degrees. MBA classes are mostly case based experiences which give practical out flow . As engineers have practical knowledge of implementing technical aspects, such method of study relate theory to the world of work. The Engineering student therefore gets the opportunity to understand the workings in greater depth, in areas not usually covered in their technical roles.

Stand out Aspects. The engineering MBA graduate is well versed in management knowledge, skills and techniques, as well as their technical engineering abilities. Having an MBA gives them confidence to apply these skills to develop ‘strategies for growth’ of their employing companies, making them indispensable and sought after. In the future, they will be among those who set the rules and have conversations about what should and shouldn’t be done in the way an organisation is structured and managed.

Earning Potential. In the earning potential with a MBA one can earn up to a 30% higher salary than engineering graduate.

Why MBA from IILM University for Engineers – IILM University Gurugram, has a unique space in the world of MBA education because of the benchmarking its education level with top universities of the world like Stanford University, IIMs , Wharton . IILM University has the concept of liberal education for university programme. Engineers in MBA Programme in such an environment have a more comprehensive learning approach. The learnings enable better placement potential for the Students as well as gives innovative inquisitiveness to become – a job creator too .

Take Away for an Engineer With MBA

An MBA will further in your field of operations as it gives the tools to lead and manage, while the engineering degree positions you as an expert and company stand out.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION & BUSINESS-THE INSEPARABLE TRIO!!

Uncategorized18 NovemberHarman Mangat

Business world has shown a remarkable interest in social media and made it as one of the major domain areas of the Click & Mortar world, needless to mention the flip world which runs only on the advancements made by information & technology. The way IT has innovated and help the business world grow in this era is remarkable!!!

The way the intermediation of IT & Business has happened off late it can be said that one cannot survive without the other and constitute to build up an inseparable relationship, and so mentioning one without other is often construed as a pointless utterance. The innovation of all the new software’s has made operations of a company smooth and faster than ever. The overall processes that can be tracked with the help of IT are remarkable

The emergence of concepts as IoT has attracted the business world and they utilised this concept so beautifully by giving this a practical approach and a new direction to run a business. The design concept introduced to the world by APPLE and later followed by AIR bnb and Ebay are all examples of the beautiful amalgamation of IT and arts /Innovation. All this wasn’t possible without Information technology.

Over a period of time IT has upgraded its importance and became indispensable for Business houses especially in there operational areas .As the small and medium sized enterprises being adaptive to any cultural, regional or political change as per its dynamic nature has taken IT and innovation very intrinsically into themselves.

Innovation is driven by IT which becomes the path to business success; Innovation has given business the same impact that Food does to a hungry stomach.

Digital revolution fed all the businesses with immense benefits ,even Farmers started using computers for getting into the modern methods of agriculture, Production records, Financial planning ,procurement, whether conditions etc. are some of the major areas where farmers seeks the help of computers.

The innovation driven by information technology has been the spin-off of the following major areas. Some of the significant development which has been achieved as a result of evolution and growth in information technology is as follows:

FLEXIBILITY

SPEED

NETWORKING

USER FRIENDLINESS

SOCIAL INTERACTIVITY

MINITURISATION

FUN

Information Technology & Business

Almost past a decade now, the major innovations and upscalement that has been witnessed in the business world is only possible because of information & Technology, the introduction of cloud computing, Big data analytics, click & mortar marketplaces, digital marketing, social communications & networks are a few examples to name some leading innovations that has helped the business world grow at a rapid speed.

With the birth of cloud computing, enhancement in privacy and security settings for the data sets to be effective and time saving, the role of IT in business cannot be undermined as virtually all working business houses these days heavily rely on computerized systems.

With the advancements in lowering down the cost of communications in business has laid the employees concentration more on process building and executions as well as process automations taken took place in offices taking away the burden from the employees to thus enabling them shift their focus on other vital work and execute them efficiently. Meanwhile, the computerized systems handle variant processes like tracking projects, preparing reports and supervising financials among taking care of other official chores without requiring the intervention of staff. As a result, improved productivity is the result a company experiences. Electronic storage systems help in clamping down outside threats as unwanted intrusions through cyber space or hacking. Investing in technology and choosing the path of innovation increases the market share, share price, effectiveness, competitiveness of the company. Information technology has given the world the window to scrutinise the data and plan ahead accordingly. In Today’s era digital marketing is a phenomenal tool that has helped the business to upscale their products and services by repeated promotions in relatively lower costs in the global market while sitting at your desk itself.

