Tag: Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad

Boston Consulting Group, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and Pride Circle Foundation
Education

Need for Indian campuses to be more inclusive: Study by BCG, IIMA and Pride Circle Foundation

Mar 11, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Boston Consulting Group, #Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, #Pride Circle Foundation

New Delhi, March 11th, 2021: A report published by Boston Consulting Group, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and Pride Circle Foundation delves into the issues faced by LGBTQ+ students on Indian campuses. The report is a must-read for college administrations, faculty, and student representatives. Each of these stakeholders have a distinctive role to play in creating an inclusive environment on campus.

The study examines inclusivity issues around the LGBTQ+ community on Indian campuses through a survey of over 1700 students in colleges across India. It demonstrates how the establishment of a diversity and inclusion (D&I) student interest group can offer these students greater representation and improve the quality of their campus experience. It offers guidelines for the establishment of such a group.

The report presents statistics that prove how LGBTQ+ students can feel empowered when their institution has a D&I student interest group. It identifies key challenges and provides tips on how to address them.

‘Inclusivity’ for the LGBTQ+ community is taken as representation for members in an environment where they feel belonged, safe and comfortable to express their identity. The students were surveyed about forms of direct and indirect discrimination towards themselves or other community members. The awareness of students about LGBTQ+ issues was ascertained across campuses. They were asked to share their personal beliefs and biases about the LGBTQ+ community. Apprehensions and acceptance levels were examined. Case studies have been presented about the formation and relevance of support groups.

Explaining the rationale for the study, Ms. Seema Bansal, Partner and Director, Social Impact, Boston Consulting Group, said, “We don’t think of diversity and inclusion as a ‘good-to-do’ or a ‘responsible corporate citizen’ act; we think of it as a core strategic pillar that will make us stronger. It’s only when campus pools are adequately diverse and attract the best talent that we will be able to access the talent.” Professor Errol D’Souza, Director, IIM Ahmedabad, said, ” We are happy to note that our students have taken the initiative to be part of this study which we hope will be of help in encouraging talent, diversity and a culture of inclusion in educational institutions and the corporate world. It is unfortunate that the LGBTQ+ community is often missed out in important conversations.”

A similar view was echoed by Mr. Ramkrishna Sinha, Co-Founder, Pride Circle Foundation. “It is imperative that educational institutions provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ students, where they can focus on their growth and participate fully in campus life instead of spending energies trying to cover and hide,” he felt, adding, “Support networks need to be adopted by colleges across the country so that no student is left behind.”

Speaking about the report, Mr Parmesh Shahani, author of Queeristan: LGBTQ Inclusion in the Indian Workplace (2020) and Vice President, Godrej Industries Limited, expressed happiness at the coalition between a company, an educational institution, and an LGBTQ+ change agent. “These are exactly the kind of partnerships that are going to move the inclusion agenda forward in India. I firmly believe that along with legal change, one of the bastions of change will be the inclusive environment we can create in our workplaces and educational institutions.”

The report is available in electronic format and can be downloaded from https://media-publications.bcg.com/India-fostering-pride-in-higher-education.pdf.

Students of IIM Ahmedabad in an interactive session on the theme “The Economic Rebound and the Indian Economy in 2021 and beyond” with the Hon’ble Finance Minister-min
Business World

Hon’ble Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman joins the leaders of tomorrow at IIM Ahmedabad for an interactive session

Feb 26, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Finance Minister of India, #IIMA, #Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, #Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), welcomed Hon’ble Finance Minister of India, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, as she joined MBA students of the globally recognized, premier management institute, for an interactive session on the theme ‘The Economic Rebound and the Indian Economy in 2021 and Beyond’ with its students.

Hosted by IIMA’s JSW-School of Public Policy, was the first on ground event held at the Institute since the pandemic. The session threw light on various aspects of the Indian economy including return of consumer confidence, robust financial markets, an uptick in manufacturing, education sector and the decrease in the budget allocation this year, PSU disinvestment target, health expenditure, skill India, fuel prices reduction, savings and borrowing scheme, upskilling: for automation and gig workers, investment in infrastructure, agriculture and many more.

Hon’ble Minister of Finance Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman during an interactive session at IIM Ahmedabad (1)-min

Speaking on the occasion Prof. Errol D’Souza, Director, IIMA Programmes said, “It is our honour and an encouragement to have the Hon’ble Finance Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman at the Institute. We are grateful for her presence, in spite of her commitments. I am happy to share that IIMA and its faculty have been supporting the government with their expertise on various aspects of policymaking, which is our way of contributing to the growth of the country. Today’s interaction with the Hon’ble Minister will become a memorable and inspiring moment for our students, who are at the threshold of beginning their journey into the real world.”

Smt. Sitharaman is an inspiration for all, especially the young people of the country. As the first woman leader to hold the portfolios of Defence and Finance at the Centre, she has become an aspirational model for the young women in the country. During the session, the Finance Minister Smt. Sitharaman encouraged the students to expand their boundaries and said, “You all are fortunate enough to be in an institution like this [IIMA]. My only request to you is spare sometime for the country and the nation to get stronger. India needs your support. Concentrate on yourself but also concentrate on making India brighter and smarter”

Acting as co-chairs, Prof. Errol D’Souza, with IIMA students Mr. Arunabh Saxena and Ms. Sonakshi Agrawal, among other points discussed about disinvestment targets of PSUs and government’s approach towards it. They also addressed the concerns of consumers bearing the high costs of fuel today and how is the government resolving these challenges.

When asked about the rationale and steps taken by the government to ensure quality education, Smt. Sitharaman said, “That the desire for encouraging twinning programmes in hopes of getting a world class university certificate and technologically driven tools like optical fibres even at the panchayat level will add to the betterment of education in the country. Hence there has been a conscious attempt in improving the funding of education. I would want to underline the fact that the New Education Policy, the schemes under it, and the long term vision under which the NEP looks at making the Indian education a lot more vibrant has received due consideration in the budget making process.”

Smt. Sitharaman further addressed that the Indian economy was on a rebound and she expects to see an economic recovery in the coming year. While the budget gave a due consideration to the national education policy and its schemes, she also believes that there is a huge potential of digital learning in the country across states, especially for the ones who have lesser access to it. She also threw light on the need for skilling and up skilling across industries and its success rates with a focussed approach.

The institute has a unique model of a convivial combination of the union, state and the business community. IIMA research programmes are the most coveted and prominent in the areas like Strategy, Economics, Finance, Operations and Marketing. IIMA also set up a number of sector or mission-oriented thrust groups termed ‘Centres’ to apply management science to other sectors of the economy. These Centres are led by faculty members from different inter-disciplinary areas that come together to pursue research and consulting.