Participation in Digital India

student participation in Digital India Week

IILM Gurgaon has celebrated Digital India Week on 10th July 2015. The event was organized by Dr. Vidhisha Vyas, Prof. Shweta Sharma and Dr. Kiran Sakkar Sudha.

Various competitions were held on the day which includes Oratory Competition, Slogan Writing competition and Photography competitions on the themes revolving around digital India. A video on National E- Governance Plan was also played which was highly appreciated by the audience.

The competition was opened by Dr. Vidhisha Vyas in presence of faculty members. Students participated actively and enthusiastically in all the events. The popular theme of the oratory were ‘Learning vs class room learning’ and’ Is net neutrality a key to Digital India campaign?’ Popular theme for slogan writing and photography was digital India.

The event was judged by Prof. Deepika Hooda, Dr. Nikhil Varghese and Prof. Inderjeet Kaur. The results were announced by Dr. Nikhil Varghese. Mr. Rohit won the first prize and Mr. Himanshu won the second prize for the oratory competition.

Dr. Kiran Sakkar Sudha closed the event with her thought provoking and encouraging words. Prof. Shweta Sharma has professionally managed the social media part of the event.

1. Faculty Development Program on the topic: “Being a Teacher in 2015” was conducted by Dr. Nikhil Varghese on 22^nd May, 2015 at IILM Gurgaon. In the FDP Dr. Varghese stressed on how times have changed and how has teaching and learning changed in the 21^st There was a consensus among all faculty members present that technology has become an important enabler in education and teachers today have to quickly adapt to the latest technology in classrooms. Two short videos on innovative teaching and a talk by Bill Gates were also played during the FDP.
2. Faculty Development program in the area of PRME was conducted on 15th May at IILM, Gurgaon by Ms. Ritu Sharma on “Responsible Kids Marketing”. Television seems to become a growing source of parental anxiety. Parents worry most of all about the amount and kinds of program / ADs their children watch, and definitely these fears are legitimate. According to a recent survey report on Television and Society it is found that, by the time the average  child (one who watches two to four hours of television daily), leaves elementary school, he or she will have witnessed at least 8,000 murders and more than 100,000 other assorted acts of violence on television. Another big question related to this issue is what’s for marketer on cartoon channels for kids? FDP was aimed at analyzing not only the impact of TV on kids but also children as a new and lucrative target for marketers. Unlike books, television programs are easily accessible to children.
3. Faculty Development program in the area of Operations was conducted on 24th April at IILM, Gurgaon by Ms. Maheshwari Sathyananda on “Re-thinking Supply Chain”. The program started with a discussion on how globalization has forced companies to sustain competitive advantage by reducing lead time & operating cost, ethical practices in supply chain and product returns / recall due to quality issue, etc. Faculties were taken through the process of Reverse Logistics, Green Supply Chain and Waste Management besides a video which was played on Green Supply Chain. Faculty were divided into groups and each group identified an industry and came up with the kind of reverse logistics design and how it increases customer satisfaction and reduces cost in supply chain.
4. Faculty Development program on “Web Life Balance” was conducted by Dr. Kiran Sakkar Sudha on 10^th April, 2015. The rush hour life was discussed through videos and narratives. Prototype life and work cycle in the digital era was carefully scrutinized. The participants learnt that how balance is a subjective notion. Benefits and harms of technology at work and home were shared. To chalk down the role of working mother and father in the Indian context were given as assessments where the participants brainstormed on numerous conflicts and whether or not it could be resolved. Real life examples and setting priorities for healthy mind at work were conclusively acknowledged. The session was interactive and lot of personal life and work deliberations were shared for the larger connect.
5. Faculty Development program on “innovative social campaigns” was conducted by Ms. Shweta Sharma on Friday, 27^th March, 2015 under the PRME theme. The FDP focused on the sixth principle of PRME, Which encourages dialog among educators on socially relevant topics. The FDP introduced participants to the evolution and basic concepts of social marketing. The participants analyzed successful social campaigns and discussed the underlying commonalities. The session concluded with an activity wherein the faculty had to apply the session learning at IILM.
6. Faculty Development program on “Service Quality – The Gap Model” was conducted by Ms. Ruchi Shah & Ms. Radhika Madaan on 27^th February, 2015. The speakers shared the importance of service quality in different contextual setting and the possible quality components that needs to be taken care of. The participants learnt how to measure the various types of gaps in service quality. The speakers broaden the perspective in multiple spheres. The concept was very relevant and can be applied in every organization. During the session, it has been discussed that how an organization can improve the quality of their services by applying Service Quality – The GAP model. Various real life examples have been discussed during the session. Overall the session was very interactive. The participants appreciated the speakers’ depth of knowledge in the field of Marketing.
7. Faculty Development program on “Skills for Blog Writing” was conducted by Mr. Vikram Sharma on 6th February, 2015. The speaker introduced the blogging platform of IILM to the faculty. He shared the various features of blogging and how to create and share content. Vikram guided the participants regarding issues and doubts with blog writing. The participants appreciated the speaker’s depth of knowledge in this field. The FDP session was very interactive.
8. Faculty Development program on “Financial Contagion in Asian Markets” was conducted by Ms. Shegorika Lalchandani on 22^nd January, 2015. The speaker shared the concept of financial interdependence and contagion. The concept of interdependence of stock markets of Asian countries with the developed nations of the world was discussed. Some recent cases about crisis in various countries were discussed. The participants appreciated the speaker’s depth of knowledge in the field of Finance. The FDP session was very interactive.