CONCLUSION

The Concoction of the these domains is helping this world to build up an all new Business age, the epoch of digital revolution wherein common people will even feel a trendsetting change. Rapid changes in terms of rendering substantial values to industries by helping them improve the efficiency and mitigating major financial overhead costs will be witnessed. Some of the leading and prospering IT advancements in the past few years can be Internet, Social media and digital marketing. Nevertheless, Information technology has not only made it easier than ever for people to start businesses and earn their daily bread but even has encouraged the youngsters to come up as budding entrepreneurs and support the country economically. Now no longer need Millions and billions of rupees to start up a company, all one needs is a good IT infrastructure to its domain which can help in the rapid and speedy incremental growth the venture. So, surely the business world and the people running it owe a great deal of their success to Information Technology.

Entrepreneurship – Job and Wealth Creation

Career Development (Placement), Faculty, IILM University15 NovemberDr. Aayushman Guptaentrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship development, job, Management, wealth creation

Entrepreneurship – Job and Wealth Creation

(Entrepreneurism must be practiced to be learned)

Entrepreneurial success does not take place in a vacuum. Entrepreneurs exist in the context of their particular geography – be that their local, national, or even supranational economy and society. This mix of attitudes, resources, and infrastructure is known as the entrepreneurship ‘ecosystem’.

Having an entrepreneurial mind-set is critical to being successful as an entrepreneur. An entrepreneurial mind-set stands alone in terms of its importance. No other attribute, personality, inherent entrepreneurial proclivities, training, or demographic profile is common to all successful entrepreneurs whether Warren Buffet, Steve Jobs, or the neighbourhood florist or grocer.

Family controlled businesses, both private and publicly-traded, are characterized by unique challenges that threaten their continuity and distinct core competencies.

The challenges are primarily the result of issues presented by the changing ecosystem, government laws, and interaction of family, management and ownership -particularly where the family wishes to perpetuate its influence and/or control from generation to generation.

A large majority of successful companies started as entrepreneurship and few survive into the second generation. Family Business Management has to undergo changes in order to thrive in India.

The leadership issues, adoption of technology, modern HR practices and corporate governance will help companies to become more competitive and relevant.

It is imperative that students learn entrepreneurship as a course to delve deep and understand “What is entrepreneurship” and what it take to have an “Entrepreneurial mindset”.

IILM University focuses on providing such an education to students through an entrepreneurial ecosystem. This course aims to give basic fundamentals to students towards understanding the ecosystem for entrepreneurship and startups and a direction towards developing a mindset for pursuing this as a desired program in as a specialization and an area to work on for wealth creation. The students are also given an exposure into understanding the fundamentals involved in ideation, researching the idea, knowledge about finances in the entrepreneurial space.

While understanding the entrepreneurial journey it would be of fundamental importance to understand the entrepreneurial and startup system in India which is aggressively promoted by GOI. The Startup India initiative launched in January 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered incentives to such ventures to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation

Students will explore some of the myths and key facts about entrepreneurship, and find out what it takes to be an entrepreneur, so that they can conduct their own self-assessment and identify priorities for their own growth as an entrepreneur.

Students will learn how to unlock creativity and innovation to help generate more and better entrepreneurial ideas. This course provides learners with insights to re-frame their thinking in order to maximize their chances for success.

The course provides learners with an understanding of the attributes and perspectives of an entrepreneurial mindset, and the process to acquire one. The course introduces concepts that enable a person to start a trans-formative process in the way they think generally, and in the way they think about business specifically. This new way of thinking has the potential to positively impact not only them, but their family, and community.

So what can a learner expect to gain from this course? At the end of this course a learner:

Will be able to argue effectively against all of the reasons for not starting their business (or reaching some goal);
Will be able to operate effectively within the new framework or model for starting a business (or any new endeavor), thus increasing their chances for success; and
Will be able to make the initial business startup decisions of what type of business to start, and what type of business owner to be.

Entrepreneurism must be practiced to be learned

Maybe a student knows and wants to be an entrepreneur, but you’re not sure where to start? This course is for anyone aspiring to be an entrepreneur – regardless of the industry or type of venture you might have in mind.

The course will enable a student to think and maybe start with a project and develop insights to pursue detailed learning towards job and wealth creation.

Words in the Garden

The Edge10 OctoberAtima MankotiaGhalib ki Dilli, Words in the Garden

The second edition of “Words in the Garden” co hosted by IILM Institute was held on 24 th and 25 th February, 2018, at India International Centre, New Delhi. The festival, based on the theme “Ghalib ki Dilli“, was organized to commemorate the 220th birth anniversary of the poet, Mirza Ghalib. The two day festival was a convergence of some of the most brilliant and inspiring artists in the fields of literature, art, social sciences and public spheres. The session names were interestingly borrowed from famous words of the poet. The inaugural session called “Zahraab Ugata Hai Mujhe” was a discussion featuring poet, Shri Shamsur Rahman Faruq; poet, Shri Ashok Vajpeyi ji ; author, Pavan K Varma and Mrs. Malvika Rai. This was followed by a delicious dinner representative of 19 th century Delhi cuisine curated by Salma Yusuf Hussain, a food curator. The festival began with the screening of the movie “Mirza Ghalib (1954)” depicting the life and times of of the poet. It told the story of Mirza Ghalib’s tragic, ill-fated love for a beautiful courtesan, Chaudvin and his triumphs and failures ultimately resulting in his descent from a wealthy poet and nobleman to a life of poverty and penury. The next highlight was a play named “Ghalib ki New Delhi”, a satire on society exhibited through a series of interesting difficulties that Ghalib would have faced had he been born in the present era. Thereafter, Mr. Bishwajit Bhattacharrya with his group of musicians took the audience on a musical journey through time with old Bollywood songs that correlated with the themes of Ghalib’s poetry: Shahar-e-Aarzoo; Tamasha Mere Aagey; Ajab Waqt and Gham-e-Hasti. All the programmes were well received by the audience.

The next day brought a series of workshops on Calligraphy and Photography. Naqsh-e-Ghalib was a workshop where a renowned Delhi-based calligraphy artist, Ms Shipra Dutta, demonstrated and taught the participants some nuances of this art from. The photography workshop by Ms Shoba Jolly that revolved around travel, landscape, street and fine art photography, discussed some classic rules of great photography. These vibrant and interactive sessions had participants actively participating in discussions and learning new and unique techniques of both the art forms. This was followed by a piano recital by Sahil Vasudeva, a young and talented young classical musician who is credited with bringing the piano out of conventional spaces into the arena of performance art.

Mehfil-e-Shayari had the audience spell bound with the soulful recitation of Mirza Ghalib’s poetry with English translations by Murad Ali, the mesmerizing timbre of sarangi proving completely captivating William Dalrymple, Mridula Garg, Anurag Batra and Vikram Lall discussed the interpretation and definition of Ghalib’s concept of Delhi “Shahar-e-Aarzoo” or “The City of Desire” in the current times. Their interesting points of views meandered and wove around the fact that despite Delhi having changed over the years, it has managed to retain its basic essence justifying it still being labelled “The City of Desire“. The session “Gham-e-Hasti” had Om Thanvi, editor of the prestigious Hindi daily in conversation with Adhik Kadam, cofounder of an NGO working in Kashmir’s hostile environment during the course of which they shared the pain of common people, a poignant reminder of the pathetic living conditions at the grass root levels. In “Aakhir is dard kee dawa kya hai”

Mr. Adhik Kadam spoke about his social work in many remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir highlighting the role of his NGO “Borderless World Foundation” towards welfare activities. At the end of this well attended session, Mr Kadam was flooded with questions that he answered drawing in the audience into discussions. The next session was appropriately called “Sukhan Gustaraana Baat” from Ghalib’s verse “maqt-e mein aa pari hai sukhan gustaraana baat” which translates to “I wrote something in the ‘sher which became popular“. During this event Vaishali Mathur gave a glimpse into the world of publishing, and discussed the intricacies of decision making involved in identifying writing styles. The last event was “Ghalib Baithak” where Team Parwaz, in a scintillating evening, traversed through Ghalib’s life, times and his poetry giving the audience a peek into the poet’s personality by interspersing the session with anecdotes about the poet’s wit and humour. “Mehfil-e-Ghalib” with Radhika Chopra singing Mirza Ghalib’s ghazals in her crisp and clear voice with an impeccable Hindi and Urdu dictation was a fitting grand finale for the festival.

The Second edition of “Words in the Garden” was an endeavor to defuse literature along with art and ideas. The event proved that art and literature have no geographical boundaries and all walls crumble where art, music and literature are concerned. It was a unique opportunity for the audience to witness and take part in stimulating discussions, invigorating sessions, meet their favorite authors, poets, musicians and influencers. With this the next edition of our festival “Bapuji ki Dilli” was also announced.

Hon’ble Vice President of India,Shri M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurates IILM University.

The Edge10 OctoberAtima MankotiaIILM University, IILM University inauguration, inaugurated by Honorable Vice President of India, inaugurated by Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu

IILM University has been set up under the Haryana Private Universities (Amendment) Act 2018, and the University will open its doors to the students from the current academic year starting from July 2018. Mr. S.Y. Quraishi, Former Chief Election Commissioner, is the Chancellor Designate of IILM University and Dr. Sujata Shahi is the Vice Chancellor Designate. IILM University, Gurugram, was inaugurated by Honorable Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, on 20 th April 2018. IILM University, Gurugram, has been established on the principles of being Global, Inclusive and Responsible. Anchored around the concept of liberal education with technology focus, the University is benchmarked with the best of liberal education universities in the world. The University, having international collaborations with the best global and national institutions, will be inclusive, reaching out to all sections of society. The focus of the new University will be on Skills, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Technology. Located on the DLF Golf Course Road, Sector 53, Gurugram, the University has an environment friendly, world-class infrastructure, and a safe and secure campus for the students and faculty members.