Faculty Development program conducted by International Faculty:

1. Faculty Development program on interweaving “Cross-Cultural Encounters and Yoga”  by visiting professor Reimara Valk from Netherlands was conducted on Friday 20^th February, 2015. The theme of the session was uniting home and host country cultures in cross-cultural encounters and how it can improve mental and cross-cultural awareness and flexibility. The session also resembled the philosophy of Yoga: Improving mental and physical awareness and flexibility. The FDP concluded on experience sharing on cross-cultural encounters and practicing yoga.

2. Faculty Development program on “Responsible Business / Sustainability and Role in Education” was conducted by Guest Speaker Ms. Stefanie Chen on 13^th February, 2015. She is a lecturer of International Marketing Management and Corporate Strategy in University of Applied Sciences, Voralberg. The concepts of strategic thinking on sustainable issues were elaborated. Various inputs were given on how sustainability should be inculcated in education. The participants appreciated the speaker’s depth of knowledge in the field of responsible business practice and liked the vividness with which speaker has presented her arguments. The passion of the instructor was inspiring. Overall, a good perspective on sustainability as a concern across international boundaries was shared. The session was also a gentle reminder to the participants as educators about their responsibility to inculcate responsibilities in students.

Placement week at IILM

Placement week was conducted between 9 February 2015 and 13 February 2015 at Gurgaon campus aiming to prepare the students of 1st year – PGDM both for summer internship and campus placements. The week started off with an inspiring talk by Mr. Preet Kamal Sodhi from banking industry, shared his experience on how to be confident and focused in achieving the goal. Through the “Sneak Peak” series, our Alumni from various industry segments shared their experiences on summer internship, which helped students understand the journey from internship to final placement and gave them an insight on choosing the right summer internship.

TEDx videos on “interview skills” and “how to conduct oneself in a confident manner” were shown to students followed by role play on personal interviews. Students had profiling session to make them realise their passion in life and the area in which they want to pursue the internship. A resume-writing session was also done wherein the students prepared their resume in the standard format which was later reviewed and signed off by respective mentors. Since teamwork is crucial skill at work, the students also participated in team building activities which were fun learning experience.

Visit to Fortis Memorial Research Institute

On 13^th February 2015, the first year undergraduate students visited Fortis Memorial Research Institute in Gurgaon, accompanied by Ms Shegorika Lalchandani. The objective of the visit was to introduce the students to the management environment in the medical industry. In addition to learning the various functions of a hospital, the students were given an in-depth walk through the complexities of hospital management systems, especially the operations.