The inauguration event, held at IILM campus in Lodhi Road, witnessed eminent personalities, Dr. S.Y. Quraishi, Former Chief Election Commissioner and Chancellor Designate of IILM University and Shri Raj Nehru, Vice Chancellor, Haryana Vishwakarma Skill University, among many others. The evening began with Chairperson IILM Group, Mrs. Malvika Rai and Mr. Anil Rai, welcoming the Honourable Vice President of India, along with Dr. Quraishi and Dr. Sujata Shahi. Mr. Anil Rai shared with the Vice President the vision behind the University and the Centres of Excellence.

The inauguration event started with Dr. Sujata Shahi, Vice Chancellor Designate, welcoming the Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri Venkaiah Naidu; Chancellor Designate, Dr. Quraishi; Shri Raj Nehru, Vice Chancellor, Haryana Vishwakarma Skill University; Mrs. Malvika Rai; Mr. Anil Rai, and other distinguished guests, colleagues and the students.
In her welcome address she said, “It is our privilege to welcome Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri Venkaiah Naidu Ji. Sir, we are deeply honored to have you with us on this very special and momentous occasion for the IILM family. Today we remember our founder, Dr. Kulwant Rai. In some measure, this is the fulfillment of his dream. Dr. Kulwant Rai’s abiding passion was to make education available to all. His focus on education is best described in the words of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba,” The process of education is to render the individual a happier and more useful person; it must also make him a better citizen, able and willing to further the progress of the nation to which he belongs & Sir, in December 2013, Mr. Anil Rai and Mrs. Malvika Rai met Shri Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad. Modi ji asked them to set up a liberal arts university because, in his words, “We do not want to create robots.” Our University is an off shoot of that vision to create this world class liberal arts university in Gurugram. IILM University will deliver an academic experience that fosters intellectual curiosity, a critical thought process, self-reflection, leadership and a heightened sensitivity to one’s socio-cultural environment. Sir, our University is committed to shape a better future, create a higher quality of life, and give wings to a million dreams and aspirations with confidence, energy and passion for a greater India.” She thereafter invited the Chancellor Designate, Dr. Quraishi, to deliver his address and welcome the Honorable Vice President of India .

Dr. Quraishi highlighted that IILM University envisages becoming a leading Liberal Arts University in Asia with a focus on Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology and then he unfolded the IILM University vision. In his address he said: “The vision of IILM University is – Global, Inclusive, Responsible. The University has 4 Schools – Liberal Arts, Management, Technology, Design and Fashion. We have 5 Centers of Excellence: Skills, Entrepreneurship & Business, Technology, Innovation & Sustainability, and Teaching, Research & Learning. IILM University envisages becoming a leading Liberal Arts University in Asia with a focus on Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology. This century needs youth who are capable of navigating cultural differences, have a sense of groundedness and are able to lead in an increasingly interdependent global world. Liberal education develops these qualities. It encourages students to explore and develop their interests,to think critically about issues from multiple perspectives, to communicate effectively and become responsible leaders with a commitment to society. Our university shall focus on Liberal Education – an education that provides students with flexibility and space to explore and pursue a wide range of courses instead of focusing solely on one field of study. Our students will have the option of a flexible degree that won’t preclude a variety of job prospects across disciplines.We will provide an integrated approach to undergraduate and post graduate education with a global outlook, supported by over thirty academic collaborations. IILM University will therefore be a responsible and inclusive center of learning. Hon’ble Vice President in one of his recent speeches had said, “It is important for every education institution to create an atmosphere which encourages innovation, new ideas and tap the talent of the young minds.” We have at IILM Uniersity a 40,000sq ft. Incubation Center to promote entrepreneurship and inspire innovation amongst our students. The IILM Incubation Center proposes to provide mentorship and access to funds to enable our students to start up their own businesses and not depend only on jobs. Our University will also focus on next generation technologies in break through areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, the Internet of Things, Autonomous Vehicles and Quantum Computing. The University shall provide linkages with Industry and work very closely with them to help delivery of this new age curriculum. This will equip our students to face the challenges of a globalized world. The University’s Center of Excellence in Sustainability and Innovation is being aligned to promoting the United Nations Sustainable Development goals. IILM has been a UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) Signatory since 2008 and works closely with the UN Global Compact in India to promote CSR and sustainability.To cater to the ever-growing requirement of teachers, both for schools and for higher education, IILM’s Centre for Teaching, Research and Learning will be a special platform for the exchange of pedagogical ideas. It will provide training to school and college faculty which is a critical need for the students of tomorrow. It will focus on evolving best practices of teaching and learning, redefining the role of a teacher so that the use of technology can be leveraged to facilitate learning that is relevant in the current context. We shall train teachers from K-12 schools to university, keeping in mind the vacuum that exists presently in India and around the world.” He requested the Vice President of India to inaugurate the University and release the University. The Vice President of India was delighted to be presented with a caricature of himself. The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu said that education should not only prepare our youth to face challenges of a technologically-driven knowledge society, but also make them analyze critically and come out with innovative solutions to the problems faced by people.

In his address to the gathering after inaugurating the IILM University Gurugram Campus from IILM Lodhi Road Campus, he said: “I am extremely delighted to inaugurate IILM University. My best wishes to everyone associated with this institution. I am also glad to know that the University’s mission is in sync with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to create a new India on the basis of inclusive economic development through education and skill development among students. I am sure that IILM University is going to make an important contribution in realizing the dream of an educated and skilled India. However, it should be remembered that the education of an individual does not end by merely acquiring degrees or employable skills. Education is meant to develop a holistic personality with qualities of head and heart. As Swami Vivekananda had said, “Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man”.

Education should not only prepare our youth to face challenges of a technologically driven knowledge society but also make them analyze critically and come out with innovative solutions to the problems faced by people. They should be confident of dreaming big and exploring uncharted territories. At the same time, students should remain rooted to our culture, traditions, customs and history. They should never neglect their parents, mother tongue, motherland and native village. They should always believe in co-existing harmoniously with nature for a better future. There is a need to revamp and reorient the higher education system in the country to equip students with the demands of knowledge driven world.
While, there are more than 800 universities in the country, it is a matter of concern that none of them figures in the top ranked global institutes. Merely expanding infrastructure with sleek looking buildings will not make an institution excellent unless it imparts education of highest standards without compromising on quality. Our universities should move in that direction by making necessary changes in the methods of pedagogy. I am glad to learn that the Vision of this University is to be Global, Inclusive and Responsible. Indian civilization has always considered the world as its family (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam). Our commitment to the cause of climate change, solar energy and conserving nature, will hopefully, get reflected in educating students and making them globally responsible citizens. Mahatma Gandhi was the foremost proponent of this philosophy of being responsible. His seven sins -Wealth without Work, Pleasure without Conscience, Knowledge without Character, Commerce without Morality, Science without Humanity, Religion without Sacrifice and Politics without Principle – are guiding principles for shaping the ethical ethos of individuals, society, country and the world. I hope the University will try to inculcate such values. The University has to be inclusive given India’s diversity and inequality. While diversity is our strength, the huge inequality poses lots of challenges. Focus on entrepreneurship, technology and skill development will help develop an inclusive, just and equal society. sciplinary education is must. I am glad to know that University intends to pursue this objective with vigor. Education in silos will not equip students for future. Liberal Education with focus on Technology, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will serve well the students, industry and the society. Information technology coupled with various scientific advances is changing our lives like never before. Therefore, the focus should be on futuristic technologies and students need to be prepared for jobs which do not exist. I am happy to know that students doing a major in fashion or design or economics can also study Artificial Intelligence or robotics at IILM University. We need more and more such multi-disciplinary and multi-skilled youngsters to meet future challenges.