Holi Celebrations at IILM Gurgaon

The festival of colour always rings with the spirit of joy at IILM. Utsav – The Cultural Club at IILM Gurgaon brought students, faculties and staff members to dance and enjoy the Festival of Holi. The lawns were sprayed with the vibrant colours that the students and staff members greeted each other with. Gujiya, cutlets and thandai added flavour to the celebration as it proved to be the perfect end to the day. It was interesting to see the International students and faculty enjoying the festival in full spirit as they blended with the Indian culture.

Sports Fun at IILM Gurgaon

“To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear” ~ Buddha. Student Engagement has always added a different flavour to campus life at IILM Gurgaon. There are innumerable opportunities to develop current interests or to try out novel ones, during the stay at IILM Gurgaon. But a game of Volleyball or Cricket has always been considered as the most preferred activity by the students in IILM Gurgaon, which eases the stress of the entire day. Keeping this in mind, Wednesday, 11th March 2015 was dedicated towards conducting Sports activities at the campus.

Amidst the buzz of classes and assignments, students across the Undergraduate and Post-graduate programs, were excited to participate in the recently held Volleyball, Basketball and Cricket matches. While the students from the Undergraduate program won the Cricket Match, the game of Volleyball and Basketball got the scores equal between the two teams. Students and faculty members watched with excitement and cheered the teams they supported. The games continued till the evening and left the campus buzzing with a contagious zeal.

Art Camp

Between 9^th and 13^th March 2015, IILM School of Design organised its 5^th Art Camp at Gurgaon. IILM played host to eminent and upcoming artists from India and across the world such as Mr. Tristram Miravalles, Mr. Gopal Samantray, Ms. Gunjan Tyagi, Ms. Nupur Kundu, Mr. Somu Desai, Mr. Sundhanshu Sutar and Mr. Tejinder Kanda. Students, faculty, alumni and parents were all invited to participate in the camp. Over the week, visitors had the opportunity to experience art while the artists worked live to create masterpieces. Mr. Somu Desai also gave a presentation on nature art to students and faculty, where in the audience was introduced to the creation of art using biodegradable material.

Spatula Art by Mr Tejinder Kanda

Report on Venture Capitalist Roundtable Series 2015

Most of the aspiring entrepreneurs have an idea that is commercially viable; unfortunately they do not have the necessary funding to take it forward. With the changing market dynamics now budding entrepreneurs have various avenues in the form of venture capitalists, banks and other funding agencies. On 13^th March 2015, keeping pace with the changing environment Ignite incubation centre at IILM, in collaboration with SME JOINUP, hosted the Venture Capitalist Roundtable Series 2015, supported by Nasscom 10k Start-ups.

The VC Round Table offered an opportunity for potential entrepreneurs to present their ideas and interact with interested investors. The event had 35 entrepreneurs and 5 investor for VC Round Table. The event saw engaging sessions where speakers shared their personal experiences and offered insights into being an entrepreneur. Mr. Nitin Agarwal, an IIT alumnus and an entrepreneur, advised the participants on “How to pitch to investors?”

Venture Capital Round Up

World Cup Fever

End of March found everyone, students and faculty alike, in the grip of world cup fever. With India unbeaten until the semis, a screening for India Vs. Australia was organised for students in the cafeteria. On the day of the match, students cheered and encouraged Team India. Despite India losing out on the berth to the Finals, students took India’s defeat in stride and made sure that sportsmanship spirit was victorious.

World Cup Fever at IILM IBM

Guest Lecture on Digital Marketing

As part of the Digital Marketing course, Mr. Rishabh Garg, Product and Solutions Specialist with Google took a session with the undergraduate and post-graduate students on “Understanding the Digital Eco-System”. Mr. Garg discussed and explained the fundamentals of search engine optimization, search engine marketing and web analytics. Students showed an interest in pursuing a career in digital marketing, all the queries related to that were addressed by Mr. Garg. He shared his practical knowledge and experience with the students which made the session very interactive.