I am happy that you already started an Incubation Center. Entrepreneurship is the need of the hour. Students must be motivated to start their own businesses and not depend on jobs alone. India is a land of entrepreneurs and given the right opportunity our youngsters can excel and create global businesses. With about 65 percent of our population aged below 35 years, we need to take full advantage of this demographic dividend in building a prosperous and inclusive New India and educational institutions like IILM have a pivotal role to play in achieving that goal. I am pleased to note that IILM has been part of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education initiative since its inception in 2008. The University’s focus on the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity), and working closely with the UN Global Compact India will allow it to be a responsible provider of higher education Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, India’s first Vice President, famously said, “The true teachers are those who help us think for ourselves”. I hope the University will have such teachers and researchers and it will also create such future teachers which we need in vast numbers. I wish the University well and may it rise to greater heights in achieving academic excellence. JAI HIND!” The Vice President congratulated the University and the entire team and said that students should be confident of dreaming big and exploring uncharted territories and remain rooted to our culture, traditions, customs and history. In his view Liberal Education with focus on Technology, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will serve well the students, industry and the society. The address of the Vice President was met by a thunderous applause and palpable excitement amongst the University faculty, students and dignitaries for the new education hub in the heart of Gurgaon. Mr. Raj Nehru, Vice Chancellor, Haryana Vishwakarma Skill University offered a vote of thanks and endorsed the IILM University vision.
In his address he said, “It is a great pleasure and honor to be part of this august audience and this event where the University is going to focus on the Liberal Arts having its inauguration today with the hands of person who has deep passion for education. India is at the cusp of change, the world is also at the cusp of change. The amount of change that’s happening around the world, and the amount of innovation and disruption that’s happening all around, is triggering a lot of technological advancements. And these technological advancements are compelling and propelling growth. There is a big void happening between the values, the character, which has been entrained in our text, our books, for last many millennials. An education which proposes itself in the area of Liberal Arts can manifest as an anchor by joining technology and the values together and making the wholesome development of the individual, combing physical, mental, emotional and spiritual elements, which is the need of the time.
There is need not only to develop the physical comfort, but also to develop the emotional and spiritual comfort, because unless there is no internal comfort, unless the fears are not taken away, unless the doubts and suspicions are not taken away, there won’t be a wholesome development of an individual. Here, the opportunity that comes through liberal arts education is where you give opportunities to individuals not only to excel in the area of technology, but at the same time pick up the subjects which can align the person with philosophy, psychology and with subjects that can integrate both. I am glad, to tell you that Haryana Vishwakarma Skill University, which is the first skill university in India which also tells you about changing frames around the skilling and integrating vocational education has also signed an MOU with IILM University very recently and both the universities will be partnering together to take education to more meaningful way. Where today the educator, the educatee and the employer, all three are living in different worlds, this model of education will be integrating them together. On behalf of IILM University, I thank Honorable Vice President for giving his time and inaugurating this University and the stamp. I also thank all other guest, dignitaries to be part of this program” The day ended in vibrant excitement and enthusiasm and dignitaries exchanged ideas over high tea on initiatives to be taken towards making IILM University, an exceptional institution of higher education and research. The University unique in itself will help make Gurugram an education hub of pan India with a focus to collaborate with academic institutions, companies and entrepreneurs to make an impact through creation and dissemination of application oriented knowledge.

IILM University has designed the pedagogical experience through innovation and experiential learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom, whereby providing a holistic development to the students. At the same time, the pedagogical experience empowers the students to deal with diversity, change and complexity, bringing them closer to their personal & professional goals. The University will follow the blended learning process where theory and real world practices are weaved into the curriculum to make the students ready for employability. Teaching methods will include case studies, simulation, role plays, seminars and presentation. IILM University’s international partnerships will aid in enhancing students’ ability to relate to global markets giving them an opportunity to draw informed deductions and comparisons between developed and fast developing economies. All faculty at IILM University have a Ph.D and come from myriad backgrounds. This wide mix of experience combined with extensive research and industry experience adds an exceptional learning experience for the creative minds. Faculty also acts as mentors to the students which fosters a strong bond between the students and the teacher guiding the disciples to achieve their goals and aspirations in life. The full amenity residential campus ensures plenty of opportunity to the students to compete and collaborate on various activities. The IILM residences allow students to focus on personal, academic and professional development during their study.

IILM University also offers merit and needs based scholarship to all deserving candidates thus attracting the brightest of the minds. The scholarships are also offered for all round excellence in areas other than academics, for girl students, for wards of defense personnel, for wards of martyrs and scholarships are also considered favorably for students in cases of emergency. With great optimism, the Industry at large, eminent luminaries and students across Gurugram have all welcomed this news of IILM offering different programs through IILM University Gurugram. The academic fraternity at IILM is eagerly looking towards making the entire experience enriching where students are taken through a learning journey which is Global, Responsible and Inclusive.

International Conference : Sustainability Practices in Industry and Education

The Edge10 OctoberAtima MankotiaIILM Institute of Higher Education, Infrastructure through the Lens of Sustainability, Management Education, Sustainability Footprints of Industry, Sustainability Practices and Quality Education

IILM Institute of Higher Education organised its most coveted and flagship event: The Fifth International Conference on Sustainability from February 15th – 17th 2018. The theme of the conference was “Resolution to Resolve: Sustainability Practices in Industry and Education”. Being a lifetime member of the UN Global Compact’s PRME India Chapter and one of its champion business schools, IILM takes pride in hosting the event every year in association with UNGC, focussing on specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as outlined by UNGC. This year the emphasis was on SDG 4 and SDG 9 and accordingly, the sub-themes of the conference focussed on industry, infrastructure and innovation. The conference saw participation from eminent personalities from the industry, polity and academia. The conference this year coincided with the celebration of 25 years of IILM’s contribution to responsible management education. To mark the silver jubilee year, a compendium of articles on sustainability in the form of an edited book, was released during the first day of the conference. There were total of 5 sessions spread over the three days of the conference.

Day I : Inaugural Session

The conference started with the inaugural session, presided over by the Chief Guest, Prof. Furqan Qamar, Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities; Mr. R. Ramanan, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission, Niti Ayog, GOI; Mr. Vinay Kumar, Director Artificial Intelligence, Azure and Search Partnerships, Microsoft; Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, Senior Director, IILM, and Dr. Smitha Girija, Director, IILM. The welcome address was delivered by Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee during which he welcomed the eminent speakers and the audience to this conference. He gave an overview of the three days to come and then invited the speakers to share their thoughts. Mr. Vinay Kumar addressed the gathering and highlighted the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the fourth industrial revolution. He touched upon the broader issues of job displacements, AI design principles, government policies and AI ethics as areas that need consideration. Mr. R. Ramanan shed light on various initiatives taken by Atal innovation mission at Niti Ayog including “Mentor India Network” and “Mentor of Change”. Further, he stressed on the need for education to create innovative minds and job creators rather than only job seekers in the Indian context. The Chief Guest, Prof. Furqan Qamar, delivered the keynote address. He began his speech by quoting examples of how AI is eliminating repetitive jobsand how many current jobs will be taken up by machines in the near future. He specifically spoke about SDG 4 that focuses on quality education and further highlighted its critical aspects including access, equity, inclusion, quality of higher education and affordability.

This landmark event was set off with the release of IILM’s flagship publication titled “Resolution to Resolve: Sustainability Practices in Industry and Education” (published by Bloomsbury). This book, with contributions from some of our nation’s wellknown and eminent academicians, practitioners, authors and intellectuals, highlights the effective thoughts and ideas related to the SDGs mentioned above. This compilation of thoughtful and well researched contributions is not only a great value add to the gravitas of the event but is also a thought provoking platform for the ensuing discussions. The book has been edited by IILM faculty along with Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, Senior Director, IILM.

Day I: Panel Discussion On The Book : The book release during the inaugural session was followed by a panel discussion on the same topic moderated by Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee during which Mr. Kamal Singh, Executive Director of UN Global Compact Network India; Dr. Sangeeta Mansur, Founder-Catalyst Bhairavi Business & Consultancy; Prof. Vivek Nagpal, Senior Consultant, MHRD; Mr. Rajeeb Kumar Debnath, Advisor PwC, and Mr. Sudarshan Rodriguez, Senior Programme Coordinator, Director’s Office, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, enlightened the gathering on the subject. Each of them presented their contribution to the book and gave insights on its relevance in the context of current education and industrial set-up.

Day 1 of the conference concluded successfully leaving the audience eager for the forthcoming sessions.

Day II: Plenary Session I: “Laying the Foundation: Alignment of Management Education with Sustainability”

Day 2 of the conference commenced with the first plenary session on the topic “Laying the Foundation: Alignment of Management Education with Sustainability”. Education has always been considered the foundation to bring any kind of reform and it is one of the most powerful and proven vehicles for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The focus of this session was SDG 4, which aims to provide equal access to affordable vocational training, to eliminate gender and wealth disparities, and achieve universal access to quality education. Distinguished panellists for this session included Dr. Manoj Sinha, Principal Aryabhatta College, Delhi University; Mr. Siddharth Sibal, Vice President, Accenture, and Prof. John Varghese, Principal, St. Stephen’s College. They highlighted the purpose of education as the vehicle to raise awareness and consciousness among people. Mr. Sibal also emphasised different innovative interventions such as solar coins, block chain technology, 3D printing to name a few, that are currently changing the way we live and consume.

Day II: Plenary Session II: “Infrastructure through the Lens of Sustainability”

The second session on “Infrastructure through the Lens of Sustainability” revolved around the implementation of SDG 9 – to develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being. This session empanelled Col. Prakash Tewari, Executive Director, CSR, DLF Foundation; Mr. Pranshu Gupta, Manager, Sustainability Services, Accenture Strategy; Mr. Ajay Tyagi, Managing Partner, Lex Terrae. They underlined the importance of focusing on infrastructure for any of the other SDGs to become a success. They also highlighted the need for culturally and ecologically relevant technological interventions to solve the local infrastructural issues. Mr. Prakash Tiwari spoke about various initiatives by DLF for transforming Gurugram into a Smart City. He concluded with the quote – “the greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it”. Mr. Pranshu spoke about Earth Overshoot Day and how infrastructure can help in pushing that further if not eliminating it. He stressed upon 3 main aspects: Economic Prosperity, Quality of Life and Environmental Sustainability and discussed the Accenture – NASSCOM framework which consists of Physical, Social and Environment aspects to achieve true sustainability. Mr. Ajay Tyagi emphasised the importance of achieving sustainable development goals by building infrastructure that caters to the local needs rather than looking at some global initiatives and copying them. The session concluded with the idea that infrastructure must not only be for building smart cities but also for the rural sector.