Visit to Mother Dairy Plant by IILM Gurgaon students

The post graduate and undergraduate students of IILM Gurgaon visited the Mother Dairy plant on 6th April, 2015 accompanied by two faculty members. The objective of the visit to Mother Dairy manufacturing plant was to make them aware about the supply chain of the company. The trainers helped them in understanding the details of the milk industry, operation flood, processes that they follow, distribution channels and how they maintain quality of the milk. Students were taken around the whole plant and the company representatives gave them a presentation on their processes followed by a Q&A round.

Industrial Visit to Mother Dairy Ghaziabad

Guest Speakers at IILM Undergraduate Business School

Between February and April, the undergraduate students had the opportunity to learn management concepts from experts across the Industry.

As part of the entrepreneurship course, UBS students understood the challenges and must-know aspects of building your own business from Mr. Swapnil, an entrepreneur himself. Mr. Prottoy Basu from Double Tree Hilton gave an industry perspective on Customer Relationship Management to the third year students. Ms. Reimara, international faculty, advised second year students on Stress Management. She also discussed the various aspects of National Minimum Wage with stage 3 students. Ms. Stefanie Chen (Lecturer of International Marketing Management and Corporate Strategy in University of Applied Sciences, Voralberg) conducted a session on “Strategic Challenges and Leadership” for stage 3 students. Mr. Ashish Agarwal from McKinsey enlightened the students on the impact of the budget on Indian economy. Mr. Naurine Kakkar, CEO, Law Institute introduced the nuances of business law to the first year undergraduates.

Throughout the semester, multiple guest faculties were invited to give an industry view to the undergraduate students, which also complemented the in-class learning.

Family Business Conference

The Family Business Management Conference was organised at Lodhi Road Campus on 15th of April 2015 on the topic ‘The Future of Family Business in the 21st Century. The conference aimed to bring together family business entrepreneurs to share ideas and insights, foster learning and inspire young minds. During the conference, Mr. Vishesh Chandiok addressed the audience on the challenges before family in India. Industry leaders, such as Ms. Divya Suri Singh, Mr. Shashank Raizada and Mr. Rajiv Jain, discussed succession planning and significance of family generations learning from each other. The students and faculty also benefitted from the experiences shared by IILM alumni, Mr. Riju Jhunjhunwala, Ms Paliwal and Ms Kirti Chawla, who talked about their learnings from their family businesses and building new ventures. Throughout the day, speakers fielded questions from the audience, providing clarity on the different facets of family business in India.

Charity Drive by Pukar

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”. Keeping this in mind, Pukar, the NGO club at IILM Institute for Business & Management, organised a donation drive where in faculty and students were encouraged to donate for the poor and needy people. The drive saw everybody coming together for the cause and donating items such as came forward with items such as clothes, books and food items.

Convocation Ceremony for Class of 2015

On 20^th May 2015, IILM Institute for Business & Management proudly bid adieu to the class of 2015. The graduation ceremony was presided by Mr. Chandra Shekhar Verma, Chairman – Steel Authority of India Limited. 134 students of the P.G. class of 2015 were conferred with Post Graduate Diploma in Management at IILM, Lodhi road campus in presence of chairperson – Mrs. Malvika Rai and members of board of governors (IILM), distinguished guests, proud parents and graduating students. The chief guest congratulated the winners and acknowledged the graduates with humble wishes and inspiring quotes. Honourable Mr. Chandrashekhar Verma enlightened the students by sharing the future of Indian economy and the need of bright young professionals. He concluded the address by sharing few success mantras with students, encouraging them to stay true to their goal, have a strong will and patience to learn combined with respect and integrity for all. The convocation ended on a high note with the faculty congratulating the new graduates and their parents on their achievement.