Day II: Plenary Session III: “Innovation and Sustainable Competitive Advantage”

The third plenary session stressed upon Innovation as an imperative tool to foster sustainable development by solving existing problems and providing a new approach, a new perspective to look at things. The Panel Discussion on the topic “Laying the Foundation: Alignment of Management Education with Sustainability” session saw contributions from Dr. Shalini Lal, Founder Infinity OD, Innovation and Change; Mr. Ravi Chamria, CEO, Block Chain Enthusiast and Fintech Expert; Mr. Ravi Bhatnagar, Head External Affairs & Se Partnerships, Reckitt Benckiser and Prof. Holger Briel, Dean, Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, China. Dr. Shalini spoke about the difference between Language of Management and Language of Innovation through various examples, highlighting the challenges that the language causes. Mr. Ravi Chamria expressed his views on the history of Blockchain, its types and largely its application as Cryptocurrency. He also stressed on the difference between Information Exchange and Value Exchange and the benefits of Blockchain technology as transparency and trust, immutability, complete authenticity, no intermediary and traceability. Mr. Ravi Bhatnagar expressed his thoughts through two quotes – “Reputation is synonymous to Innovation” and “Purpose first and then Business“. He delved into the concept of Innovation Pipeline. As an advice to budding managers, he mentioned that there is greater learning in one year in a renowned company as compared to spending 2 to 3 years in a normal company that does not focus on innovation. The session ended with Prof. Holger Briel addressing the audience about the living standards, co-working styles, co-working spaces, political potentials in different geographical settings.

DAY II: PLENARY SESSION IV: “Sustainability Practices and Quality Education”

The fourth session focussed on SDG 4: The quality of education, i.e. to ensure inclusive and quality education to all and promote life-long learning. The first panellist Dr. Onyebuchi Felix Offodile underscored the ability of the Earth to renew itself, provided the right circumstances are created. He urged the audience that it is our responsibility to facilitate the renewal of our Earth and stressed that education plays a vital role in achieving this sustainability goal by inculcating the right values in our youth. Ms. Dilreen Kaur, the director of the renowned non-profit organization “Ritanjli” began her interaction with an energetic engagement that rejuvenated the audience or rather “created a thunder storm” as she called it. Her passion for fighting against gender inequality, domestic violence, misogyny and patriarchal norms was prominently visible when she narrated the story of people whom her organization has helped. Ms. Nidhi Shrivastava began her address by listing the four stakeholders of education – students, teachers, management, and the society. She pointed out the fact that the focus of education should be on creating job producers rather than job-seekers. Dr. Rania Mohy El-Din Nafie focused her discussion on the role of innovation in education. She elaborated the importance of reducing carbon footprints, and increasing transparency in the education system. She also expounded on Albert Einstein’s famous quote “Education is not the learning of facts but the training of minds to think.”

Day III: Plenary Session V: “Sustainability Footprints of Industry”

Day 3, on Feb 17, 2018 commenced with Session 5 on “Sustainability Footprints of Industry” exploring why industries must strive to become sustainable in a true sense by addressing the three pillars of sustainability – economic, social, and environmental – simultaneously. Ms. Jasmine Saini, Head Business Synergy, ITC Hotels and FMCG (Foods) Business; Ms. Sapna Gupta, Solutions Architect , NIIT; Ms. Deepti Rastogi, Director TMF Group; Mr. Gagan Sardana, Super Banker HDFC, all proud alumni of IILM, shared their views on this subject. Ms. Jasmine Saini spoke about sustainability in the industry and briefed the audience about ITC as a company of innovation and sustainability.

Ms. Sapna Gupta stressed the need to give back to the society. She highlighted the initiative “Hole in the Wall” undertaken by NIIT and underlined that sustainable growth comes from long term relationships. Mr. Gagan Sardana began with his journey at IILM. He spoke about how sustainability helps businesses to achieve their objectives and shared various initiatives by HDFC to promote financial literacy in rural areas, including “Parivartan” an initiative for rural development focusing on sustainability through CSR. Mr. Rajiv Kumar focussed on sustainability in the FMCG industry. With the words “to sustain is to Innovate” he opined that in FMCG industry, one must understand the culture & other dynamics.

Day III: Closing Plenary The closing plenary consisted of alumni from the first batch of IILM, Ms. Deepti Rastogi, Director TMF Group and Mr. N. Srikant, HR Partner & Executive VP, IndusInd Bank, who shared their journey from campus to corporate and gave tips to the students to better prepare them for the future. The conference concluded with closing remarks by Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, Senior Director, IILM. He summarised the learning from the various sessions on all three days of the conference highlighting simultaneously steps that IILM has taken so far to uphold the message of responsible management education. The 5 th IILM PRME international conference was a great success and provided a platform for industry experts, diplomats and academicians from different parts of the world to interact and debate on aspects of Sustainability and Innovation that are extremely important drivers of responsible management in the current business context.